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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Wrongfully accused of shoplifting!

266 replies

user1465893706 · 14/06/2016 11:10

Thursday I visited a well known supermarket that I frequently visit. Did my shopping fine (without the aid of kids....lovely) went to leave the shop and the alarm barriers went off, backed up my trolley (thought it may have been the gentleman walking beside me who had triggered the alarm) and tried again, same thing happened. I got the attention of the lady working on the self service checkouts and showed her my receipt. I told her the probable cause of the alarm was the razor blades I had purchased. She checked my receipt and couldn't find razor blades on it. I had to dig through my bags to finally find the razor blades in the middle of one of my bags. Was a little annoyed at this point as the checkout girl had obviously not scanned correctly (to busy moaning to me about supermarket and how she has got a new job lined up). I was then taken to customer services and I paid for the razor blades after pointing out that maybe they should have words with the checkout girl to make sure she scans products correctly. I then left the shop. Got to my car, had to repack most of my shopping as most of it had been taken out of the bags in search of the razor blades, loaded my bags into the boot, put the trolley in the bay, got into my car and went to put my key into the ignition (all this had taken a fair amount of time). Just as I was about to start the car I had a tap on my window. I opened my car door to a woman dressed in black who then asked to see my receipt?!? I explained to her that all this was sorted out in the shop and I had paid for the razor blades. She then continued to tell me that was not the issue and it was the fact I had a lot of products in my shopping trolley not bagged up??? At this point I was getting very frustrated. I emptied the contents of my handbag only to find receipts not their then realised they must be in my shopping bags in the boot. I had to get the woman to move out of my way (she had came round the side of my car door as if to block me in) to exit the car. When I got to the boot of my car I was astonished to see the manager behind my car and 4 other employees a little further up blocking the car park??? 6 people in total!!!! I'm a 5ft woman in her 20's!!!! At this point I was absolutely furious, shaking and on the verge of tears. I managed to find the receipts and got the woman to look in my car although after all that she wasn't bothered in checking all my bags and just simply said "I can see its all there" (how when its all packed I do not know) I then asked the woman and the manager for an apology. She begrudgingly apologised but the manager point blank refused saying " I don't have to apologise if I suspect a thieve" they then left me. Luckily there was someone who witnessed all this that knows me from sight from my daughters pre school so she calmed me down enough so I could drive home (although I do not remember actually driving home). Luckily my husband was at home that day and as soon as I got home I had a full blown panic attack. My husband calmed me down, got a friend to sit with me, and took all my shopping back and demanded a refund, he eventually got it. He asked to speak to the manager 3 times and each time he refused to come speak to my husband. On the 4th attempt he got the employee to relay on the phone that he was not willing to come and apologise as in his eyes I was still a thief? I have written a letter of complaint and am still awaiting I response.

OP posts:
BerylStreep · 14/06/2016 12:03

The OP says that the manager was standing in such a way that she couldn't open her car door, there were people standing behind her car, and yet more standing blocking the car park. That would seem to meet the definition of false imprisonment.

SkyRabbit · 14/06/2016 12:04

Very upsetting I'll grant you, and yes, maybe worth a complaint to the shop -agree with finding the manager's manager - about the way that it was handled.

It is NOT false imprisonment though - at what point did they actually stop you leaving, and there's no way on god's earth that that would ever reach the door of a court room.
Equally, a solicitor's letter will do absolutely sod all. There is no legal remedy that you can threaten here that wouldn't cost you thousands to see through.

PPie10 · 14/06/2016 12:04

Yanbu, it was really out of order for 6 people to harass you at your car Shock it wasn't your fault the item didn't get scanned. Yes definitely complain to someone higher up. The absolute cheek of that manager!

roslet · 14/06/2016 12:05

You do lead a very dramatic life it seems. You have started so many threads recently.

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 14/06/2016 12:06

No the Muppet is refusing to apologise because. He knows he's wrong and hasn't got the balls to hold his hands up.

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 14/06/2016 12:08

I very much doubt you would have a case in court. If you did the newspapers would be full of stories about people suing supermarkets for false imprisonment. This sounds like they were heavy handed and rude, and I'm not surprised you are upset, but I think the most dignified thing would be to write a letter to head office outlining your dissatisfaction with their procedures and the distress caused to you as a result, and then move on and shop elsewhere in future.

milkyface · 14/06/2016 12:09

roslet I've just searched the username of the OP, this seems to be her only thread.

Are you perhaps getting confused with other 'user' usernames?

user1465893706 · 14/06/2016 12:09

roslet what do you mean? this is my very first thread?

OP posts:
ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 14/06/2016 12:10

You can detain someone by intimidation but I don't know if that would be the case here.

My biggest concern here is that any attempt to pursue a remedy through legal means is stressful, time consuming and costly. Whilst it might seem satisfying from the comfort of my keyboard I do question whether it is in the best interests of the OP. It was a horrible situation and an apology is due but I wonder if a formal complaint letter to Head Office might not be the way to go.

BerylStreep · 14/06/2016 12:10

Roslet this seems to be the OP's only thread under this NN?

FFS I hope I haven't been trolled. Was so cross on OP's behalf.

MiscellaneousAssortment · 14/06/2016 12:11

Sounds horrible. There was no need for them to behave in such a threatening manner. It lacks professionalism and rather smacks of someone enjoying power not doing his job.

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 14/06/2016 12:11

roslet
It appears MN are allocating very similar default user names to people who chose that option. It's caused confusion on other threads too.

Dizzydodo · 14/06/2016 12:12

I think you were unlucky to have an over enthusiastic manager/security guard, every time I see an alarm go off in a shop none of the employees pay any attention.

user1465893706 · 14/06/2016 12:13

thank you milkyface. I just felt I needed to let off some steam. Some people haven't read the original post correctly so are getting slightly confused.

OP posts:
LifeBeginsNow · 14/06/2016 12:17

No legal expert here but when I worked at Tesco, we were told we had to watch the person taking the item and the only point they were to be detained was when they stepped out of the shop.

I saw a guy walk through the empty till in front with a basket of bread and vodka and I stopped what I was doing to watch him leave the store while I flagged down a security guard (leaving my customer to wait to make sure the guy didn't put the goods down). He wasn't very bright and just hung around outside for a bit giving the slow security guard ample time to catch up.

Things may well have changed with security tags being on products but this is what I was told many moons ago.

MiscellaneousAssortment · 14/06/2016 12:17

Roslet appears to think each poster with the default name 'user+lots of numbers' are the same person.

The number differ. They are different posters. These are user names given by mumsnet when people sign up, which they can then change to their own choice of name if they wish.

But that's besides the point really as troll hunting is banned...

milkyface · 14/06/2016 12:19

thank you milkyface. I just felt I needed to let off some steam. Some people haven't read the original post correctly so are getting slightly confused.

No problem. I would feel the same in your situation.

I'd definitely get on Facebook/Twitter as well as sending an email to most high up person I could get hold of. If nothing else I would want a proper apology!

tinytemper66 · 14/06/2016 12:21

Lots of places have cctv. Ask for the cctv of you putting the items on the belt by checkout.

YourWheezy · 14/06/2016 12:23

Similar thing happened to me about 8 months ago, and it still makes me panic and shake every day. So I'd say definitely chase it up and complain to the head office and get them to make it up to you. Twitter sounds good. I don't think you'd be able to just forget about it without getting some sort of acknowledgement and closure.
My story - I was browsing a local shop for a specific chocolate bar (long story) and had other chocs I'd just bought from other shops in my bag. I tried to leave this shop without buying anything, and the owner asked to see inside my bag. I didn't realise he thought I was stealing and just said "what... no..." and tried to leave. He said I had to give him my bag or he'd lock me in, call the police etc, then BLOCKED MY WAY OUT, turned around and LOCKED THE DOOR, trapping me inside, GRABBED MY BAG (scratching my hand in the process), tipped it out, took all the stuff I'd bought saying it was his stock and generally screaming at me. At this point I'd called the police. When the police officer eventually arrived he checked cctv and talked to me and shopkeeper, and basically said the shopkeeper was allowed to use "reasonable force" on me to protect his stock IF HE THOUGHT I'd stolen something - ie it doesn't matter if it transpires I hadn't, i guess because his intentions were legit?!?! and basically told me to stop making a fuss. I just left it in the end (didn't even get my shopping back!!!!!) and every single day, I've thought about it and panicked and tried to reason myself out of it to no avail. I think I really need some acknowledgement or revenge
Maybe trying to forget about it works for you (it usually works for me) but for this I just couldn't - maybe because I did nothing wrong, police telling me that it's okay to take my things, scream at me and lock me in a shop...... Angry Sad

AugustaFinkNottle · 14/06/2016 12:24

By accusing you publicly they were defaming you, and you should point that out to the manager and head office. You might be able to get solicitors willing to take on the claim on a no win no fee basis.

Peridotisinvalid · 14/06/2016 12:26

OP, you said:-
I told her the probable cause of the alarm was the razor blades I had purchased. She checked my receipt and couldn't find razor blades on it.

and despite it being asked previously, I'm still not clear how you were able to rightly guess that it was the razor blades that caused the alarm, considering that you have since said:-

The razor blades are not kept in a security box so I had no knowledge that it hadn't been scanned correctly.

Obviouspretzel · 14/06/2016 12:28

If they had tapped on my window and asked to see my receipt at that point, I'd have point blank refused.

The way they treat you is disgusting and I also think you should tweet it and email CEO.

user1465893706 · 14/06/2016 12:29

tbh if I had got an apology there and then or my husband had I would have let it drop but it is really upsetting as the manager still insists I am a thief??? to my knowledge I did nothing wrong? Oh and my husband was told they had reviewed the cctv and although they can see me unloading ALL my shopping on the conveyor belt and packing it they can not see the items clearly enough to see if the razor blades went through??? surely if I had packed it all and my shopping trolley was empty and the razor blades were in the middle of my shopping bag they could see it was cashier error. plus there wasn't an issue with the razor blades at the car it was with the rest of my shopping?????

OP posts:
EnriqueTheRingBearingLizard · 14/06/2016 12:33

Addressing The razor blades are not kept in a security box

I've purchased razor blades where they have the button security attached rather than being contained within a plastic box.

I do think it's often easy to be unloading and chatting and repacking so that you're not focussing on exactly what the cashier's doing, but after all, that's their job, not yours.

travellinghopefully12 · 14/06/2016 12:34

yourwheezy that's terrible. Did you take a picture of the scratch on your hand? Also, you never got your shopping back in spite of CCTV, so in reality he stole from you.

Horrible. x

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