Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Legal matters

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you have any legal concerns we suggest you consult a solicitor.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Wrongly accused of shoplifting and harrassment.

247 replies

JenniferBooth · 19/08/2025 13:13

Ive been maliciously accused of shoplifting. By a woman in a well known news store currently undergoing a name change. This was last month on Saturday 26th July. This was followed by someone posting false accusations about me on social media Ive reported it to the police under the Malicious Communications Act AND IVE BEEN GIVEN A CRIME NUMBER It escalated on Sunday 17th August where a man ive never met before "confronted" me in another shop (supermarket corner shop) calling me a shoplifter and repeating the same shit from last month. Ive updated the police as its harassment. Ive never shoplifted in my life. Ive got piles and piles of carrier bags from this news store and have spent a lot of money there since my teens (im now in my fifties) I was ringing solicitors yesterday but havent found one to handle a case like this.

OP posts:
bluestand · 19/08/2025 14:10

I’m trying to understand what’s going on here?

If I’ve understood correctly:

  1. you were asked to leave a WH Smith because they thought you were shoplifting
  2. An anonymous person who you believe to be someone who works at this store has posted information about this incident on social media
  3. Random stranger in a shop came up to you and started repeating the same allegations?

So many questions!

  1. on what basis were you asked to leave the shop?
  2. How do you know the anonymous participant worked for the shop?
  3. Did this person post your name, photograph etc on social media?
  4. How did random person know that you were the same person as the person in the social media post?
myfriendsfamily · 19/08/2025 14:11

I’m literally watching grown women bully a woman in distress and seeking support. 🤯

JenniferBooth · 19/08/2025 14:12

Stichintime · 19/08/2025 14:10

I also thought 'Boots sample lady' although I didn't see that thread! Seriously I get you're upset OP, but your choice of language is really aggressive and hostile. If you are anything like this in real life I dont think you'll get very far with this. Name calling etc, particularly at your age is 😮

Yeah thats about right. Blame the poster who has been provoked on here instead of those of accusing me of being someone im not by those pissed off at the summer holidays being so long and wanting someone to take it out on.

OP posts:
Wiltingasparagusfern · 19/08/2025 14:13

Very weird responses to your thread OP. Perhaps some posters could enlighten the rest of us on who the Boots lady is?

My thought, OP, is that you may have a doppelgänger. I had one a few years back and people genuinely thought I was her, they would stop me in the street to chat resuming conversations we had never had, and would refer to me as a different name. When I pointed out I wasn’t her people were always astonished. Sadly I never met her.

If I were you, I would take your receipts to the store and ask to speak to the manager about making a formal complaint. I would also say I was going to the papers. Even if you were a shoplifter it’s very unprofessional for this person to be posting about you on social media.

Starlight1984 · 19/08/2025 14:13

Doggymummar · 19/08/2025 14:09

My Chinese takeaway did

A bit different though isn't it?!

Stichintime · 19/08/2025 14:13

I think OP would get more support if she didn't resort to insults and her story was clearer.

PencilsInSpace · 19/08/2025 14:13

myfriendsfamily · 19/08/2025 14:11

I’m literally watching grown women bully a woman in distress and seeking support. 🤯

Yes it's appalling. Jennifer has been posting here for years, probably over a decade.

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 19/08/2025 14:13

Interesting - I worked for M&S in the Food Hall, we had very very regular customers and M&S did not send Christmas cards to them...

GreenFlag · 19/08/2025 14:13

myfriendsfamily · 19/08/2025 14:11

I’m literally watching grown women bully a woman in distress and seeking support. 🤯

Have you just discovered MN today?

Wiltingasparagusfern · 19/08/2025 14:13

myfriendsfamily · 19/08/2025 14:11

I’m literally watching grown women bully a woman in distress and seeking support. 🤯

Yeah it’s really pathetic. This place is nasty.

JenniferBooth · 19/08/2025 14:13

Sevenamcoffee · 19/08/2025 14:11

Woman falsely accused of shoplifting in Home Bargains

For people who think you must be up to something to be accused of it.

yep there people who have learnt absolutely NOTHING from the post office scandal

OP posts:
LIZS · 19/08/2025 14:14

Is the accuser a member of staff or a mystery shopper? Local Trades Associations will circulate images of shoplifters so it is possible that is how the second shop worker saw it.

Post18 · 19/08/2025 14:15

KilkennyCats · 19/08/2025 13:46

Wow Confused

This does happen. My mum has been given Xmas cards twice from her local Sainsbury’s (local type shop not superstore). And Xmas just gone they gave her a box of choc too. She is in there every morning at about the same time and she’s usually polite (although I’m not with her to confirm she is to the staff at Sainsbury’s!!).

To the OP, as I understand it you’ve been accused face to face of shop lifting by a staff member of (what was) WH Smith’s. She wasn’t accusing you of shop lifting on that day though. This lady also posted this on social media. A little while later a man accused you too.And you believe this was due to the social media post. Is that about the measure of it.

I too would be very distressed if I was incorrectly accused of shoplifting. I’d also be cross if the same was posted on social media.

You say you’ve reported to the police. If you feel that action should be taken but hasn’t been, I’d suggest making an appointment at your local police station to speak to someone so they can explain what they’ve done with your complaint and why they haven’t done anything more. Whilst the case may be very clear to you, it won’t necessarily be as clear to them. And they may not have enough evidence.

You’ve contacted the CEO too. I suspect any investigation he has his team do will revolve around the social media post. Not necessarily about the accusation face to face.

Kindly though, I’d suggest speaking to people in real life about this issue. They will know you and can support you. They will also be able to help you see what you want from all of this and what is achievable. Strangers on the internet are probably not the best bet especially as it’s clearly quite emotive for you. I’m not trying to be a dick saying that but I realise it sounds like it.

momtoboys · 19/08/2025 14:15

Hoppinggreen · 19/08/2025 13:30

You sound very calm and sane OP
I have no idea why anyone would treat you like this

😆😆😆

DeeKitch · 19/08/2025 14:17

JenniferBooth · 19/08/2025 13:23

well im not and why is it ok to wrongly accuse someone then slander them all over social media (while not using her real name and posting as Anonymous Participant) then having some young bloke accost me in another shop repeating the same crap. Someone must have pointed me out to him Its damn creepy.

Ask Citizen’s Advice I’m sorry this has happened to you

AnyoneWhoHasAHeart · 19/08/2025 14:18

Doggymummar · 19/08/2025 14:09

My Chinese takeaway did

Staff in my local boots gave me a wedding present. I have a disability and get assistance in store and so get to know the staff.

OP as annoying as it is you need to let it go. Defamation is virtually impossible to win.

Stichintime · 19/08/2025 14:19

Not sure what long summer holidays and the post office scandal have to do with this. I was not blaming the victim, I was pointing out when you write/talk the way you do, you're less likely to get a positive response.

calanaiscailleach · 19/08/2025 14:19

Some really nasty and unkind comments on here. It’s bullying 🤷🏻‍♀️
What a pile on.
Im sorry you are experiencing the shop situation and also what you have been subjected to on here OP.

DeeKitch · 19/08/2025 14:19

Wiltingasparagusfern · 19/08/2025 14:13

Very weird responses to your thread OP. Perhaps some posters could enlighten the rest of us on who the Boots lady is?

My thought, OP, is that you may have a doppelgänger. I had one a few years back and people genuinely thought I was her, they would stop me in the street to chat resuming conversations we had never had, and would refer to me as a different name. When I pointed out I wasn’t her people were always astonished. Sadly I never met her.

If I were you, I would take your receipts to the store and ask to speak to the manager about making a formal complaint. I would also say I was going to the papers. Even if you were a shoplifter it’s very unprofessional for this person to be posting about you on social media.

100% get a retraction and apology posted

JenniferBooth · 19/08/2025 14:19

PencilsInSpace · 19/08/2025 14:13

Yes it's appalling. Jennifer has been posting here for years, probably over a decade.

Hi @PencilsInSpace i remember you from the political threads Hope you are doing ok Flowers

Ive been here 14 years on the 25th of this month.

OP posts:
JenniferBooth · 19/08/2025 14:20

calanaiscailleach · 19/08/2025 14:19

Some really nasty and unkind comments on here. It’s bullying 🤷🏻‍♀️
What a pile on.
Im sorry you are experiencing the shop situation and also what you have been subjected to on here OP.

Thank You. Its not the place i joined back in 2011

OP posts:
PringlesTube · 19/08/2025 14:21

momtoboys · 19/08/2025 14:15

😆😆😆

You were the mean girl bully types at school weren’t you.

DiscoBob · 19/08/2025 14:21

JenniferBooth · 19/08/2025 13:19

No im not and i dont know what you are on about.

Sorry. There was another poster with a similar slightly unusual story/reaction to accusations of shoplifting.

I'm sorry you feel like your being harassed etc. but just don't go to that shop anymore and block anyone saying mean things. If you've done nothing wrong try and rise above it.

JenniferBooth · 19/08/2025 14:22

Well i certainly wont be going paperless with reciepts after this.

OP posts: