Hi, I'm a new user here.

I was caught stealing 4 items worth £1 each from Sainsbury's.

This is my first time shoplifting (I'm obviously not very good at it) and it will be my last as I'm completely in pieces about it, and I have learned my lesson but I won't go into all that.

They issued me with a letter saying that I'm BANNED from ALL Sainsbury's stores FOR LIFE.

They didn't pass my details on to the police, and I'm grateful for that.

I can't begin to explain how debilitating this is for me.

I know I caused it myself, but I shop for my partner who can't lift.

I also have anxiety that's related to blood sugar issues and makes it hard for me to leave the house

- I sometimes get caught out and I have to dip in somewhere immediately.

I'm already hugely anxious about how this ban will affect me and I feel like I've let down my partner.

I know I caused this on myself but I just can't face a lifetime ban for this stupid mistake.

I was told I can appeal to the area manager for a lift on the ban.

MY QUESTIONS ARE

1 - what should I include in the letter of appeal?

What kind of tone should I take?

Should I tell them my situation with my partner?

2 - if I admit to shoplifting in writing, will that make my case even worse?

I already admitted in the store, so maybe this won't be an issue.

3 - Has anyone else had success lifting a ban like this before?

Any advice on this much appreciated. I'm really ashamed and won't be shoplifting ever again.

you'll also get letters from a spoofing lot called DWF

you TOTALLY ignore them.

as for the ban

in normal terms we find within a month or two they've forgotten about you and you can go in

all they'll do is simply ask you to leave anyway.

dx

Just to add to this...

I have written a page-long letter to the area manager, but I don't know what kind of information will be most persuading to their decision.

What kind of information would influence their decision?

The info in my letter includes a longer more detailed version of what I wrote above,

with a very sincere apology detailing what I have learned and how I feel.

Plus that I have no previous criminal record including unofficial warnings.

Should I include information about my job prospects, because I'm applying for work with kids? They say that it will go on my criminal record if I set foot in any store!

Thanks for your reply, and for the advice on DWF. I didn't know about them.

Security and staff will definitely recognise me because I have a distinctive look =/ And they said that if I do come back that they'll put it on my criminal record which I can't risk because I'm applying for jobs requiring a CRB.

My only option is to write to the area manager and hope I don't incriminate myself in doing so...

Dont be silly enough to appeal. Just leave it for a few months and youll be ok.

You wont get any sympathy from them. Think about it. Youre a thief in their eyes. Why would they let you back?

Ignore them and DWF totally for a few months, then try a store a bit further away.

They certainly cant add anything to a criminal record if you go back though unless you actually steal again.

In short, forget about sainsburys and go find another supermarket. Plenty of them out there that are far better. And cheaper.

they are lying

it wont go on any record!!

they'd have to take you to court and WIN

on a trespass case Sainsbury wont want the bad publicity I can assure you

pers i'd not write just let things settle

they dont use face recognition and unless the small number of staff that dealt with you see you

they'll not bother after a month or two

don't forget

they are NOT allowed to tell ALL staff nor post up pictures for staff to lookout for certain people

its against DPA

Thanks for your reply!

Sainsbury's is the only big supermarket in my area, so I'll be carting groceries a long way or spending more money if i can't go there. Do you think the appeal would end up doing more harm then good?

I think they will recognise me, as they said they knew me cause I come in often, plus i have some distinguishing features that I can't change...so they'll recognise me for a while!

Do you think it'll be more harm than good to appeal? Could they use it against me in court?

why are you thinking about court?

why are you thinking about court?

I guess if I went into Sainsbury's in a few months and they called the police on me, then it'd go on my criminal record, or was that whole thing a lie?

WHy would they call the police? Sainsburys have dealt with you. its over. If anything, theyll just ask you to leave. And if they do, then you do so quietly and quickly .

You can certainly appeal, but the manager will likely laugh and think... why is a thief thats been banned pleading to come back. Maybe he's making a sob story so he can steal again.

They simply wont risk it.

Find another supermarket for a few months. If you go back and dont leave if they say, or you keep coming back when they say leave, then you are running the risk of a real conviction for tresspass.

I guess if I went into Sainsbury's in a few months and they called the police on me, then it'd go on my criminal record, or was that whole thing a lie?

so you didn't read post 5 then.

dx

Lets put it even simpler.

If you appeal, you run the real risk of being properly banned and them remembering you, and continued persistance or turning up at the shop runs you the risk of trespass . You were caught stealing and rightly so. In their eyes, youre a thief. They wont allow you back.

Just leave it for a few months and try again. If you appeal, they will NOT allow you back.

it really is as simple as that.

Hi and welcome to CAG

Let us make this very clear. There was no police involvement so there will be nothing on any criminal records check. If you happen to go into the same store and are recognised, the most they can do is escort you out. Repeatedly going back into the same store does bring risk which could be troublesome. Remember, all members of the public enter the store by invitation and that invitation can be removed at any time for any reason. I could argue with store staff and be banned. It's that simple

As already mentioned, it is likely a company called DWF will write to you demanding £150 for security costs. Ignore them. They will make pretend threats of court action but they can do absolutely nothing to you. Only Sainsbugs can do that and they don't bother. Too expensive for them to bother. If DWF have your phone number, expect calls. If they do ring, record them. You don't need to tell them you are recording. People will say things over the phone that they would never put in a letter.

The bigger issue for you is to discover why you did what you did. If you can find that out, you reduce the risk of doing it again and negating the advice given.

so you didn't read post 5 then.

dx

Sorry, I understand now! -- that's interesting that they're not allowed to show my photo to ALL staff. Do they just show to managers and security?

Don't appeal - it will do more harm than good. They will deny the appeal anyway, and why keep your case at the forefront of their thoughts rather than let them start to forget you?

If you have a Nectar card, probably best not use it if you go there in future - that is if it hasn't already been cancelled

WHy would they call the police? Sainsburys have dealt with you. its over. If anything, theyll just ask you to leave. And if they do, then you do so quietly and quickly .

You can certainly appeal, but the manager will likely laugh and think... why is a thief thats been banned pleading to come back. Maybe he's making a sob story so he can steal again.

They simply wont risk it.

Find another supermarket for a few months. If you go back and dont leave if they say, or you keep coming back when they say leave, then you are running the risk of a real conviction for tresspass.

You're right, this whole plea thing seemed a lot more plausable when they gave me the address and said that's the only way to appeal, but I can just imagine the manager laughing it off OR drawing more attention to my case, when I just want them to forget about it!

Ok, I guess I've brought this on myself and now I know what it feels like to be a criminal and be barred....

Don't appeal - it will do more harm than good. They will deny the appeal anyway, and why keep your case at the forefront of their thoughts rather than let them start to forget you?

 

If you have a Nectar card, probably best not use it if you go there in future - that is if it hasn't already been cancelled

Good thing the nectar card is under my partner's name - I've got £40 on there! Really did spend a lot of money in there...it was so silly to think £4 was gonna save me some money in the long run. Attn: petty-once-in-a-while-shoplifters - NOT WORTH IT

Hi and welcome to CAG

Let us make this very clear. There was no police involvement so there will be nothing on any criminal records check. ......

Hi silverfox, cheers for your reply! I'm so relieved to find this forum, and all the members here are so helpful and quick to respond.

I guess I should take the ban as a ban then, and live it out, eh? Until the staff changes or something a few years down the line...

As for my behaviour, it's a bit out of character cause i'm normally a real "goody-two-shoes" and a friend said they stole something and got away with it so I thought I'd try too.

I've given myself a good solid talking to today and will never put myself in a situation where I feel that embarrassed and ashamed and letting down my partner like that again. I'm going back to "goody-two-shoes". Without Sai-no's.

DWF sound like meanies. Thanks for the heads up. I'll avoid them at all costs.

Sorry, I understand now! - that's interesting that they're not allowed to show my photo to ALL staff. Do they just show to managers and security?

nope no-one.. sorry but 99% of what they said they themselves wont remember they said it tomorrow

its rubbish

The Sainsbury you were banned from, does it have an Argos shop, like my Sainsbury

So how does the ban apply when Sainsbury let out there shop floor space, especially if you were to apply for a job, and start working there very soon

Nectar is not owned b Sainsburys, they are just one of the subscribers.

If you go back into their store the worst thing that can happenis that you are physically chucked out for trespassing and if you persist in returning they may sue you for the same. No criminal record has been created and cannot be unless you lump the security guard throwing you out.

must be an Aldi or such within reasonable distance = sainsburys is over priced at most times?

There's an also or Morrisons within 15-20 mins of most major towns and cities

Sainsbury's are starting to use the face rec module is n their cctv system, called cathexis.

I'm being told within 6 months all stores will be up and running.

Therefore walking into a Sainsbury's elsewhere will only mean you are challenged by the guard, and thrown out.

Save the embarrassment and shop elsewhere.

I guess if I went into Sainsbury's in a few months and they called the police on me, then it'd go on my criminal record, or was that whole thing a lie?

I can give you an idea, what happens in my work place; if you have been banned from the store, security will ask you to leave, and if you decide not to leave, they will call the police, and they remove you from the store, as far as Im aware, the police dont charge anyone, but more warn them of