I know it's not clever but I was chosen to have a random check and they found items not scanned so needed a full scan.

Went to a till and put my shopping up with obviously extras but left some clothes in a bag.

They took a copy if the receipt.

I was racked with guilt so 30 mins later went back and paid for clothes.

What will happen Now?

Will they check cctv as they have my club card and account details?

I'm totally fretting that the police will come knocking on my door!

I paid for all the items in my bag just worried about the clothes Now!

TIA

We probably need to hear from someone with expertise in 'retail loss prevention" (ideally with knowledge of their procedures). (I don't mean RLP, the firm, you can safely ignore them!).

The key point that stands out for me is that "they took a copy of the receipt", as I've never had that happen to me whenever I've had a 'random rescan' (from a number of retailers,), as this may suggest this was flagged for 'loss prevention', rather than the routine rescan only.

One can argue that the initial discrepancy between what was scanned and what was in the bag was due to an error,

not due to fraud by false representation / theft, but if it was then shown that you left clothes in a bag,

you'd have to explain that, and why both weren't deliberate.

The fact that you paid for the clothes later is good for mitigation,

but doesn't stop you having committed the offence(s),

if they were deliberate or a court finds they were dishonest,

as the offence would have been committed at the time,

and doesn't get 'cancelled out' by you later paying (only mitigated!).

Have you done this before?.

The reason I'm asking is that if you were already on the 'radar' for loss prevention they might have been watching you on CCTV

- if so, they can refer the evidence to the police, and the police might then come looking for you.

If you haven't done this before then they again might be able to convince the police this was deliberate, but it it less clear.

They might just "keep an eye on you" in future.

Alternatively, this might all just be by chance, but the "they took a copy of the receipt" is a worrying factor.

Either way, don't do it again!. If you 'get lucky' this time, you may not be so lucky if you chance your arm again.

Hi and welcome to CAG

I take it that this is Tesco.

Your original attempt was to steal but common sense overtook your urge so as I see it, all the goods have been paid for.

I doubt anything will come of this and certainly no police involvement as they are far too busy to bother with small items.

If you did raise suspicions then they may just view the CCTV and act accordingly but I doubt anyone will have the time to view them. Yes, they could check the times of visit by your clubcard but at the end of the day, you did (eventually) pay for it all.

As I said, no police but if Tesco did do checks, you may find out the next time you visit. Doubtful but you never know.

If you get any letters through the post, keep them safe and come here for help.

The only thing you must do is think why you did what you did. Any underlying issues?

Put this into perspective. What you did was wrong BUT you did put it right. No harm, no foul just don't do it again.

 

Put this into perspective. What you did was wrong BUT you did put it right. No harm, no foul just don't do it again.

Yes it I wrong but only put right AFTER checks.

If no checks took place would it of been "put right"

The offence was still committed.

Are their underlying issues or problems that need to be addressed?

If you think its a possibility then I would have a chat with your GP.

As previously stated tho, RLP letters can be ignored.

The offence(s) was/were committed if there was dishonest intent.

The fact that the initial attempted theft / fraud by false representation was prevented by the rescan doesn’t undo the previous crime.

The fact the clothes were paid for 30 minutes later doesn’t mean the theft of those clothes didn’t occur : only paying for them at the time, not 30 minutes later when conscience / realisation they might have been monitored kicks in.

Remorse / paying afterwards is mitigation, not a defence or shield from prosecution.

I really wouldn't worry, it's paid for now.

Besides they don't have the time to trawl through all of the footage to pick you out and follow you through the whole visit, they would need to have watched you select the item, conceal it, have continuous observation, make no attempt to pay and then leave the store.

I really wouldn't lose any sleep over it, but it might be something worth talking to your doctor about.

I know it was wrong.

I always self scan

never had to have a total re scan before just the 8 or so items and all has been fine.

This is the very first time.

I think she wanted to check the amount I paid to the amount scanned through.

I had a printer which scanned as I went out

security guard checked me and my receipt and sent me on my way.

I'm totally mortified and I will NEVER do it again trust me.

I've not slept or eaten since.

Not sure whether to go back in tomorrow to get my daughter's cooking ingredients or just stay away!

I even contemplated going in today to ask if anything was going to be done!

Not sure why had a year of cancer scare,

diagnosed with fibromyalgia,

father died,

cat died

and aunty died!

No excuses I shouldn't have done it!

If you are “in their sights” going back, and behaving won’t change anything ; and if you aren’t, you are (equally) fine.

So, fine to go back for cooking ingredients : just be extra careful to scan everything correctly.

Just going off on a little tangent here but don't self scan.use a normal checkout and it will avoid all issues..

I hate self scan. I wont use it because supermarkets make enough money and by using self scan it stops them.employing cashiers.

If self scan said " 10% off the bottom line bill as we dont have to employ anyone" I still wouldn't use them

Not sure if use scan as you shop ever again if I'm honest!

Might pop in just to check as I'm always popping in and out for stuff.

Will get ingredients and go to a till.

If they've taken things further I'm sure they'll say something surely.

Mostly worried someone will come to the house!

Would rather they said something in store actually

then I would know where I stand.

It's the fear of the unknown.

no one will ever come to your home..

they are not bailiffs but powerless fleecers

ignore RLP

dx

More worried about police coming! If Tesco contact them they'll have to come to my house for a caution/fine.

oh and I would be saying anything to anyone

dx

I daren't tell anyone too embarrassed if nothing else!

Can't eat or sleep. In constant state of anxiety! I'm already on amytriptolyn and still feel awful! Every car that goes past I worry.

Would be just good to know if the police are liable to come knocking!

Can't eat or sleep. In constant state of anxiety! I'm already on amytriptolyn and still feel awful! Every car that goes past I worry.

Would be just good to know if the police are liable to come knocking!

Hello there.

Nobody has said that the police will come knocking, it isn't how it works.

I think the one piece of advice you might consider is talking to your GP about this in case there is a medical or mental reason why you shoplifted. We see a lot of people who have background reasons for what they do. Being a new mum isn't easy, please take what help you can and don't over analyse what's happening. I know you've had a tough time, we've all been through that, but you'll get through this.

Hugs, HB

I'm not sure how anything works!

I thought they can report to police and they'll have to come to my house for a chat rather than the store.

There's not much information if this has happened before to anyone.

When I went back in to pay for the items no-one came up to me.

Even went to the checkouts where the lady was who took the duplicate receipt just to see if she'd say anything.

All done

End of

Forget about it!!

Easier said than done I'm afraid!

I'm a total worrier!

 

The key point that stands out for me is that "they took a copy of the receipt", as I've never had that happen to me whenever I've had a 'random rescan' (from a number of retailers,), as this may suggest this was flagged for 'loss prevention', rather than the routine rescan only.

.......

 

Have you done this before?.

 

The reason I'm asking is that if you were already on the 'radar' for loss prevention they might have been watching you on CCTV

- if so, they can refer the evidence to the police, and the police might then come looking for you.

...........

 

Either way, don't do it again!. If you 'get lucky' this time, you may not be so lucky if you chance your arm again.

I’ve checked with a friend who worked for Tesco with responsibility including loss prevention.

The receipt might have been copied to pass to loss prevention for future attention OR for “stats” (“look at this example of how much we’ve saved by intervention”).

It is very unusual for Tesco to “build a case” against an individual and not call the police at the time once they have enough evidence. If the person wasn’t detained by loss prevention (or, at least, an attempt to detain them!) and the police weren’t called at the time : it is unlikely they’ll take it to the police.

So, either you go back to the store, and provided you don’t reoffend you'll hear nothing more OR you go back and they’ll tell you they are banning you.

Of course, if you go back and reoffend; they may well stop you and call the police.

Thank you BazzaS!

Thank you for asking your friend. Think I might leave it a while to go into the store again! I may just do an online shop to use my vouchers.

I'm never ever going to it ever again trust me just go to normal checkout!

go to a proper till.

I never use self scan,

I think they are immoral and bad for business

but the big stores have calculated that the savings on staff versus the extra losses make them worthwhile.

I could also put a list of things like

3 lots of surgery in 2 months,

illnesses, deaths etc

I dont use any of this to mitigate shoplifting becasue I dont do it,

never have and never will.

From your opening post it was quite a deliberate act

so you wont get any sympathy from me

but as the store seems to have dealt with things how they wish to

then it is very unlikley that anything will ever come from it.

Hopefully this has had the effect of putting you and the correct path from now on.

If you are “in their sights” going back, and behaving won’t change anything ; and if you aren’t, you are (equally) fine.

 

So, fine to go back for cooking ingredients : just be extra careful to scan everything correctly.

There is also the fact that Tesco can ban anyone they feel like. Stores operate as private space but allow the public to enter. This permission can be removed at any time for anyone and for any (or no) reason.

Having read what you are going through, it's easy for me to understand that things happen with no reason.

You have no excuse for stealing BUT there are reasons why. It is down to you to find out what they are and a chat to your GP (in confidence) is a must. They have heard it all before and could give you better advice than we ever could and possibly a short course of happy pills. Stress can cause no end of hormone and serotonin level to drop which cause loads of problems.

In the meantime, go back to Tesco. I doubt that there will be any issue but be prepared 'just in case' (highly unlikely) Try to gets things into perspective if you can. What you did was wrong but you put it right. While the intent was there, remorse got to you and you realised what you did was wrong and you went back to put things right.

Police! Nah!. They rarely get involved with this unless you are a persistent offender which you're not.

Civil Recovery. Unlikely but you can never tell with business. If that does happen, we are well equipped to deal with them.

In other words, nothing major is going to happen. Try to de-stress, get some rest and try not to think of this SINGLE event. Over time, your feelings will change.

^^ Completely agree. Tesco do not tend to involve police after the incident unless there has been a documented series of events. The incident 'may' have been logged on their reporting system to cross reference in the event of any future similar incidents to see if a pattern is developing. You would only be challenged on re entering the store if you tried to do the same again.

Probably best not to use self scan in future but force yourself to go through a manned checkout. Then there can be no doubt over your honesty and no temptation for you to steal unless you are silly enough to hide items in your trolley and not pay