I have received first RLP letter which I completely ignored. I just came back from Sainsbury's and I saw on the notes which are placed in a lot of shelves that is someone takes stuff without paying will be treated as shoplifting and police will be informed. My question is is it possible that Waitrose will contact police with my case? Even month or longer after incident or they already contacted them and I don't know about it yet.

Thank you for your reply. I will stop reading other websites as it does not help me to calm down. I understand that the police will not be involved now. Only RLP letters. Is that correct?

I don't know if I will be near the court. Waitrose gave me a letter to sign, took my passport picture as I didn't have driving license with me and they took picture of me. They told me to never go back to Waitrose or John Lewis shop. They didn't call police, but this does not make me calm at all. I wonder if they somehow want to investigate my case. I will never shoplift again. I regret is so much. Yes I understand the consequences but what if the consequences would be court case or informing police.

Thank you for all your answers. I would also like to know would that be shown on my DBS check? I am still panicking, waiting for the letters from RLP. When someone rings the doorbell I jump and feel so scared.

I have one more question, who is going to see my picture they took of me? is it only Waitrose staff or other retailers as well? My client is a manager of a big store and now I am panicking that she will see my picture.

Does it mean that if they punished me in the shop, took my details and picture and I signed ban letter and they let me go That's the end of it? Or do they sometimes continue investigation? My heart is beating fast, my head spinning. I don't want to dig in the Internet anymore as it is driving me crazy. I am worried that at some point I will receive a letter from police Is it something possible to happen?

I will never ever do it again. Never again in my life. I went shopping to Sainsbury and I saw a big guy followed me. That scared me a lot. I don't know if I was paranoid. I was so scared to even scan. But I guess they can still involve the police and that's what is worrying me. That it can even take 6 months. How do I function in the next 6 months

Thank you so much for your help. I struggle with mental health. I have PTSD, depression and anxiety. I will go to gp on Monday and take anti depressants as I am not okay. I look at my children and cry. I will have to live with that shame for the rest of my life. I didn't tell my husband nothing as I am so embarrassed. Is there ANY chance they can contact the police? like are there any cases? and I could be one of them? Does store could do something without informing me? They told me that I probably shoplifted before, as people like me do it. I don't deserve a glass of water. They were shouting in the store Look at the shoplifter. I am traumatised, but I deserved all of this. I just need to know if police can be involved by any chance and what do I do now

I am extremely embarrassed to even write this I wish so badly I could go back in time I shoplifted in Waitrose and got caught. I left the store and security guy asked me to go the small room. There were few members of staff ganging on me. I peed from stress and was shaking. They asked me if its my first time I said yes They calculated value, took pictures of me, I had to sign banning letter. One lady kept shouting that they should call police. They released me and told me to never come back to any Waitrose store for lifetime. How embarrassing. It happened 3 days ago. Since then I can not eat, can not sleep. I am paranoid. When someone knocks at the doors I jump. I can see police arresting me in my head. I feel like I can not function anymore. I am thinking that security is now checking all cctv cameras gaining evidence and filing case against me. I feel like any life is going to be ruined. My mind already is. Please let me know, could they contact Police on Thursday without telling me? Can police now be investigating my case? Can I be charged? If I google information I am in a more panic state and I can't read as everywhere it says that I can go to prison.