Shoplifting and credit card tracing

[jheneaiko]

I shoplifted in Boots the other day, but also made a purchase with my credit card, so I'm probably on CCTV, and they have my credit card details.

 

 

I took approximately €30 worth of makeup, and as I was leaving the shop, I heard a shop assistant say "Excuse me!"

I didn't even look to see if it was me who she was talking to, I just ran.

 

 

I feel so terrible about both stealing and how dumb I was.

 

 

If they decide to trace me using my credit card details,

 

 

when should I expect a call from the police, a few weeks or months?

 

 

The worry is driving me crazy.

[honeybee13]

Hello and welcome to CAG.

 

I notice you say you paid in euros. Where are you based please?

 

My best, HB

[unclebulgaria67]

I shoplifted in Boots the other day, but also made a purchase with my credit card, so I'm probably on CCTV, and they have my credit card details. I took approximately €30 worth of makeup, and as I was leaving the shop, I heard a shop assistant say "Excuse me!" I didn't even look to see if it was me who she was talking to, I just ran. I feel so terrible about both stealing and how dumb I was. If they decide to trace me using my credit card details, when should I expect a call from the police, a few weeks or months? The worry is driving me crazy.

 

They might not bother, as they will have many thefts happening on a daily basis. They may not want their security staff spending time on searching through CCTV records, when they should be watching the store. They will catch people stealing and deal with them, mostly by using retail loss protection asking for a sum of money, rather than involving Police. Most high street stores don't contact the Police regarding small thefts and now deal with it on a civil basis.

 

Don't do it again and don't go back to that store. The security staff at the shop may have your picture.

[martin2006]

Sooner rather than later i would have thought.

 

Realistically speaking tho, the police would have a tough time going anywhere with this if there were no stolen goods in your possession, if and when they traced you. Unless of course you were to admit the wrongdoing.

[silverfox1961]

Hi and welcome to CAG

 

Firstly, you need to address the problem that caused you to shoplift in the first place. Try and work out the reasons why you did it,

 

Theoretically, the store could trawl through the CCTV and try to spot the time when you paid for the other stuff. They would have to pass on your details to the police for them to take action.

 

Whether they will is another matter which we cannot say one way or the other. If nothing happens, I suggest you get some postal orders to the value of the goods and send them to Boots head office. You can do this anonymously.

[jheneaiko]

Hello and welcome to CAG.

 

I notice you say you paid in euros. Where are you based please?

 

My best, HB

Hi, I'm in Ireland. Thanks

[jheneaiko]

Sooner rather than later i would have thought.

 

Realistically speaking tho, the police would have a tough time going anywhere with this if there were no stolen goods in your possession, if and when they traced you. Unless of course you were to admit the wrongdoing.

 

They would have CCTV evidence

[jheneaiko]

They might not bother, as they will have many thefts happening on a daily basis. They may not want their security staff spending time on searching through CCTV records, when they should be watching the store. They will catch people stealing and deal with them, mostly by using retail loss protection asking for a sum of money, rather than involving Police. Most high street stores don't contact the Police regarding small thefts and now deal with it on a civil basis.

 

Don't do it again and don't go back to that store. The security staff at the shop may have your picture.

 

Hi, thanks for your reply. We dont have RLP here in Ireland, I think most shops tend to call the police and let them deal with it.

[martin2006]

They indeed will have CCTV which is why i said sooner rather than later.

[jheneaiko]

They indeed will have CCTV which is why i said sooner rather than later.

 

Weeks or months?

[unclebulgaria67]

Weeks or months?

 

Days. If they bother to search, they will deal with it quite quickly.

[martin2006]

The incident was a couple of days ago as you say, if you havent had a visit within a week i doubt you will. It will require a lot of effort to get the information they need to trace you.

Unless you are a career criminal then the worst case scenario would be a fine in court. They would of course also have the burden of proving a theft had taken place.

Imho you have probably already got away with it this time but please refrain from repeating, you might not be so lucky again.

[jheneaiko]

Thanks guys. It's a relief to know I won't have to wait a long time. Feeling sick w anxiety