Banned from a supermarket but didn't steal anything

[ValkyrieForce]

I'm new to all this and not sure where else to post but I was banned today from a supermarket for buying the same thing over again.

 

I haven't stolen anything and all I did was buy something, take it out of the packet to use and now I've been banned -- all because I bought the item again but this time not for me.

 

Can they do this and can they stop me from reentering the store? I've not signed anything, it was just the security guard who told me I was banned. 

[BankFodder]

I don't really understand the story, but I don't think there's anything to worry about. If they didn't take any details then there are no records and nobody is going to approach you. If the store has other shops in its chain then nothing will stop you shopping there – and I would expect that in a few weeks time you can quite happily go back to the first store and shop and everybody will have forgotten it.

If you did nothing dishonest – then there is nothing to worry about and although you could challenge the behaviour of the security guard, it will just take a long time and no doubt they will get defensive and go into denial and it will become unpleasant and dragged on.

 

[Ethel Street]

I'm curious, what was the product?

 

And when you say "all I did was buy something, take it out of the packet to use" do you mean you took it out of the packet and used it before you had paid for it at the till?

[ValkyrieForce]

Bank -- thank you for that, I'm just really confused because it's not like I stole anything. 
 

Ethel - it was a kitchen knife and no, I had already paid for it. I just took it out the packet. 

[BankFodder]

It sounds to me as if the security guard jumped the gun – but on the other hand you properly have to understand that there are lots of people who go into the stores, and take things out of the packet and then try to steal them. So they get suspicious of everyone.

As I've said, I don't think you need to worry – but maybe in future you should wait until you leave the store before taking things out of the packet

[honeybee13]

I wonder if it was because it was a knife, given that even a kitchen knife can be dangerous in the wrong hands.

 

HB

[ValkyrieForce]

Bank - That's what I thought and thank you 

 

HB - I get that but it just seems harsh for punishment. 

Edited October 15, 2020 by ValkyrieForce

[Ethel Street]

To be blunt VF I think it is foolish to go into a supermarket and buy a knife and take it out of its packaging while still in the store. However innocent your motives for doing that other customers are likely to be concerned if they see someone walking around in a shop while holding a knife not in its packaging. I'm not surprised security intervened. Especially if you then returned to buy more knives.

 

 

[honeybee13]

I agree it seems harsh, as BankFodder says the security guard seems to have been unduly harsh but maybe he was worried when you went back and bought a second knife. There are concerns about selling single knives as they've been used to attack people.

 

A couple of links.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-47507937

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sale-of-knives-voluntary-agreement-by-retailers/sale-of-knives-voluntary-agreement-by-retailers

 

HB

[ValkyrieForce]

I get that but surely, whatever I decide to do with it once I've paid for it is up to me. It's not like I do it deliberately to scare people.

I still think a ban is harsh. 

[honeybee13]

Possibly a ban is a bit harsh in your case but I have to agree with Ethel Street about wandering around a supermarket with a knife that wasn't in its packaging. Security weren't to know that you're a nice person and wouldn't use the knife as a weapon.

 

HB

[jotty]

They can ban whoever they like without reason, its their property and as for walking around with a knife think they acted properly in banning you.

[BankFodder]

I'm not sure that we've been told that the OP was "walking around with a knife".

[ValkyrieForce]

I never said I was walking around with a knife, they just knew I had bought it. 

[jotty]

1 hour ago, ValkyrieForce said:

Ethel - it was a kitchen knife and no, I had already paid for it. I just took it out the packet.

So you didn’t take the knife out of its packet in the middle of a shop ? And were you polite when confronted by the security guard ?

[BankFodder]

What's the matter @jotty, bad day?

[ValkyrieForce]

@jottyno, no one saw me take the knife out of the packet. 

[jotty]

2 minutes ago, BankFodder said:

What's the matter @jotty, bad day?

No but the story does sound a bit strange with a few holes in it.

 

Anyway shop can ban whoever they like without giving a reason no matter how much the op thinks he is being victimised

[honeybee13]

12 minutes ago, ValkyrieForce said:

@jottyno, no one saw me take the knife out of the packet. 

 

Do thay have security cameras, VF?

 

HB

[ValkyrieForce]

@honeybee13Yes they do, it's a big superstore.

[honeybee13]

So they might have seen you on one of their screens?

 

HB

[ValkyrieForce]

When I did take the knife out, it was done in the toilets where there was no one around and it went straight in my pocket. All they knew was that I had bought it. 

[dx100uk]

quite honestly if i was aware that someone had purchased a kitchen knife

then came back and purchased a second one,

 

then was seen or were reported p'haps by a member of the public or anyone going into a toilet to take it out of it's packaging,

.. i'd not ban you i'd be ringing the police

 

who's to know you didn't have the first knife in your pocket still too and were not off to scream a few certain words whilst attacking people..

 

think you got off lightly...

 

 

 

 

[ValkyrieForce]

The knife was bought on separate days. I never had more than on one on me. 
 

The police were informed but nothing was done about it. 

[dx100uk]

ok good.

just puzzles me how they knew you'd removed it from its packaging as its in that to stop people stabbing others in a store.

so was a bit suss IMHO.

 

bottom line is they don't need a reason sadly.

 

they don't run Face recog anyway so give a week or two and it will be forgotten i expect

just keep out of that store for a while

 

dx