Caught Shoplifting Store Ban Shopping Centre Ban Advice Needed

[Parks123]

Hi. Just joined this fantastic site. Just wanted to confirm:

 

1) Are any posts I make shared to my social media or contained within this site only? 

2) Can I be identified from my username? 

 

Thanks - need to make a detailed post but wanted to check this first.

[dx100uk]

We and you are anon.

 

Dx

[Parks123]

Many thanks. Would any posts made with admission of an offence allow police to request my real registration details for prosecution? 

[honeybee13]

No. If you think your username would identify you, we can change it. Send dx or me a PM.

 

HB

[Parks123]

Thank you for clarifying.

[Parks123]

Hi.

I badly need advice as worried sick.

Please no lectures about my behaviour as I'm beating myself up enough and am suffering with anxiety and depression.  

 

Caught leaving a store with unpaid items in a shopping centre this weekend by security.

Led to a small room, told I was being filmed.

Goods from store recovered (just under £400).

 

A few items also recovered from other stores (worth £22 for one store and £80 for the other) these were confiscated as I had no receipts and was told they would be returned to those stores.

No ID only credit card on me.

 

Was told if no ID then police will be called but they didn't call them.

Gave them my real address and age.

They took lots of photos of me.

 

woman went to price everything taken to get a value. Was given a letter which I had to sign advising of a lifetime ban for that store and this had the total of goods for that store written on. Shopping centre security guy also gave me a letter advising of a 12 month ban from whole shopping centre. Was told my photo would be circulated to all other stores in shopping centre.

 

Was escorted off premises. Absolutely worried sick about what will happen now so need some advice please.

 

1) As no police were called can store still inform them and take action?

 

2) They did not mention a Retail Loss Prevention scheme but I am still expecting to get something through the post.

 

3) If I do get a letter from RLP or others will the envelope be stamped with their name. Im out early and hubby reaches the post first. Having severe relationship problems so cant fess up to what ive done.

 

4) If items returned to the other stores can those stores decide to involve the police in their own right as the original store has my address to give them and could they instigate their own store ban?

 

5) When items returned to other stores will they check their cctv or not bother?

 

6) If my photo is circulated to all the other stores in the centre and they recognise me from past incidents (non frequent and where I wasn't caught) can they check cctv and involve the police?

 

7) If other incidents come to light from the above could police turn up and search my house?

 

Sorry for all the questions but I am sick with fear of a knock  on my door and being arrested in front of my kids.

 

I am thoroughly ashamed and will seek help for my issues from various sources urgently.

[honeybee13]

Hi.

 

As you say, you need to seek help to make you feel a bit better about things and to help you stop doing this before it gets really serious. And you need to read a fair few shoplifting threads on here to understand how it all works.

 

If the police weren't called on the day then from what we see on the forum, they won't be now. You'll need to avoid the shopping centre for a while though.

 

I don't know if envelopes from retail loss prevention companies look like, but they can't do anything to you. Only the retailer can start court proceedings.

 

HB

[dx100uk]

1. nope the police wont now be involved.

2. which you TOTALLY ignore.

3. we believe they do yes .

4. nope they wont/now can't.

5. nope never bother

6. all a scare tactic. they cant under GDPR rules. nope cctv. nope police

7. no they dont scan for other incidents and wont bother too. 

you will never be arrested

forget about it all
ignore RLP.

go seek some help from your GP in confidence.

we have numerous like threads over the years, not ONE has ever comeback with any further issues.

dx
 

[Parks123]

Thank you so so much for your advice. Haven't eaten since it happened and got migraines.

 

If RLP stamp the envelope then doesnt that breach any Data Protection or GDPR laws as surely its announcing to the postman and whoever picks up the letter first what the contents are?

 

Also does the amount of the retrieved goods (just under £400) mean that if I ignore all demands from RLP then they/shop will pursue in court as it wasnt a very small amount like a lot of examples in the Uncivil Recovery 2010 Document from the Citizens Advice Bureau?

 

Having said that all the items were retrieved in a saleable condition so there is no loss there. 

 

I can live with never going into the particular store I got a lifetime ban from but am very upset about the 12 month ban from the whole centre. Security did say after 12 months I can write to them to have the ban lifted.

 

I wonder if writing earlier would be worthwhile. Its going to be difficult to make excuses to friends who want to go albeit not that frequently.

 

If I did go and changed my appearance so got into the centre unrecognised could their car park cameras recognise my car registration and get me that way?

 

This detail wasnt given to them but I wonder if they can find out - probably havent the time though. 

 

Thanks again for your help and I will keep you updated on events. 

[dx100uk]

Just stay out of that one store 

 

They will not and cannot under GDPR laws that protect you, circulate anything nor use your person details like a reg no to trace you. 

 

Go get help talk to your DR. Carry on with your normal life, just stay out of that one store.

 

There is nothing anyone can do to you...end of 

 

 

[Parks123]

Hi.  1 week on and no letter yet from RLP.  Seems most retailers do use a civil recovery scheme so can't see why the store I was detained at wouldn't. Fully expect a letter to arrive next week. 

 

Have been reading extensively about  civil recovery and loss prevention officers and wondering - when I was taken into the side room the store security made me stand up against a white background and took loads of photos, the shopping centre security manager did the same. They didn't ask for consent and just ordered me to do it. I was so scared that I just did what i was told. Could I legally have refused? 

 

Guess they would have made more threats if I hadn't of complied and got the police. Weird thing is that as I didn't have full photo ID with me they said they would call police and due to the value of goods recovered I fully expected the police to turn up but they didn't. Once back home I wondered if they decided not to call the police as I had been fully compliant and caused them no grief however wondering now if the police actually refused to come - it was weekend mid afternoon in a shopping centre so police must have been stretched. Plus it was obvious I was on my own and didn't meet the "usual shoplifter profile" - security guys words. 

 

Thanks again for your advice in all this. 

Will keep you updated.

 

 

[dx100uk]

Could be months . But you ignore it totally

 

Stop panicking .

Stop reading up on things you don't need to as all it does is panic you .

 

Go have a chat with your GP.

 

Dx

 

 

[Parks123]

Thank you. 

[BazzaS]

On 05/02/2023 at 16:31, Parks123 said:

 

I can live with never going into the particular store I got a lifetime ban from but am very upset about the 12 month ban from the whole centre. Security did say after 12 months I can write to them to have the ban lifted.

 

I wonder if writing earlier would be worthwhile. Its going to be difficult to make excuses to friends who want to go albeit not that frequently.

 

 

Shoppers have an implied permission to enter shopping centres during their hours of opening.
That permission can be revoked (as it has in your case). It can be revoked for whatever reason the land owner chooses, though it seems entirely reasonable to withdraw permission for shoplifters.

 

It may affect you adversely, and you may have to come up with reasons why to tell your friends ("Security there were just so rude to me for no reason, they don't deserve my custom!, I wont go in on principle!"   ?). However, it is a consequence of your own actions, so you may just have to 'suck it up'. If you go in with friends while banned, security may approach you and ask you to leave ... surely that'd be even more embarrassing?.

[Parks123]

Hi. Quick update. So dreaded letter arrived today from RLP (took almost 2 weeks). Has "If Undelivered return to Retail Loss Prevention Limited ...." disgusted at that plastered clearly on the envelope but think it forms part of their nasty scare tactics.

 

Anyway they say due to my "alleged" actions that it "caused significant disruption" to the store in terms of "value of the goods, diversion of its staff time and associated security and administration costs". All items were recovered in a saleable condition. They are demanding a "fixed cost" of £325.00! 

 

There were 2 security people involved and I was maximum 30-40 minutes with them. Even allowing for an hour each at say £15 each per hour that is £60. There sum of £325 is ridiculous. All other security costs, cctv operator etc would have been the same if I had chosen to stay home that day. 

 

So do I write back asking for a full break down of personnel costs etc 

and then challenge it quoting the law case back in 2012? Or is it best to totally ignore then and in no way engage with them? They also addressed the letter to the wrong gender and missed some of my address off so it could have gone to a neighbour. So they can't even prove I received it. Although I realise there will be plenty more threatening letters to come.

 

I have read up on your other excellent posts on here about this matter but need some strong reassurance so that I don't submit to their bully boy tactics. Thankfully Im having a good day re my anxiety but I really feel for people at rock bottom who receive this blackmail. 

 

Thanks for your time.

[dx100uk]

no no no

you ignore them and give their letters to your hamster.

 

dx

[Parks123]

Hi. Quick update. So second letter arrived with threatening legal language in. I have ignored. Letter 3 arrived with more legal threats. 

 

They say that as I haven't disputed the claim or provided any information, mitigating circumstances or financial difficulties then they are concluding that I admit the wrongful act and the claim made. Talk about acting as judge and jury! 

 

They talk about it proceeding to the county court where I may have to pay legal fees and interest. If I don't respond or pay within 14 days they say they will advise their client to issue proceedings against me "if it chooses". 

 

From reading up on this matter and many other cases writing to them with any information will not change things, they really don't care about mitigating circumstances or financial difficulties. I'd like to quote the case from 10 years ago where they lost in court but don't think you can reason with a company like this.

 

Your advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thank you.
 

 

[honeybee13]

My view would be to ignore but see what other people think.

 

As you say, there hasn't been a court case for years. They first have to convince their client to go ahead and given what happened in the Oxford case, they may well decide not to.

 

HB

[dx100uk]

excellent work Parks, simply keep ignoring their scamming to try and convince you you need to wet yourself and cough up.

 

as with all DCA letters and rubbish like this, it's all a load of 'ole twaddle' very carefully written over 30yrs of testing, to see if it works. 

the letters if read carefully never ever ever say WILL anything, but are full of if,but,maybe,instructed, could,possibly...type words but never WILL!!

 

chin up !! good work.

 

dx

 

[Parks123]

Thank you so much for your advice and support. I can see how RLP's threatening letters scare some into paying but as you said their letters do use "may, could" etc an awful" lot. 
 

I will keep you updated as hopefully this thread is assisting other readers. 

 

Best wishes. 

[dx100uk]

If you type in rlp in our search 

 

You'll see the EXACT same letters you have in other people's threads..

 

Dx

[azzot]

Any updates?

[Parks123]

Yes. 4'th letter received last week. They are now offering a reduced sum for me to pay. I'm tempted to write and explain their sum is unreasonable and quote the Liverpool case but I realise that there is no reasoning with such a company and that to engage with them will encourage them. Therefore I will continue to ignore their letters but will keep updating my post on here.