Tweet
Hello guys. I am really embarrassed to admit this but today I was caught shoplifting form Tesco. I'm fully aware I've done something very wrong, and I'm not trying to make any excuses but I'm going through a rough patch, which again, it doesn't excuse me from my behaviour.
I bought some items worth £45 but I stupidly hid some other stuff in my bag. After paying and trying to leave I was stopped by the security guard who asked if he could talk to me in the back room. He asked if I knew why he stopped me and I admitted what I did. He said he saw me on CCTV, then went through my receipt and my bag and found the hidden stuff (all of them food items worth £30, which he kept).
He asked for my name and my ID which I was unable to produce because, aside from my passport stored at home, I don't have any form of ID. He then asked for my address, but I could only to give him the number and street, no postcode because I honestly don't know it, as I've only lived there for a short period and it's not even my place.
He said the store manager would have to come and then call the police to sort my identity. He asked if I have a criminal record (which I don't), took a picture of me and told me it will be circulated to all the Tescos in the area, so I am banned from them. While we were waiting for the manager he pressed for more information about my ID and address and I had to come clean: I am an immigrant whose situation is "complicated", I’m stuck in this country and I don't have an official address because for the last couple of years I've been staying at different places with friends. I can't get a job or claim benefits, and the only reason I've resorted to shoplifting is because I'm trying to put away what little money I sometimes make to buy a ticket to go back to my country.
After I told him this, he just repeated the thing about my picture and the ban. He told me to pick up the things I paid for and then I was let go.
Now, I am somewhat relieved the police wasn't called, but I'm also worried about two things:
1) The £45 shopping I actually did was for my friends (the owners of the place I'm staying at). Although it was paid with cash they gave me, I scanned their clubcard as I always do when they ask me to buy stuff for them... I know I didn’t give the full address to the security guy, but he can easily pull it from the clubcard info. I've read people in my situation receive a letter from DWF with a demand for payment, he didn’t mention anything about it but I think I might receive it because I gave him my name. Would it be addressed to me or to my friends?
2) Next time my friends go shopping and scan their card, will it trigger any sort of warning? I am mortified about this, I haven't told them what happened because I am afraid they won't want someone like me staying at their place and I have nowhere else to go right now. But if it's going to cause any problems next time they go shopping I'm going to have to tell them the truth beforehand.
Sorry for the long post. I am extremely embarrassed, and I know I acted like an idiot. I don't have anyone to talk to about this, so any advice will be deeply appreciated.
I bought some items worth £45 but I stupidly hid some other stuff in my bag. After paying and trying to leave I was stopped by the security guard who asked if he could talk to me in the back room. He asked if I knew why he stopped me and I admitted what I did. He said he saw me on CCTV, then went through my receipt and my bag and found the hidden stuff (all of them food items worth £30, which he kept).
He asked for my name and my ID which I was unable to produce because, aside from my passport stored at home, I don't have any form of ID. He then asked for my address, but I could only to give him the number and street, no postcode because I honestly don't know it, as I've only lived there for a short period and it's not even my place.
He said the store manager would have to come and then call the police to sort my identity. He asked if I have a criminal record (which I don't), took a picture of me and told me it will be circulated to all the Tescos in the area, so I am banned from them. While we were waiting for the manager he pressed for more information about my ID and address and I had to come clean: I am an immigrant whose situation is "complicated", I’m stuck in this country and I don't have an official address because for the last couple of years I've been staying at different places with friends. I can't get a job or claim benefits, and the only reason I've resorted to shoplifting is because I'm trying to put away what little money I sometimes make to buy a ticket to go back to my country.
After I told him this, he just repeated the thing about my picture and the ban. He told me to pick up the things I paid for and then I was let go.
Now, I am somewhat relieved the police wasn't called, but I'm also worried about two things:
1) The £45 shopping I actually did was for my friends (the owners of the place I'm staying at). Although it was paid with cash they gave me, I scanned their clubcard as I always do when they ask me to buy stuff for them... I know I didn’t give the full address to the security guy, but he can easily pull it from the clubcard info. I've read people in my situation receive a letter from DWF with a demand for payment, he didn’t mention anything about it but I think I might receive it because I gave him my name. Would it be addressed to me or to my friends?
2) Next time my friends go shopping and scan their card, will it trigger any sort of warning? I am mortified about this, I haven't told them what happened because I am afraid they won't want someone like me staying at their place and I have nowhere else to go right now. But if it's going to cause any problems next time they go shopping I'm going to have to tell them the truth beforehand.
Sorry for the long post. I am extremely embarrassed, and I know I acted like an idiot. I don't have anyone to talk to about this, so any advice will be deeply appreciated.
Comment