Caught shoplifting - Help please

[Mecki]

Ok, so I am really disgusted and humiliated in myself for doing this but recently I shoplifted a £10 item from the store B&M's. The reason why I did this was because my friends said it was easy and told me/pressured me to do this with them and while I was walking to the train station I got pulled up by a security guard and got told to come back to the store. When I got back to the store I handed the item that I had taken back to him and began to give him my details, he then said that I was to expect a fine in the mail which I would have to pay, I have only just received the fine and it is a fine from CRS of £83.14 and I honestly don't have the money to pay this be I'm struggling with rent and supporting myself while I am in college. So I was wondering if anything would happen to me if I just ignored this fine or would it go onto my record? because I am really scared about it.
Also the police weren't called to the store, they just told me to expect a fine and pay it then let me and my friends leave.

[des8]

Re: Caught shoplifting - Help please

Hi and welcome.

CRS are a debt collecting agency that act in much the same way as an outfit called Retail Loss Prevention.
They cannot fine you,as in the UK only courts can levy fines.
Haven't ever seen one of their letters, but presumably it is on the lines that you were caught shoplifting and have caused their client (B&M) loss or extra staff costs or some such nonsense, and you must pay or they will advise their client about court options.
The goods were returned in a resaleable condition(?) and so B&M have lost nothing and are entitled to nothing.
CRS will send ever more scary letters threatening court and all manner of calamities.
Ignore them.
Only respond if you ever get proper genuine court papers

[Mecki]

Re: Caught shoplifting - Help please

Ok, thank you so much for the reply des, i feel dumb for even attempting to shoplift tbh but after reading what they wrote in the letter that i got sent it was mostly bs.. they said that i was paying for the loss and damage to the item yet i gave it back to them in perfect condition along with the package it came in.

- - - Updated - - -

i would add a picture of the letter that i recieved but im not sure how to send pictures from my phone or if i can

[des8]

Re: Caught shoplifting - Help please

Obviously a standard template letter that goes to anyone they think they can squeeze.

[seter]

Re: Caught shoplifting - Help please

try to explain your situation to them

[Openlaw15]

Re: Caught shoplifting - Help please

Ok, so I am really disgusted and humiliated in myself for doing this but recently I shoplifted a £10 item from the store B&M's. The reason why I did this was because my friends said it was easy and told me/pressured me to do this with them and while I was walking to the train station I got pulled up by a security guard and got told to come back to the store. When I got back to the store I handed the item that I had taken back to him and began to give him my details, he then said that I was to expect a fine in the mail which I would have to pay, I have only just received the fine and it is a fine from CRS of £83.14 and I honestly don't have the money to pay this be I'm struggling with rent and supporting myself while I am in college. So I was wondering if anything would happen to me if I just ignored this fine or would it go onto my record? because I am really scared about it.
Also the police weren't called to the store, they just told me to expect a fine and pay it then let me and my friends leave.

Criminal courts ie Magistrates have fines. When the police say 'fine' they likely mean a fine through the Magistrates Court. Were you offered a Caution by the police?

Civil (ie not criminal) County Court (small claim): any B & M's losses are only claims if the County Court makes an order to compensate their losses. The £83.14 B & M are claiming is likely a claim for losses, which means they have to prove they have £83 losses. It's the court judge who gives its decision on this matter. However, you gave the item back so they never had a loss with the product. They may be able to claim the £83 for security personal being off or distracted from their usual job tasks but it would appear unlikely. There is a County Court case in your favour. It will cost B & M money to be heard by the judge. It seems very unlikely they'll do anything about it so are just threatening you to see if you'll give in to their (B & M's) threats/ demands.

[Mecki]

Re: Caught shoplifting - Help please

they didnt involve the police at the time so i only got asked to write down my details and then got told that i would recieve a fine in the mail. Now from what i was thinking, they cant exactly do much because 1. it was a £10 item 2. i gave the item back in perfect condition so they did not lose any resell value on the said item along with it not being damaged 3. if they take me to court and ssy that i wasted their time then all i really need to say is that its their job, the applied for the job for that exact reason and finally i think someone mentioned that the last time CRS tried to take someone to court they practically humilliated themselves because they hardly have a case.

[des8]

Re: Caught shoplifting - Help please

ignore and forget!

[PAWS]

Re: Caught shoplifting - Help please

Des has steered many a worried soul through similar situations. Take the time to read through their threads (Search Shoplifting or RPL) and you will see what I mean.
You have gone through the regret, fretting and worrying, you have been punished so move on and come back on here if they start to give you more grief.

[wh11]

Re: Caught shoplifting - Help please

Did u ignore letters

[des8]

Re: Caught shoplifting - Help please

Probably because they never came back!

[ABCD1234]

Re: Caught shoplifting - Help please

Dear all,

Thank you for your contribution, and I've been reading a lot threads on the topics of RLP and "caught shoplifting".
Could you spare some time to read my instance and kindly me offer me some updated advice?

I am an international student, and I have been a regular customer at Waitrose and John Lewis from time to time.
Yesterday, I went in to Waitrose at Canary Wharf for my grocery and some xmas present shopping.
I used one of my the newish self check-out machine, which doesn't equip with a scale at the bagging area.
At the end of my purchase, I realised that there were items in the bagging area that I haven't scanned, and did not alert the machine.
Although I did know that I underpaid, I simply thought that there was a fault in the system and I was lucky.
When I walked out, I was stopped by the shop detector and asked to go to their security room.
I was being very cooperative the whole time, which one of the personnel agreed.
When it happened, I immediately offered to settle the difference, including the penalty, because I did intend to pay for all the purchase.
It was a spur of moment that I thought I was lucky to experience a malfunction on the machine, so I decided to walk out without paying the full amount.
I recognised instantly that I have made a shameful mistake, and I am very sorry for what I have done sincerely.
I apologised and wish to settle the payment, but I was told that it doesn't work like that, I've broken the trust, and my chance to pay was at the till.
The shop detector recognised me that I am a regular customer, and asked to take my ID, address, photo (on their iPad) and confisticated my My Waitrose card. Subsequently, I was then issued two banning orders, a permanent one from Waitrose store manager, and a period one (24 months) from the security personnell at Canary Wharf.
Besides the banning order, I was also given a paper from RLP (Notice of Intended Civil Recovery),
and told that I should expect a fine, which the notice indicates what costs might be included.
Although the police was called, they never turned up, and was cancelled by the shop detector in the end.
In all fairness, I wasn't treated badly, and they seemed to sympatheise my side of story after my heartfelt explanation.
There was a moment, I was really upset, and I was comforted by the security personnel that I don't need to cry.
In the end, I was escorted to leave discreetly, and told that they will pass on my information to the police, but they might or might not visit me.

Prior to this, I have no any criminal record or any demeanours that involved the participation of the police force.
I do feel very dehumanised and humiliated by my conduct. I have been reflecting on this, and as I expressed to them, I am not expecting to walk away without facing any consequences.

At the moment, I haven't received any notice both from the police or RLP. However, I have these concerns hanging over my head :

1. Am I legally obliged to pay any invoice that might incur from RLP (on behalf of Waitrose)?
As the goods were not damaged (box gift sets) and returned, and I read something on the forum that any cost on their electricity, security and CCTV should be part of their business overhead, which makes no sense for me to pay. I was held in the room sitting on a chair for more than 2 hours, but the room wasn't kept just for me, it was their office.

The unpaid value for the goods comes to just over £200, I read somewhere that the standard charge might be somewhere between £150-180. Although the shop detector told me that she won't be surprised if the penalty comes to be 10 times or more, which might be £2000. Is this correct?
Although I have been thinking that I should face the consequence and pay, both for my moral comfort, and to prevent any further development on this instance, I don't see how they could justify the cost, especially if this sits somewhere above £150.


2. If the police never came, and I haven't been contacted in 24 hours. Is it possible that they were just letting me know the severity, part of the scared tactic? I wasn't interviewed or seen by any police force. Should I still worry about any criminal record both CRB and PNC (Police National Computer)?


Many many thanks for your attention on this.
I would truly appreciate to hear any sound and legally based advice that anyone could possibly offer?

[des8]

Re: Caught shoplifting - Help please

Hi and welcome.

First thing we can be certain about is that RLP cannot fine you.
In the UK courts issue fines, the police and local authorities issue fixed penalty notices.
RLP send out requests for payment, also known as speculative invoices.
They dress them up with lots of legalese, but should be treated with contempt.
They are a type of vigilante and should be ignored.
The UK has a justice system, which while not perfect, does not need private companies enforcing their own brand of justice.
So anything received from RLP should be ignored.

IMO most unlikely that the police will turn up.
The store lost nothing and cancelled the call to the cops.

[ostell]

Re: Caught shoplifting - Help please

Your other worry about a criminal record is unfounded. No police (and they will not be contacting you) means no court which means there cannot be a criminal record, or any detrimental record.

[ABCD1234]

Re: Caught shoplifting - Help please

Hello Des8,

Thank you for your time to read my case, and I am sorry that there were quite a few typos there.
I am now feeling more prepared to face what might arrive in my letter box, and what to expect for the consequences.

To follow up, in your expertise, could you guess how much the invoice might be, should it arrive in the near future?

Regaridng my banning order, any experience how Waitrose might implement it?

In my mind, I've accepted that the banning order is part of the punishment for my misconduct, and will not risk to enter any Waitrose branches, until I could try to appeal to the head office with sincerity in a few weeks. However, I find it has started to affect my social life. I no longer can shop, enjoy a cup of coffee with my partner or friends at either Waitrose or John Lewis. I have been telling the truth to people I know that what I have shamefully done, and although they appreciate the honesty, it simply can make my life prisoned.
Have you got any thought that what and how I could express to Waitrose so they might consider to lift the banning order?

Much appreciated your time and knowledge sharing on this.