Shoplifting in TK Maxx London

[mina]

Hi,
I got pulled over for shoplifting in Tk Maxx (value under 50 pounds) and the security took me to the room, and made me sign a paper (have no idea what it was). I gave back the goods undamaged. Told me I am banned from entering all their shops for an year. They do have my name and address and told me they will send a letter (small fine). I am non from non eu country and gave them the address saying that I am a tourist. The thing is that I am a resident in UK....so I am freaking out they will figure it out and find me. No police was involved. Do they use face recognition in the stores? Should I take a risk and continue shopping (not stealing) in the shop? Do they have my name in the system? Is it safe to use my credit card for payments? I feel like I ruined my life with this stupid thing....It was my first time ever and when they pooled me over I almost fainted. Thank you

[des8]

Hi,
I got pulled over for shoplifting in Tk Maxx (value under 50 pounds) and the security took me to the room, and made me sign a paper (have no idea what it was). I gave back the goods undamaged. Told me I am banned from entering all their shops for an year. They do have my name and address
(is that your UK address?) and told me they will send a letter (small fine (NOT a fine..it is just a speculative invoice for imagined costs..in UK only courts impose fines)). I am non from non eu country and gave them the address saying that I am a tourist. The thing is that I am a resident in UK....so I am freaking out they will figure it out and find me.(no one is going to come looking for you) No police was involved. Do they use face recognition in the stores?(doubtful) Should I take a risk and continue shopping (not stealing) in the shop?(Up to you. If they notice you all they can ask is for you to leave) Do they have my name in the system?(yes) Is it safe to use my credit card for payments?(probably, as there will be no problems as you are paying and not stealing!) I feel like I ruined my life with this stupid thing....It was my first time ever and when they pooled me over I almost fainted. Thank you

Comments in red.
A stupid mistake like this will not ruin your life. It is hardly the crime of the century and there will be no repercussions.
The address you gave will be sent a series of letters demanding payment.
Our advice is to ignore them.
They will sound ever so threatening, and may even have red writing on them.
They are designed to part the vulnerable from their money
But just ignore them and they eventually stop sending the letters

[mina]

Hi Des8, Thank you so much. I gave them my mom's address in non eu country even ifÂ* live in uk. Are they going to send a letter there? I am freaking out that they will find out that I am resident- find my address and send a letter so my husband can see. That would be the end of my marriage, I am sure. I am becoming paranoid about face recognition system....yesterday I freaked out in another store thinking that I have been followed. Are you saying that if I go to the shop and pay with my credit/debit card..the information about me will pop up to the cashier screen and he/she will know?Â*

[des8]

I suggest you contact your mother to warn her she might receive letters demanding payment and these should be ignored.

I don't see them even trying to find out where you live in the UK, as that will cost them money.
All they want is to scare people into paying their demands at as little cost to themselves as possible.

Altho' it is probably possible I don't know of any store which uses a system which will alert a cashier to a customer's past actions, so please relax.

Why would your husband end your marriage simply because you made a minor error of judgement?
I would hope you receive the support you need to stand against those who will be sending unwarranted demands for money, whilst pretending to take the moral high ground.

[mina]

Hi Des8,

It is probably me who see this whole thing as extremely disgusting, not my husband who will (hopefully) never find out. I will never understand why I did it....it was my first time... being 40 years old...very good financially settled, highly educated....super straight my whole life, hard working...fighting against thief in my very long carrier of being a store manager myself. I just cant understand my decision at that moment. It was a around 30 pounds thing. I am depressed and super paranoid. I think that there is a face recognition database where all the shops who have cctv have my face and they all know what I did, and that they are watching me. I was reading about those face recognition systems being installed in very large number of the stores. At the end...I have no idea what did i sign in the store. Maybe I sign the consent for them to use my photo. I just do not know how to keep up with my lifelike this...being scared to go to the groceries shop.

[des8]

There are some stores in the UK using facial recognition systems, but can't find evidence that TKMaxx are in that number.
But even if they are using it, and recognise you and decide they don't want your custom, all they can do is ask you to leave.

I suspect you will never be asked to leave.

If this incident is truly affecting you, perhaps you should consult your GP ....... he will have heard it all before and won't be shocked or judgemental