Sainsbury’s Incident - Outcomes?

[Guest]

Hello all. I’ve seen a number of similar posts, but your input would be much much appreciated. As background context, I suffer from severe anxiety, and panic attacks. I am of course receiving ongoing support for this.*
The current pandemic has been extremely difficult for me. This coupled with a number of other factors are meaning I am struggling to cope. However, Earlier this week I went shopping to my local Sainsbury‘s to collect clothing for my son, and also some groceries. Due to the pandemic I have been obsessive about not using a trolly, and instead using my own bags.
This is so that I can clean the products before they go into my home. On this occasion, I put the clothes in one bag, the groceries in the other so I could Dettol the food packaging and put clothing in the washing machine. I got myself in such a haze during the visit, wanting to get out and get home - I scanned the groceries and totally forgot to scan the clothing.*
When I went to walk out - the scanners obviously went off. I stopped and spoke to the security guard, showing the security guard my bags and at that stage realised what had happened. I admitted that I’d forgotten to scan the clothing. He then changed his tone with me, becoming very accusatory and not believing my story. I then said I needed to pay for the items as was my intention. He walked me to a cashier where I paid for the items and then left. The Police were not called, and I was not questioned further by the security guard or the store manager. However he did take a copy of the receipt for the payment I made.
Due to my extremely severe anxiety and panic, I have not slept since this incident. I am so fearful that as a result of a genuine mistake and their zero tolerance I will loose my job, family and get a criminal investigation. and conviction. What is likely to happen? Did the security guard take the receipt in order to trace my details from that? I did ask what he needed that for, and he refused to tell me. What should I expect? Thank you.*

[des8]

A horrible experience.
It seems that security cannot accept that sometimes people make mistakes, perhaps because they hear it so often.

To reassure you, you will not be subject to a criminal investigation by the police, you will not go to court, you will not receive a criminal conviction.
You will not lose your job, nor your family because of this incident.

If they have your name and address you might receive a demand from a civil recovery firm (I think Sainsbury use DWF).
This will claim you have caused them losses and they want you to pay them.
You haven't caused them any loss, so owe them nothing
The letter is quite threatening, but actually toothless and should be ignored, as should subsequent letters.

However you may hear nothing as they didn't warn you about it.*

Now forget about the incident and just be more careful

[Celestine]

Very reassuring and accurate advice there from des8*
Absolutely forget any idea of prosecutions, police etc, we have seen hundreds of these cases over the years and unless the police were involved at the time of the incident, nothing more will happen.*
If they asked you for your name and address, that could indicate civil recovery could get involved but it doesn't sound like that happened either. All they have is your receipt which does not reveal your personal details so it was probably just for internal security processes.
It was a genuine mistake, no losses were incurred, nothing will happen. Please try and relax and start sleeping again. Come back to us straight away if you hear anything at all that makes you concerned. Take care X

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