Caught shoplifting in Asda

[RM2802]

Hi All,

please help. I am really embarrassed about this and wish I hadn’t done it but I just got caught shoplifting in Asda.

the security guard ran after me as I exited the shop. He took my full bag of shopping off me even though I paid for some of them but did not detain me or ask my to come into the store.

I don’t know why I done this and it wasn’t my first time. J never take anything big, just a few things. It’s not even things I need or don’t have money for.

I don’t have a job at the moment, my boyfriend keeps me as I stopped working at the start of the pandemic as I was trying to start my own cleaning business but was too scared to go back into peoples houses in case I caught Covid.

i used our joint account card to pay for some of the items and I’m petrified they’ll track me and send the police to my door.

ive never down anything like this before and am usually a good member of the public. I take medication for my mental health and I’m stressing like mad I’ll get arrested. I could t handle the shame and have learned my lesson. I’ll never do it again. I’m almost glad I was caught as it’s given me the push i need to stop the senseless stealing.

sorry for the long story but I thought background might help.

id appreciate some advise as I need to calm myself down, my anxiety is going through the roof right now.

[mrlexus]

Did the security guard detain you or just take your items off you?
Do you have a receipt?

[RM2802]

Thanks for commenting. No he didn’t detain me..just grabbed my bag off me and said I’ll take that and went back into the store with them, he didn’t as me to go with him. No I don’t have a receipt. The few items I paid for on the self service machine, when it asked if I wanted a receipt I said no.

to be honest I panic a lot when I need to wear a mask in the shop and I think this could be a reason for it. I’m always petrified staff or customers come near me. So I pay to get it over with, realise I have a few bits in my basket still and I just bag them

so embarrassed

[mrlexus]

Don't be embarrassed Anxiety is a real problem for people (me included).

No matter what you paid for (or forgot) to pay for the security guard needs 100% proof of shoplifting seen with his own eyes and not someone else. If this was the case then he would have detained you and called the police. This did not happen so now he is left liable for assault and theft of your items. Your defence would be that you only paid for what was in your bag at the time of him grabbing your bag and anything else could have been added when he snatched the bag from you and reentered the store. You felt too anxious and scared to follow the security guard so you just left.

Get his name and report him to the SIA if you feel his actions threatened you or made you feel anxious. He can't just grab you or your bag.

As far as your mask, you are exempt from wearing because you have anxiety which you do not need to disclose to anyone under any circumstances.

[RM2802]

Its more about how I reacted. Felt like the woman in the shop was watching me and was going to come over to me and I don’t want anyone near me. That’s why I panicked. Wear a mask to protect myself despite my anxiety. I have felt like it’s worth suffering wearing it for. Maybe not after today.

Really, I would be to scared to go back in and challenge them. Especially in case they try and detain me. Do you think it would be worth their while tracing the payment to get the police to come to my house or am I being over dramatic?

really appreciate you making me feel better, I know I’m probably over reacting but my mind has been working overtime since I got home.

[mrlexus]

If the security had proof of shoplifting he/she would have detained you on the spot. You made an honest mistake because of your anxiety and you just wanting to leave the shop. No police officer would arrest you or come out to your house for making an honest mistake like that. If they have no proof then you can say you paid for all your goods and they cannot prove otherwise.

It may be worth making a phone call and talking to the manager about what happened. Do not mention leaving the store with unpaid goods just say the security had snatched away your bag and did not return it & no explanation was given as to why.