M&S shoplifting incident

[Monkey1112]

Hello,
Im very sorry to bother you all but I saw some of your replies to other queries and I was wondering if you could help me too. I would be very grateful.
I was caught shoplifting from M&S last Thursday. It was a very stupid mistake and totally out of character which I regret deeply. The security guard stopped me in the street and escorted me back to the shop where they took me to a little room. There were three of them and a girl. They took my ID details and my photograph. They said that the manage wanted to call the police but they let me go with a letter saying I can’t enter the store again. As far as I know the police were not called while I was there. I am confused by the security saying the manager wanted to call the police. Why wouldn’t they call them while I was there? Is this common for them to call the police once you’ve left?
Again, I’m so sorry to bother you but it is drastically deteriorating my quality of life as I can’t stop thinking about this day and night.
Many thanks in advance.

[des8]

It is quite common for the offender to be told the manager wants to cal the police, but has been persuaded not to.
i think it is a scare tactic.
store find that calling the police does not produce an immediate appearance of the boys in blue, and when they do arrive the result is often a community resolution order.
Very uncommon for the matter to be reported to the police later
Stores deal with it themselves by issuing a ban, which is often followed by a claim for imagined costs from a third party company.
If you receive one of those demands, just ignore it and all subsequent letters

[Monkey1112]

Thank you so much for your reply! I’ve been worried sick that the police are going to turn up any minute. The whole situation was obviously very distressing (all my fault I know) , so looking back it was hard to remember what was actually said. it is reassuring to know that this is a scare tactic.

[Monkey1112]

Hello,
Sorry, me again. I’m really struggling to put this behind me. I know you said that the security is unlikely to let me go and then call the police. Is there a way of checking if the police have been notified? The reason I’m asking is they took down the details form my driving liscence and the address on it is no longer correct. So I am concerned that the police will send a letter to that address, I won’t see it, resulting in more trouble.
Also, the security room my photograph. Is this likely to have been circulated around other stores and companies?
Many thanks in advance.

[des8]

Rest assured the police will not be notified, but do report the change of address (https://www.gov.uk/change-address-driving-licence)
You don't want a fine for failing to do that!

As for the photograph ..... unlikely it will be pinned up in the staff rest room, and even if it is circulated I doubt anyone will study it.

Just get on with your life, and avoid that particular store for a few months.
If you are found in there while the ban is still in force, all they can do (if you are not misbehaving!) is ask you to leave.
If you refuse to leave they can use sufficient force to eject you.