Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[groundhog]

Hi all - to those of you who have read my earlier posts you will see I'm not in a great place ATM!  Meno has left me a terrible worrier and on top of caring for my mother who is brain damaged, coping with sudden death of dad in law,  and my own health problems - chrons or chrons related - and a few other things I was mistakenly accused of shoplifting.   I can't believe it.  Since my mothers brain haemorrhage I don't go out much without her.  On Friday I decided to have a bit of me time and went to my local town where I shop several times a week.  Long story short I went into a well known respected high st store, picked up an order that I had placed and paid for online. The walked to coffee shop where I stayed for half an hour.  I left the store then went to another shop and immediately heard on the store net radio my description   Sometime later I was stopped by 3 plain clothes police officers asking if I had something in my bag I hadn't paid for.  I fell apart.  Crying shaking couldn't speak.  I was taken to a quiet area of the market and obviously the police soon realised this was a mistake.  I have never had so much as driving points and give my state of mind I didn't cope with it.  I insisted however ongoing back to the store to clear my name.  The security guard refused to come down saying it was the police's fault.  I eventually saw the manager and there will now be an investigation.  I was gutted - my husband arrived Ina dreadful state.  What an awful experience.  Has anyone been through this and if so what did you
do?  It just seems so unfair they can do with as it seems the information came from a memberof the public so the security guard never actually saw anything,  there is a vast CCTV system in this store -why didn't they check before putting me through this ordeal??
Oh dear - what a weekend.  Is it time for wine yet??

[Rowan]

A whole bottle groundhog, an awful experience, and I sincerely hope you get recompense.

  for you. 

[LilFeather]

    Just went through a round with being falsely accused myself, and it tore me to pieces so I completely understand.

So sorry.... ((((hugs))))

[honeybun]

 

What a terrible experience for you.


Honeyb
X

[bev567901]

That is a terrible story. I would have been so angry, humiliated the whole works.  I would write a letter & get an apology in writing.
My only similar thing was in a store that starts with an M & ends with an S. It was 20 yrs ago & I was in the food aisle & had taken my own bags a bit like people do now but it was unusual then. When I was near the till there was a man watching me & my first thought was that he was going to snatch my 5 year old. I watched him as he watched me, turns out he thought I was hiding things under my bags.
It is horrible to feel like a criminal when you have never done a wrong thing in your life. It goes round in your head & like you say you have alot on at the moment & don't need this extra stress. Angry doesn't even begin to describe how you must feel  B x

[groundhog]

Thank you for your replies.  Yes it was a horrible experience and even tho the manager of the store and the police were very apologetic I am still angry and upset and worry at what initiated this. Who said what to who that started off this process that ultimately led to the police being called.  What a waste of their time.  I have a lot of questions to ask this week. 
Bev - thank you - yes my experience too was in the same store but believe me it has now most definately lost its magic and sparkle 

[honeybun]

I think I would write a letter to the area manager asking for a detailed explanation. People's descriptions are kept and circulated. You need to make sure that nothing like this happens to you again. An official written apology is a must and a reassurance that the shop detectives don't have your details.

Honeyb
X

[Joyce]

How dteadful! I would be writing a letter to the store's manager, with copy to area manager. State what happened as clearly as you can. Also state that this has been very traumatic and that you'd appreciate a full apology. 

 

[Limpy]

Groundhog this sounds horrible.
It hasn't happened to me yet, but I keep on feeling it will, which is why I don't go out much.
Write to the store, give them hell.
All you wanted to do was pick up something you had paid for online.

Lots of hugs, drink that wine.

[bev567901]

Its funny because Limpy just said something I thought of last week. I don't know why but I had this thought too because I am all over the place.
We had a supermarket delivery last week & the bottle of brandy was missing. It's a wonder I noticed really but before I called I looked everywhere fridge, dishwasher, washing machine etc. Its probably an obvious thing to get stolen by the driver or packers or whoever esp near Christmas but I was worried I would find it a few days later after they brought a new one almost straight away.
I would drink that wine Groundhog & get your letter written & try & change the subject in your brain. Its a hard shop to stay away from sadly. B x

[dylan]

why dont you contact the head office of the store involved ,its not right , im sure they would , love to hear from , you .or the papers

[groundhog]

I can understand how at times of stress or indeed during the meno when some of us are not our best,  how easy it would be to pick somethng up and forget to pay or something but in my case nothing like that happened.  I didn't browse the store or anything - yet a member of the public is supposed to have told a member of staff she saw me put something in my bag.  I feel sick just typing it as either this is totally malicious or she has mixed me up with someone else.  But this is what cctv is for.  It's so horrendous to be falsely accused of something - I've never had any involvement with the police ever - apart from the fact my husband was a police officer !!!!  Ihavewriteen the letter and drunk the wine but I'm still angry xx
Dyan - at present it's with the manager.  My family want me to make a fuss but I just feel it will make me worse drawing attention to it so I will see what the manager says first but if imnot happy I will take it further.  I want an explanation of how this happened and why I was put in this awful situation xx

[Ju Ju]

What a horrible experience! Yes, you need an explanation. I think contacting head office would be a good idea. You need to tell them how this has affected you. They need to investigate this as this kind of incident is not just harmful to you, but also to their business. I'm sure they would not want this story being told to the media.

[Rose]

That's a horrible ordeal for you groundhog especially as you aren't feeling great. Have nothing to add but my sympathy and when you look back on this someday, you maybe in a much stronger place, emotionally. 

[CLKD]

I would ask for the Victim Support Officer of the Local Station to be involved too.  The arresting Police Officers will have made a statement of the reasons they were called to the Store and the outcome you may be able to access this.  Put forward like "I wonder who the Police felt when they realised that this was a false accusation?" ......... did they identify themselves with proper cards etc.? 

Perhaps speak to CAB and ask for an hour with their Solicitor?  Also how involved was the Security Guard?  Someone must know who called the Police and explanations ought to be forthcoming.

   ..........