18 Year Olds Tried To Take From Boots, Got Caught And No Police Involved - Whats The Next Steps?

[Anonymous1]

Me and my friend are 18 years old and we stupidly tried to take some things from Boots like makeup and probiotic but we took the wrapper off which makes it look suspicious. As we left the store we got caught by the security guard and dragged into the store. He took pictures of us, the items and our provisional driving licenses. He didn’t say much at all to us and seemed very *** off. Then he told us to leave without calling the police but will the police be informed about it now?

We fully regret our decisions and are willing to pay for our consequences. However we are unsure of what these consequences will be. From what we have read online, we think that we will be sent a letter home for us to pay a fine but who will send this letter? Will it be the police or Boots? Also, what will the envelope look like because we don’t want our parents finding and opening it. What are the next steps?

If anyone could help us with these details, we would be grateful.

[davebro]

I doubt that you will hear any more about it.

[Anonymous1]

What about letters regarding a fine or being banned from the shop? Will we not get them?

[pastafreak]

I knew of a 15-16 year old who got banned from Debenhams along with a friend for shoplifting...think it was for a year. Stupid thing to do.

[Anonymous1]

But we are 18, so will the punishment not be different?
And the security guard did not mention anything to do with a ban on the shop. Can they ban us after the incident has taken place or should they have done it on the spot?

[pastafreak]

I'm just guessing that you would have been
taken off the shop floor,and the police would have been called by the security guard.
Here's some information...

https://www.inbrief.co.uk/offences/shoplifting/

[Anonymous1]

The police weren't called in our case, and the security guard checked us and took pictures of our ID and then told us to go.
Does this mean we're off the hook? Or will they send us letters about it?

[Teapots1]

I think you deserve the worry of wondering what might happen. Then the next time you think of doing it you may start to wonder if its worth it. So I won't advise. :0)

[pastafreak]

Sorry, I don't know. You'll need one of AB's legal eagles to answer that.

[Hopkirk]

I don't see how they could fine you, but I expect there are pictures of you on the wall in the security office.

[bednobs]

my first question would be: what did they say when they released you?
secondly, any letter they send you will look like a letter! why would your parents open your mail when you are 18 anyway?

[Anonymous1]

They didn't say anything at all when they released us, and we aren't at home to receive the letter as we are at uni. So our parents will most probably open it.

[bednobs]

that seems a most odd situation to me - a parent opening their adult child's post. In anycase if you arent living there you should have changed your details on your licence i suppose.
Why don't you tell them now, perhaps they'll send you some money so you can afford to buy probiotics?

[Bobbisox1]

You’ll no doubt be added to their rogues gallery in the security office which will ban you both from the store(s) the photo quite possibly will be passed around other branches too ( I worked for Boots)

[Bobbisox1]

Can I ask you,was your photo actually taken by security ?
Or was it on their security cameras when you were caught?
I haven’t heard of a security guard actually taking a photo of a thief ( because that’s what you both are)

[Spicerack]

If they were going to ban you they would have told you at the time.
No point worrying, anyway. I doubt anything will happen but if it did, worrying won't change anything. You had a lucky break.
You aren't cut out for a life of crime. If you were, you wouldn't give two hoots what anyone said or thought.

[bhg481]

It sounds to me like the security guard recognised your horror at being caught and made the decision not to take things any further (and, possibly, wreck your future) on this occasion but insured his decision by recording your details. They might even circulate your details around other shops. Don't let him and yourself down by doing it again.

[Teapots1]

For what its worth, and due to the massive shortage of police tied up with more serious crime, and Boris still not doing a lot about the 20k new officers he promised. They now don't call the police if the value of the goods are under a certain value, I believe this to be under £300, or it was? and if you are a first offender. But if you are a persistent offender and being caught on a weekly basis, then the police are called.
To a degree this is a good idea, leaving police to other matters, but it does seem to have led to more trying their luck knowing the police will not be called, and they will only get banned by the shopping mall. They do take your photo so you can be picked out should come back in the shopping mall under your ban.

[Teapots1]

^^ All before mask wearing :0))))

[Anonymous1]

We had our photo taken by the security guard on his phone.

Can Boots find our home address by using our provisional drivers license or do they need to go to the police to find out?

[Teapots1]

If the goods have been returned to Boots, Boots will not bother, they've got bigger fish to fry with their lawyers than petty children.