[quietone90]

Okay, i'm going anon under a fake un. I need some advice - police or legal if possible.

I was in a linen shop a few days ago and I was so distracted and emotional (my first DD starting school the next day) and I saw a the doona cover that I had wanted for ages on clearance I had another large country road bag and my DD was with me and showing me nice sheet sets - i'd put my bags down looking for a particular size and my DD was shoving sheet sets on top of my bag - I pushed the stuff to the side and asked the shop assistant for my size and picked up my bag. She only had king size. I was about to walk out of the shop and shoved my bag on my other shoulder and thought 'that feels heavy'. the lady was looking at me weirdly and I freaked out and walked out of the shop. I had taken a sheet set. So stupid. I hid it in the next shop I went to. Then I was acting so stupidly - in shock. I went back to the shop and laybyed the doona cover (in the larger size and thought i'll just get a new doona soon) - using all my correct details and paid the deposit on credit card. I wanted to see her reaction to see if she suspected me - and wanted to work out if I could get the sheet set back into the shop somehow. I was so scared. In the end I decided to go home and try and get it back in there the next day - which I did - and picked up my layby.


Now i don't know what to do - i keep thinking the police are going to turn up at my door any second. I can't sleep and feel sick.

I'm the kind of person that goes back to the supermarket to pay for something they forgot to charge me for - I freak out if i'm parked 10 minutes over the limit in the shopping centre carpark - I don't do this sort of thing!!

Do I go to the police and turn myself in??? I can't think straight

[FluffyOscar]

Oh sweetie, I think everything will be ok. I don't think anything will come of it.

Why are you so stressed and distracted that this happened?

[Mrs Optimus]

Oh you silly!!! Take it back and explain!

My DS stole stuff all the time!! I took it all back and explained rather sheepishly. They were ok mostly. No one charged me!

[Ehill]

So you returned it right?

Please don't be losing sleep over this. The police are generally quite busy with break-ins, drunk drivers, hold ups, rapes, hoon driving, domestic violence.......they are not going to turn up.

Have a cup of tea and an early night.

[Escapin]

Just take it back. You'll be OK And as a PPer said, what else is going on that you're so distracted (and now so stressed)...

[Peppery]

I would take back and explain. I hung something on my nephews pram, wandered out of the shop, realised about 15 minutes later and rushed back to pay.

[jamdonut]

This is all a bit... bizarre.

You returned the doona cover to the shop, right? Stop worrying. The store would have to check the stock is missing before they could report it stolen to the police. If they check the stock on the floor against the stock listing in their computer system, they'll realise it hasn't been stolen.

Also, you have a receipt for the doona that you purchased. So there's no problems there.

This post has been edited by jamdonut: 31/01/2013, 08:07 PM

[twinboys]

Then I was acting so stupidly - in shock. I went back to the shop and laybyed the doona cover (in the larger size and thought i'll just get a new doona soon) - using all my correct details and paid the deposit on credit card. I wanted to see her reaction to see if she suspected me - and wanted to work out if I could get the sheet set back into the shop somehow. I was so scared. In the end I decided to go home and try and get it back in there the next day - which I did - and picked up my layby.

You have returned the sheets so you have not stolen any thing.
You maybe remembered as that slightly odd woman but you will not be known as that shoplifting woman

[Peppery]

Sorry misread - if you have already returned it i would forget about it completely. No need to work yourself up over it.

[Swarley]

I hid it in the next shop I went to.

Do you mean you put the sheet set back in the next shop?

I think if that was a typo, and you returned them - you have nothing to worry about.

If you didn't, I still don't think the police would bother. And I assume the shop assistant would've said something on the spot because I don't think you can be charged unless you're in possession of the item?
Maybe. Not sure.

Either way... I'd try let it go.