My Neighbour Was In M And S Today.

[tamaris]

She told me that she was given a tresspassing document and told not to go back in any of their shops. When I asked what happened she said that she had been to the hairdressers and been in there 2 hours and had had nothing to eat. Wrongly she picked up some fruit meaning to go to the till and pay for it and forgot and started eating it. She is in here late 80's and gets confused at times. They took her to an office and questioned her, said they wouldnt call the police. She is very shaken up. They got her details and got her to sign a paper saying she was tresspassing in M and S. They said it would go no further but she said how will they know her will they have taken a photo ?

[pastafreak]

Good grief...I walked out of Tescos once with a bag of onions in my hot little hand. It's a wonder I didn't end up in the clink, as I had no valid excuse. Oh...except middle age forgetfulness.

[elliemay1]

Maybe you could convince her to see her doctor and explain that she is confused at times. He could then set the wheels in motion and maybe get her help

[pixie374]

I agree with gness, if you can, send the store an email and explain this and the effect it has had on her. I doubt they want a reputation of bullying. Maybe see if someone can go with her next time to get her confidence back?

[Peter Pedant]

// Amazing, Ant Mc thing can't use what's going on in his life as an excuse, but this little old Lady can, how odd.//

excuse me - you know I am half-blind but I seem to have missed the bit where the little old lady gets woozy on Cherry brandy, drives her old age thingey into a car and writes it off and is breathalysed and led away in chains to the click of ten thousand cameras by the local fuzz

tut and she is 80

well for a start if she had an intention to pay then she cant be convicted of theft ( no intention permanently to deprive)
whereas if Ant didnt want to write off the other guy car
uh -uh - he is still cuilty of drink driving... -[I cant resist the challenge of the howling AB non sequitur however it occurs - just saying]

yeah I agree if you gonna do anything about this
you need the other side from M and S

( and her permission) - I agree that she is vulnerable
and should NOT have been treated like this.....
you could proceed on that basis - but of course she DID take the apple and eat it ....

Bear in mind that a little old confused lady has told you a confusing story - so you cant really go in there like Katusha rocket....

[sadielady]

tamaris Have you read the Trespassing Document, this realy does not seem like something M & S would do

[tamaris]

Yes I have

[elliemay1]

She could well be in the early stages of Alzheimer's and if so, should see a doctor

[elliemay1]

^ Didn't see your reply, tamaris, before I posted

[sunny-dave]

That's pretty poor - no self-respecting company would want its staff acting in the way that has been described - let alone M&S which has a reputation of being 'better than the others' to uphold.

I agree with the idea of a carefully worded email to their Customer Service people - don't get angry, just explain the facts and ask that the circumstances of the incident be re-considered in the light of the person's age and health.

[bednobs]

the problem is we are getting a third-hand account of the actions of M and S. there is (in my opinion) not much point in a friend storming down there and accusing them of bullying when there could be egg on their face if (say) the friend had put loads of stuff down their drawers to try to steal it!

[divegirl]

Had she tried to leave the store? Either way a very heavy handed approach :(
Tamaris, could you not email the store to investigate further? Someone needs to have her back xx

[tamaris]

apparently she was on her way out and she was stopped. They had been watching her eating in the store.

[dannyk13]

Before any action is considered I think the standpoint of the store should be ascertained.

[Jahulaye]

Do we feel sorry for this 86 year old thief?

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/2017/07/18/us/georgia-jewel-theft-trnd/index.html

[dannyk13]

Nothing to do with this thread.

[hc4361]

M&S won't discuss it with tamaris.

[Prudie]

So did she not buy anything at the till?

[Jahulaye]

My point is that many elderly, depressed etc.. use their age and sickness to pull on our heartstrings and getaway with theft, drink driving and other crimes which is sad because that then desensitises us to the plights of those that are actually genuine.

[gness]

I'm not desensitised, Jah. The link you provided shows a person who has been stealing for about sixty years.....is there not a difference here?

[elliemay1]

If she was seriously trying to steal I'm sure she would have gone for something more valuable than a piece of fruit!