caught story and my mistakes
I shared the story on Peac˙h but don’t think I shared it here, so now I’ve got some distance from the experience I thought I could write about it in a way that could maybe be helpful.
I completely know what I did that ended up in me being caught, and it was a case of being damn sloppy, brazen and greedy- no surprises there as the things that ultimately bring a lîfte® down. I just still can’t believe I let it happen. So anyway, story:
I knew what I wanted and when I entered the store, went straight to the area (Çhånel fragrances). I picked up two items (although I had only planned on one), I pulled a couple of items to line them up so it looked like nothing had been taken.
Mistake 1: making a beeline for this area instead of casually making my way over. and in hindsight, me pulling products forward in an area that is very likely being watched like a hawk would be an immediate red flag. impulsively picking a second item.
I walked around with the products for a while, but felt a bit uneasy in that I couldn’t find anywhere to conceal- this was in a town I was visiting for the day so hadn’t previously scoped. I considered doing a walk-out but it was fairly busy and the layout wasn’t the most comfortable to just breeze out of the store in.
I remember distinctly feeling that I was being watched but daftly told myself “how would anyone actually know they’re being watched though, it’s not really possible”. big mistake!
Mistake 2: ignoring my gut. walking around for far too long. I cringe when I think how sus and obvious I must have looked. trying to do a high value lîft in ‘previously uncharted territory’.
I had a get-out when I received a phone call from my boyfriend who was in the town at the time, who was asking me to come and meet for coffee. I agreed to meet him. Now, I should have just ditched and left. But the greed in me was festering and I didn’t want to give up and leave the damn products after spending so long trying to work up the nerve, so I took a deep breath and just dumped them in a shopping bag I had, thinking (hoping?) that nobody would notice. Walked out of store, beeped (even though no outer tags, must have been inside the packaging) and when outside, I felt a hand grab the handle of my backpack and the detective showing me his badge where he brought me back inside and I had to go through the horrible motions- Brought to back room, store fine, police called, another fine at the police station. my boyfriend waiting for me not knowing where I was and then having to tell him (he previously didn’t know a thing about it). to be honest it was the waiting boyfriend, and having to tell him aspect that was the worst part for me. And tbh I was also very lucky that it was only fines and no prosecution, and I had couple of young and kind police, they treated me very well throughout.
Mistake 3: again, ignoring my instincts. succumbing to greed. most likely doing it all in view of a camera.
(also- putting the products in a bag. they told me that fact I put them in the bag was what ‘sealed the deal’ as it were, maybe if I’d tried an unconcealed walk-out I could have feigned it as accidental but that’s by the by now.)
I’m even embarrassed to share how sloppy and stupid this all was, but as I had previously never been sussed (that I was aware of) and never been caught before, I felt invincible- and this is the most dangerous thing. I read about it on here in others’ stories but thought “oh, I won’t do that”, yet I did. So please don’t be like me, take heed and be safe and careful my loves!
not only can we learn from our own mistakes but from others so take notes guys! sucks you got caught but at least some positive learning has come out of it thanks for sharing!
