Store says sorry over woman's 'shoplift' ordeal (From Wirral Globe)

Store says sorry over woman's 'shoplift' ordeal

11:36am Tuesday 3rd April 2007 in News By Craig Manning

AN elderly woman from Oxton claims she was subjected to a humiliating ordeal by security guards after being wrongly accused of stealing from a food store.

Maureen Leeper went to Netto in Borough Road, Birkenhead last Wednesday morning and paid £3.17p for items, which included a box of organic muesli, some fruit and oat bars and a cauliflower. She left the store, returning minutes later to buy some chops.

But as she was walking past the fish stalls in Birkenhead Market, 78-year-old Mrs Leeper was stopped by security guards - including one from Netto who alleged that she had not paid for the items worth £3.17 and blocked her path.

"I was in the market and this bloke tapped me on the shoulder and said I hadn't paid for the items," the 78-year-old retired magistrate told Globe. "I had a receipt but was in that much of a state because of what was going on that I couldn't find it.

"I couldn't believe what was going on. I was just bemused when all these guards surrounded me and am still very shaken by what happened.

"I have nothing against the guards, because I suppose they were just doing their job and the guard from Netto admitted that I had probably paid the bill. But why didn't they stop me outside the shop? It would have caused a lot less distress."

"I couldn’t believe what was going on."

Maureen Leeper

She called her daughter, Maureen Ferrer, and the two went back to Netto to speak to the manager who eventually gave them a copy of the till receipt.

The experience has left Mrs Leeper wary about going out shopping in future: "I went shopping the next day and just felt as though I was looking over my shoulder all the time. I'm not a criminal and if I was going to make myself a rogue, it certainly wouldn't be by stealing from Netto," she added.

Furious daughter Maureen is considering writing a letter of complaint to the company's head office and said: "My mum called me to come and help her, but by the time I got to her she was in a real state. I took her to the store and asked the manager for a copy of the receipt, which after some persuading he eventually found from the till roll.

"But mum was totally humiliated by what happened and I am disgusted by the way the incident was dealt with. I want a full apology."

A spokesman for Netto apologised for the distress caused to Mrs Leeper and told the Globe that the incident was being investigated, but was unable to make further comment.