Wrongfully accused of shoplifting

On the 18th of July 2019 like every other day, I normally attend gym (virgin active by Boulders Midrand)in the early hours of the morning, by 9am I I’m done with my gym session ... just after gym I decided to get this clear mascara I was looking for 4 weeks , ... i was accompanied by my gym buddy into the store , we first started looking by shelves for this newly odd mascara , actually excited since I was tired of dark thick mascaras ... we even asked the shop assist to assist us to find the mascara , she gladly assisted us , then I realized actually needed more things from the store , I also took a protein shake powder ,waxing mandy’s box together with my purchase , wen I got to the till , I placed my two big purchases the waxing and the protein shake on the counter for the cashier to scan , then immediately I started looking for my purse in my gym bag , I’m not sure what happened but the main thing I came to buy ended up in my gym bag , as I was looking for my purse (unaware) I found my purse then paid for my purchases , which added close to R300 , as we left the shop the door scanners beeped on us , we came back we waved the plastic with our purchases to the scanners and I realized it’s not actually the plastic so I started searching in my bag to only realize the mascara was in my gym bag ... one of the clicks manager assistant was there with me , I told him the mascara must have slipped into my bag while I was looking for my purse by the till , can I pay for it ....

This guy called me by using his index finger , directing me to the managers office , I was confused , I got to the office , the “manager assistant” said I found this ( mascara ) in her bag ... the manager was like , you know what to do ... call the mall security ! Then I started explaining to the store manager that this was a misunderstanding ? Can they also check footage to see if the mascara slipped into my bag intentionally.He didnt even want to hear my story what’s so ever ...the security guards handcuffed me , for something worth R44 that slipped into my bag by mistake yet I had paid for my other purchase worth R300 ... I was then jailed in the mall jail , while they waited for the cops to arrive.

I explained my the situation to the cops and they even understood that this was a mere mistake , even the cops suggested that the store manager give me the opportunity to pay for the mascara and not open a case against me .... the manager rep**** and said no this will be a breach of contract on his side , since the mascara was already in my bag no matter the story was he needs to open the case . (Shocker irrational decision making )

I won’t pull the racial card but that was also quite obvious but that’s not the point here , no one should be treated like a barbarian for a mere mistake . Very undermining staff at clicks .

I honestly feel paying customers entering clicks are entering clicks at their own risks... one minute you get a fone call , you were holding a lip balm in your hand you place it in your pocket , you make other purchases and pay for them but forget the lip balm in your pocket boom!!! you get arrested ???? I am still devastated as we speak cause this mistake can happen to anyone even the employees of clicks ... the managers have no customer resolution , make irrational decisions towards paying customers ..... I honestly feel also Promotions to their staff are aligned with the amounts of arrests they make to their paying customers who make mistakes .... The manager of clicks didn't blink he saw my arrest as an opportunity. I also feel that maybe the store has a lot of stock missing or stock being ****** and the attention gets diverted to customers as opposed to employees mishandling stock , which is why he ddnt even want to hear my story but to get me arrested for R44. I have made far more purchases in the years for the past 10 years , today I am jailed for a mistake . The business I have given Clicks for my every month essential purchases is beyond .

This mistake will not only make sure I never purchase anything from Clicks , my friends and family will refrain from purchasing from your stores , anyone who hears my story will also not be interested in purchasing anything from your stores .

PLEASE MAKE NOTICES STATING should any of our merchandise end up in your pockets or bags by mistake and not paid for and by the time you reach the scanners by the door , YOU WILL BE JAILED IMMEDIATELY no excuses .

Make your your customers aware of such a risk wen entering your stores ... for now I have a court case I have to attend to explain my situation . But CLICKS will not get away with this .I am doing this for the next person (the racial issue is the least of my concern) ... we cannot he treated like animals for a mere human mistake that’s inevitable to happen to anyone .