Roxana Shirazi’s humiliation: Accused of shoplifting while returning items for ill 93-year-old

A heartwrenching incident unfolded in Bristol as Roxana Shirazi found herself in a humiliating situation while attempting to return unwanted Christmas gifts to M&S for a sick pensioner. Accused of theft, she was grabbed by police officers in the midst of a busy street.

Roxana, a journalist from Bristol, took on the task of returning her friend Roy’s Christmas gifts when he fell ill at the age of 93. Hoping to relieve some stress for him, Roxana walked into the Cribbs Causeway store, only to be met with an unexpected confrontation.

Staff informed her that the items had no purchase history, stating they had “never been purchased.” Roxana, perplexed by the situation, explained that Roy simply wanted to exchange the tagged gifts but lacked a receipt due to embarrassment. The cashier insisted there was no purchase history, leaving Roxana with no choice but to walk away.

However, before she could leave the store, Roxana claimed she was “grabbed” by a security guard who accused her of stealing the items. Despite her attempts to clarify the situation with CCTV footage, she found herself being held by two policemen in a crowded street. The ordeal left Roxana, and the ill Roy, distressed and upset.

Roy, who was allegedly shaking and coughing up blood that morning, spoke to the police on the phone, explaining the situation. Despite this, the police allegedly insisted on detaining Roxana. The items were taken from her, and she was accused of theft. The public spectacle was described by Roxana as “horrible and mortifying.”

After tweeting about the incident, M&S reached out to Roxana the next day, admitting they had “made a mistake,” and there was no evidence of shoplifting. The store acknowledged that purchase history might not appear for some items but expressed regret for the serious allegations made.

Roxana, left feeling like a criminal, emphasized that M&S staff should be aware of potential system glitches to avoid such extreme accusations. The police confirmed they were called to the scene but took no further action as no crime was identified.

The incident highlights the challenges individuals face when trying to rectify simple matters and the importance of understanding potential glitches in store systems.