Theft from Employee - Interviewed but not heard anything

[Detroit]

Hi there,

Over 6 months ago (the start of November 2014) I was asked to attend a voluntary police interview about an allleged theft from a previous employer. I went to the interview, answered the questions but have yet to hear anything further. Would anyone be able to tell me what should happen next and if there is a timescale on informing me of any further action?

Any help that can be given would be gladly received

Thankyou very much

[teaboy2]

Re: Theft from Employee - Interviewed but not heard anything

Were you arrested, interviewed under caution?

Were you accused of being responsible for the theft or interviewed as a witness only?

[Detroit]

Re: Theft from Employee - Interviewed but not heard anything

Were you arrested, interviewed under caution?

Were you accused of being responsible for the theft or interviewed as a witness only?

Hi there.

I was not arrested, but was invited in for a voluntary interview. The interview took place under caution but at any time I could leave. I answered all the questions and was accused of being responsible for the theft.

I'm just a little concerned that I have yet to hear anything - I admitted what had been done but expected to have had an outcome on this a long time ago.

so any help you can give would be gladly received

Thanks

[teaboy2]

Re: Theft from Employee - Interviewed but not heard anything

If you weren't arrested and haven't heard anything since then, then i would say the case against you has been dropped - Though that doesn't mean it has been, as i can only guess. Though the fact they didn't arrest you says to me they were happy with your answers and likely eliminated you of any wrong doing in the police's eyes.

Maybe to make sure, the best thing to do would be to contact the police officer that was investigating!

[stevemLS]

Re: Theft from Employee - Interviewed but not heard anything

There is no time limit for the police to bring charges for theft as it is an either way offence, unlike summary offences which generally have a six month time limit to lay an information at the magistrates court.

By their nature, thefts from employers are sometimes more sophisticated that other types of theft and so require more investigation. It is not unknown for enquiries to be measured in years not months.

The arrest or not is something of a red herring, you may have found that if you had attempted to leave the "voluntary" interview, you would have then been arrested.

Did you leave your previous employer or were you sacked?

[Detroit]

Re: Theft from Employee - Interviewed but not heard anything

There is no time limit for the police to bring charges for theft as it is an either way offence, unlike summary offences which generally have a six month time limit to lay an information at the magistrates court.

By their nature, thefts from employers are sometimes more sophisticated that other types of theft and so require more investigation. It is not unknown for enquiries to be measured in years not months.

The arrest or not is something of a red herring, you may have found that if you had attempted to leave the "voluntary" interview, you would have then been arrested.

Did you leave your previous employer or were you sacked?

I left the company as I'd been offered a new job which is based overseas. - This all came afterwards. I have been fully upfront with the police and they have my foreign address so surely anything would come to this address or would they send to my UK address? I'm just a little confused about it all to be honest.

[teaboy2]

Re: Theft from Employee - Interviewed but not heard anything

I think the only way your going to know either way is to contact the police officer that investigated. Last thing you want is to be returning to the UK to be arrested at the airport.

[Mr $quandaŁot]

Re: Theft from Employee - Interviewed but not heard anything

It's difficult to advise (or even speculate) without knowing a few more details.

The fact that your employer went to the police does make it sound rather serious.

Having said that, did you actually steal or was it an unfortunate misunderstanding? Was a large amount of money involved?

[Detroit]

Re: Theft from Employee - Interviewed but not heard anything

It's difficult to advise (or even speculate) without knowing a few more details.

The fact that your employer went to the police does make it sound rather serious.

Having said that, did you actually steal or was it an unfortunate misunderstanding? Was a large amount of money involved?

It was for some samples I received from work and sold on the web to make a bit of extra cash as in 3 years although my workload and revenue expectation increased by 50% my pay didn't. It wasn't a high amount. I shouldn't have done it and acknowledged this in the interview and also offered to pay what was missing. Like I say nothing has been heard as yet so I'm a little concerned as to whats happening and why i've not been contacted.

[teaboy2]

Re: Theft from Employee - Interviewed but not heard anything

So you admitted in in the interview but they never formally arrested you when they allowed you to leave?

[des8]

Re: Theft from Employee - Interviewed but not heard anything

Samples and not a high amount.
Will ex employer want the adverse publicity?
You are now living abroad.
Probably/possibly decided prosecution is not in public interest

[teaboy2]

Re: Theft from Employee - Interviewed but not heard anything

I think they probably decided that prior to the interview, hence no arrest before or after.

[stevemLS]

Re: Theft from Employee - Interviewed but not heard anything

I can only speak from experience, I have dealt with several theft from employer cases over the years, in the public sector.

Much more serious than this, several 10s of thousands of fraudulent invoices submitted for payments, in each case having reported the matter to the police the employee attended the police station by appointment for a "voluntary interview" albeit under caution.

In your case, Detroit, for what sounds like a petty case, they may well have decided it is not in the public interest in all the circumstances to pursue it or indeed your former employer may have reached the same decision. The only way though you can find out for certain is to speak to the officer in the case - there is nothing wrong with doing so.

[Mr $quandaŁot]

Re: Theft from Employee - Interviewed but not heard anything

I agree with StevemLS. Whilst you may have well done something that could be classified as gross misconduct (depending on your employee handbook and company policy) you haven't exactly committed a crime.

Referring this to the police sounds like wasting authorities' time which - I think - is more serious.

This is a bit like many takeaways and newsagents selling multiple cans of pop as single, where it clearly states 'not for resale'. How many of us would actually say that we can't buy it as it's not meant for resale?