A LAWYER has revealed the steps to take if you're wrongly accused of shoplifting at supermarkets like Sainsbury's and Aldi.
Tom Brymer, a criminal partner at Reeds Solicitors, has represented hundreds of criminals over his 13-year career.
He told the Sun Online he's seen the numbers of arrests fall rapidly over the last decade - but added punishments can still be harsh.
And if you're wrongly accused there's a simple way to protect yourself, he revealed.
Mr Brymer said: "You have to explain the situation as soon as possible.
"One of the markers of the offence is that you have to have acted dishonestly.
"If it's a genuine mistake tell people at the earliest opportunity that you haven't acted dishonestly.
"Explain at the scene. If you're standing with a security guard tell them there's been a misunderstanding.
"Or if you are arrested use the police interview as an opportunity to explain the situation."
But he said arrests aren't as common more recently.
"At the moment there are less and less people being arrested for shoplifting," he said.
"When I started 13 years ago the same people came in on a monthly basis for shoplifting.
"That's not happening anywhere near as much as it used to. Police just aren't arresting as many shoplifters."
If a shoplifter is caught and arrested the process can be gruelling, he added.
When shop staff detain a suspect and police arrive to arrest them, it can lead to up to 24 hours in a cold dark police cell.
He said: "If you are falsely arrested you might still be brought in. You'll have your finger prints and DNA taken and have a police interview.
"Use that as the opportunity to explain your side of the story.
"While in a police station you'd get food and drink, you do spend the time locked in a cell," he said.
"It's an isolating experience, according to people I've spoken to who have been arrested."
And "the interview procedure can be quite challenging", Mr Brymer added.
He said: "If you've committed the offence, there is no remedy.
"The only way out of a criminal record is a full and frank admission. Then, if it's a first offence, the officers might just give you a caution. Otherwise, you'll end up in court."
Mr Brymer advised any shoplifters who end up in court to enter a guilty plea, which will mean a lesser sentence.
Shoplifters can expect anything from seven days to a full year in jail depending on how much they stole and whether it's their first offence.
For lesser crimes, the courts might impose a fine.
He added: "Of course the issue with this is that people steal because they can't cope with the cost of living. Fines just exacerbate that.
"Ultimately they can be brought back to court and sent to prison for not paying fines. Sentences can be anything from seven to 14 days."
Smaller supermarkets are most commonly targets of shoplifting, he added.
Mr Brymer said: "More people are targeting smaller stores because the risk of being caught is lower. There are less likely to be security guards working on the doors.
"And the quality of CCTV and number of cameras is less."
It comes after a security expert revealed the secret measures Sainsbury's and other supermarkets have in place to stop shoplifting.
And addiction experts have claimed hard-up Brits are getting addicted to stealing.
