Boots security accusation.

There are a number of tactics shoplifters might use to either make it easier to hide something or to appear like they’re not going to shoplift:

• Using a trolley or large bag which they can hide things in
• Not taking a basket, carrying things in their hands so they can easily slip something up a sleeve or in a pocket.
• Being overly friendly and smiley to staff so that they don’t come across as suspicious
• Not scanning everything through at a self checkout and then not taking the receipt so it can’t be easily checked.

You have openly said that you do all of these things; carry a trolley, don’t use a basket and just have things in hands, comment to staff and don’t take a receipt. It’s not surprising the security are suspicious of you, if you don’t want to seem suspicious use a basket and stop commenting on products to staff and take a receipt!

Some products are also more likely to be shoplifted and make up is absolutely one of them, I have noticed security and other staff tend to hang around the make up aisles in my local boots and will hover around a lot. It’s not likely to be anything personally but at the end of the day making sure stock isn’t stolen is going to be more important to the security and other staff than ensuring you don’t feel slightly embarrassed by having them watch you carefully.

They didn't. They 'edged' me out of threshop, towering over me.

This - and a lot of the rest of OP posts - sounds more like paranoia than something to complain about. No one can edge you out of a shop by towering over you. Either you left of your own accord or they walked you out. If they made you feel watched/uncomfortable and you had nothing to hide, you could have engaged with them in any number of ways, but the bottom line is that you do have some odd shopping behaviours and it's their job to look out for such things and keep an eye to prevent thefts. You aren't a thief, but you go there a lot with a big shopping trolley, often buy items that are popular with shoplifters (and demonstrably more than most people need, due to the hoarding/excitement), and hold them in your hands rather than a basket. They'd not be doing their job if they hadn't clocked you and taken an interest. If you want to keep going there, you might as well take the bull by the horns and rather than complain just explain you love shopping there and don't want there to be any misunderstandings because of xyz that could be misconstrued by them. But ideally I'd be getting help for the hoarding because it sounds like a big waste of money for a load of stress (and lip gloss) you don't need.

@Startyabastard

“In-store shopping
Boots has trained Dementia Friends in most of their stores, and their store teams are trained in the Sunflower lanyard scheme. This scheme allows people with hidden disabilities to discreetly indicate that they may need extra support.”

Perhaps you could show a lanyard or have a discreet word before you shop in the store next time.

But their attention is already on you! By not saying anything and just shuffling out of the shop, you're behaving far more suspiciously than if you'd just said "is everything ok?" or "excuse me, I'm just going to the lip glosses," which is what most non-shoplifters would do.

Sadly I think your slightly unusual set of behaviours has already caught their eye so it may be better to buy your toiletries elsewhere, at least for a while, if you want to avoid hassle. And use a basket!

If I worked in a shop, I too would be hella suspicious of someone with a big shopping trolley in a shop like boots. It is odd behaviour. Why not just take some carrier bags or a backpack if you're planning on making several purchases? I've never come across anyone doing that, so it would get my suspicious up unfortunately.

Clearly there's something about you that makes you seem suspicious and shifty OP, if it's happened more than once. Maybe time to ditch the big shopping trolley and behave a little less excitedly around products.

Shopping baskets make me buy less. I hate carrying them and as soon as they get any weight to them they’re physically painful to lug around.

I’m surprised that they make people buy more.

I can understand a trolley having that effect but not a basket.

It sounds as if you are the cause of your own problems OP. Use a basket. Ask the check out person to remove tags, take your receipt and put it in your purse after you have paid.

ADHD / hoarder /ND =

“I am not responsible for my actions and therefore immune from prosecution “

It is not an excuse.

I'm struggling to undestand what exactly has happened here

I'm laughing at 'towering over me'.

What are they supposed to do if they're tall, kneel down? 🤣🤣

Either way OP, this thread is all very 'ME, ME, ME. I want/I don't want' etc.

Either learn to change your shopping style to help yourself, or you'll have to put up with it.

Stop buying things you don't need, get a receipt. I always request one... shoplifting is on the rise and security are employed to do a job. It's annoying if you get challenged but nothing to get upset about. You probably looked dodgy with your big trolley and loads of products in your hands / no basket.

How often do you visit this branch of Boots?

Surely if a product has a security tag on it you don't leave the store until a staff member has removed it? If you just walk out with it and set off the alarms every time that's a bit odd.

You seem to be creating a drama over a perfectly normal event - the security lights beep and someone comes to check . Just make sure you have a receipt in future , nobody is persecuting you personally they are doing their job .

FGS just take your receipt in future. And use a basket. Of course sticking things in your own shopping trolley is going to look dodgy. Shops are losing millions every day to shoplifting - they absolutely have to be vigilant.

If she just wants to buy a lipgloss though she probably wouldn’t be spending £25. I tend to do 99% of my shopping online, especially if I can get it on Amazon, but if I just want something quickly on the day, especially something cheap I’m not gonna order it online and rather have to pay the postage or spend and unnecessary £25.

I will say Amazon stocks most brands of Makeup now which if you have prime is free next day delivery BUT you can’t see the shades in person and the online swatches aren’t always reliable.

You're setting off a lot of red flags OP, and I suspect you'll find yourself on a list to be denied entry soon.

Is it a big trolley like this? They're probably shown in training how people will push one of these about and slip things in while walking.
If it is like this, why not sit the basket on top?

Boots have security tags on lots of items which they don’t remove. I shopped in a big Boots recently, beeped as I left but I thought it wasn’t me so just carried on walking. Went into a different shop and I beeped as I left. This time I was stopped and security took me to one side and went through my purchases. The problem was the stuff from Boots. The assistant said it happens all the time, that Boots staff don’t bother to remove tags. I was embarrassed at being stopped and my stuff examined, so it was really annoying. I sympathise.

This. They didn't actually do anything or say anything to you. Their job is to look out for suspicious behaviour, your behaviour was suspicious to them.

The edging out sounds quite upsetting, OP. I’m sure I’d be unsettled at best if it happened to me. A complaint to the store or head office would be reasonable. But while it might get you an apology now, I’m not sure it would change anything going forward.

What’s your goal in posting here? Your experience in shops is not, I don’t think, the norm. It sounds like you are aware your behaviour/demeanor in the shop may be signaling to security that you’re up to no good when that isn’t the case. If what you want is an experience closer to the norm then you may need to work on changing your behaviour in the shop so you don’t attract attention from security.

How much lip gloss can a person need

When you say they ‘edged’ you out, what do you mean? Did they ask you to leave?

I agree with everyone else OP. Your shopping habits sounds erratic. Leaving the shop without buying or saying anything when the security guard went and stood near you makes you look even more like someone who was intending to shoplift.

You know you look suspicious, even if this is unintentional, so just get a basket and put your items in there. If you think you'll overbuy then put a small open container of your own on top of your trolley so everyone can see what you're about to purchase.

This all sounds a bit strange. Security Guards would not behave like this without a reason. Are you sure you are telling the truth here? I would have thought that someone who is so worried about being accused of shoplifting would always remember the receipt.