Security guard follows me with buggy

I did my weekly shop in a supermarket on my first expedition out post birth. I brought my pram as I have a large basket deliberately chosen so I can put shopping there. I went into the shop next door, was paying for items when the cashier on the next till aggressively accused me of shoplifting in their store more or less. I am no thief but I called them out on it and wrote a snotty email to their head office and received an apology shortly afterward. My argument is that I understand sadly some people use prams to steal-although I also believe we should not judge until we walk in someone’s shoes, however, I also do not think it is acceptable to harangue a mother and their child on the assumption they’re nicking. I would try not to let the jobsworth get to you, although to be fair, I totally get it. My incident must have been used in training because I had various staff members post incident telling me they recognised my pram randomly.

But why? Why would he think she was vulnerable, and what effect would that have on him doing his job? Why does pushing a buggy in a supermarket make you vulnerable? and vulnerable to what? I've done it a thousand times and never felt more vulnerable than when I didn't have one. Lots of people have said that having a buggy is a known shoplifting technique, so you're going to face more scrutiny. I just can't follow your reasoning.

That particular store probably has lot of problems with shoplifters but its definately not the norm for security guards in any store to confront you for not taking a basket. With or without a buggy.

So shoppers with pushchairs who don't pick up baskets are automatically under suspicion? I don't agree, not everyone needs a basket. I believe this security guard just decided to single out someone they perceived to be vulnerable.

I'm in the same Tesco 4-5 times a week and still get eyeballed if my 2 year old is in his buggy🙄

She had a pushchair, no basket and potentially gave him attitude when questioned
Therefore she marked herself out as suspicious. Watching someone suspicious is part of his job

Because he singled her out. It's his job to oversee the store not pick on certain people for no good reason

he had no right to obviously keep an eye on you the way you describe.

Of course he had a right, it's literally his job! How is he supposed to look out for shopkeepers if he's not allowed watch people?

I had a security guard follow me around Waitrose. I asked him for help choosing a wine from the booze section.

I agree with a previous poster, next time ask him to carry the basket for you.

You were singled out by this person and I would complain. Not taking a basket is not indicative that you're a shoplifter and he had no right to obviously keep an eye on you the way you describe.

I had a similar experience when I was a teenager, a ridiculous plain clothes detective who clearly had nothing better to do followed me around a supermarket when I was about 14, frightened the life out of me by brushing past me at the checkout then watching me walk away through the window. He was made to apologise when my very irate DM complained to the store

It is not unusual for shoplifters to use prams to hide stuff in, and the security guards will be aware of that. Maybe it is a particular issue in the shop you go in.

Saw someone pulled over by a security guard and she ran leaving pram behind.
It had a life like doll in the pram!

but also a professional working woman. Not a thief.

They aren't mutually exclusive

Agree with this

Oh, they would´ve loved me. I used to put stuff in the hood of the pram, then I would pay for it, obviously. Can´t say I noticed being followed by anyone.

I guess it's an issue where you live but it's not personal, they are just doing their job. Although I don't know how following you round is going to help as you are allowed to put as much stuff in your pushchair as you want so long as you pay for it.
(And your pockets- got this wrong once at a job interview.)

I got stopped leaving Tesco's as I had taken a small trolley in with me but not bought anything. I had gone in there to buy something cumbersome / a small desk I had seen in a different store. Had put some small things in the trolley but when realising they didn't sell the thing I wanted I put them back as the queues were massive. I had no idea they could stop the trolley moving as you walked out, I was very confused. It makes sense though, like taking a pram in it's a common technique used by thieves.

I always put my shopping in the pushchair rather than in a basket... My local shops never had an issue with this.
But I did notice that in some areas/shops, security guards pay more attention to me since I have a pushchair. I don't really have an issue with this, and they are welcome to check the pushchair at check out to make sure I've unloaded everything, but I would be pissed off if they tried to force me to use a basket.

I use the self scan handset now anyway.

I used to have a security guard follow me round the local shop, and I had a basket. I just used to wander aimlessly for the sheer hell of it

They're doing their jobs. The reality is that prams are used for shoplifting. Maybe it's a big problem in that particular store and/or he's been told to look out for it. Your being a professional has nothing to do with anything; professionals shoplift too.

Alternatively ask him to carry your basket while you get your one thing.

Talk to the store manager. His behaviour is over the top and making you anxious.

I always used to be followed in Boots (years ago, pre covid time) and it was almost comical at times because it would be the same plain clothed security guard peering at me around the aisles. Almost like a comedy sketch show scene where it is really obvious and obnoxious!

I confess that I do look shifty sometimes due to high anxiety and nervous sweating when out in public. But I always take and use a basket. I have never stolen and always get a receipt. I have no problem with being stopped to have my bag checked though and know they're just doing their job. I was in Boots yesterday and no longer get followed or at least I don't notice if I do anymore.

My friend has a disability that has just progressed to her needing an electric wheelchair when we go out shopping. After a few times we noticed we were getting followed more by security guards and in one occasion we were asked what was in her bag she she keeps on the side of the chair with her phone, purse, keys etc in.

When we questioned why we kept getting followed and why they needed to check the bag the security guard told us that people fake needing a chair and use it to steal. She can actually walk but not for long and it’s painful to stand, she got out of that chair though and said “go on then, bet you can’t catch me!”
He actually made like he was getting ready to chase her, it was meant to be a joke but he didn’t find it funny at all and accused her of faking her disability.

It was partly our own fault for winding him up but it felt horrible to be followed round. He was a nasty person and he said he was going to have us banned from the supermarket but we told him we weren’t going back anyway after being treated like criminals. In the end we complained and the store manager told us to shop somewhere cheaper if we couldn’t afford to shop there, they just didn’t get it at all that we had made a joke in an uncomfortable situation and hadn’t done anything wrong, we had only been in the shop a few minutes!

This was in Sainsbury’s and we were directed to the nearest Aldi, when I mentioned the many claims to price match Aldi they really hated us 😂.

I was going to email and complain but there didn’t seem any point when we were never going to return. I can understand the security guard being annoyed when my friend took the piss out of him but the manager was told we hadn’t stolen anything though and still treated us like peasants who weren’t respectable enough to shop there. If we ever do go back I might take a doll in a pram whilst my friend is in her chair just to wind him up more 😂.

These threads fascinate me. I try really hard to understand why it bothers people and I never quite get there. If it felt like there was racial profiling going on, then sure, I could see how that would be bad. However when guards are just doing the job they are paid to do, keep people from stealing, why take it so personally?

It has never bothered me in the slightest when security or other staff raise concerns with me. They want you on camera to be able to compare you to known shoplifters or if you get confrontational surely. No big deal. They follow you, because it is their job too. No big deal.

I've been followed, asked to take things out of my shopping bag and had my paid for items rechecked on my way out (all separate instances) and it has never given me any emotion, certainly not upset or mortified. Thoes of you who do find it humiliating can you explain to me exactly why it causes that emotion in you?