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Original poster

Security guard follows me with buggy

71 replies

MollyP1 · 06/11/2024 21:42

Since having a baby I’ve noticed security guards following me around shops when I’m with the buggy. Today, I walked into Tesco and the security guard ran after me, shouting hello repeatedly. He walked in front of me with his body cam on and asked me why I hadn’t picked up a basket when I came in. I said I’m only getting one item. He didn’t step aside, he continued to position himself to ensure he was recording my face as he clearly thought I was a thief (I am not). Then every aisle I walked down, he appeared. It made me feel so anxious. Is this normal behaviour from security guards? Why do I have to take a basket?? I can’t push a buggy easily with one hand if I’m holding a basket!! It has really bothered me and I keep thinking about it. I don’t think it’s acceptable behaviour from him!

OP posts:
notanothernamechange24 · 07/11/2024 03:04

They did this to one of my friends when her kids were little. She has a double buggy and a basket balanced ontop of the hood. She was a young mum.
She has far more guts than me as she basically turned round to the security bloke and told him to either sod off and leave her to do her shopping or if he insisted upon following her round the shop he might as well carry her basket for her 😂

SharpOpalNewt · 07/11/2024 02:40

Pigeonconfrontation · 06/11/2024 23:23

This thread has made me feel a lot better, two weeks ago I had my double buggy in Aldi and I was feeling really stressed with the bright lights and the busy aisles and 3 kids, and a security officer asked to search my bag hanging on the back of the buggy. Just had the kids snacks and bottles in. I was mortified they thought I’d stolen something. I’ve never stolen anything.

I'd open my bag in the store but would not go into a back room with them to be searched when I was part way through shopping. You haven't stolen anything until you leave the shop with it without paying. The way most self service shops work is you put things in a receptacle and may change your mind and put things back and eventually when you have chosen your items you pay at the till. A sale and purchase contract is not created by putting an item in the basket, or buggy.

Original poster
MollyP1 · 07/11/2024 02:28

Targeting someone based on how they look, due to the actions of others, is surely discrimination. I am a mum but also a professional working woman. Not a thief.

OP posts:
Original poster
MollyP1 · 07/11/2024 02:25

I used to work in a a large supermarket when I was at university. Some men used to steal alcohol, hiding them in their jackets. Not once did we start running over & approach every man in a jacket that entered the shop.

OP posts:
Pigeonconfrontation · 06/11/2024 23:23

This thread has made me feel a lot better, two weeks ago I had my double buggy in Aldi and I was feeling really stressed with the bright lights and the busy aisles and 3 kids, and a security officer asked to search my bag hanging on the back of the buggy. Just had the kids snacks and bottles in. I was mortified they thought I’d stolen something. I’ve never stolen anything.

FriendlyFriend · 06/11/2024 23:17

Its odd behaviour. If ge does it again next time you go in, ask for the store manager as nd say you feel hes harrassing you. I used to pop bits on top of my pushchair hood. As long as you pay before leaving the shop, i dont see the problem

Pieandchips999 · 06/11/2024 23:05

Prams are very very commonly used to shoplift with. Just think of the amount of places to stash stuff

Yesiknowdear · 06/11/2024 23:04

I've had if a few times. I have a massive double buggy. If I get a security guard following me, I either say, great you can lend me a hand with my shopping, or if they seem OK, I say.... Do you think I could outrun you? Then laugh.
Generally I am left alone by most now though. They can search my pram, bag or anything.

But I've also seen friends end up with stuff in their pram completely by accident.

Some people also load up their prams and steal huge amounts.

user1471505494 · 06/11/2024 22:56

If it happens again thank him for offering to carry a basket for you as you can’t manage one

MartinCrieffsLemon · 06/11/2024 22:36

He saw you with a buggy walk in and not pick up a basket. This looked suspicious to him so he approached you to challenge you as he will be trained to

His body cam will likely always be on when interacting with customers. In case there is an issue

Something about your reply probably then came across as suspicious so he kept an eye on you

Original poster
MollyP1 · 06/11/2024 22:04

I get that it’s their job to watch people. That’s fine. But singling someone out and running after them as soon as they walk in the shop to demand to know why they haven’t picked up a basket is quite another.

OP posts:
INeedAnotherName · 06/11/2024 22:00

It's his job to watch people.

It's a very common tactic for shoplifters to use prams to steal. He won't know if you are a shoplifter unless he watches you.

Soubriquet · 06/11/2024 21:56

stichguru · 06/11/2024 21:54

Sadly though I'm sure a lot of people do take the buggy round and hide stuff in it.

Of course they do. But people with hand scanners don’t scan everything in their trolleys. Is the security guard going to follow those round aswell?

stichguru · 06/11/2024 21:54

Sadly though I'm sure a lot of people do take the buggy round and hide stuff in it.

Soubriquet · 06/11/2024 21:53

I would hate that. It would really put me off shopping there. Im not normally one to ask for a manager but I would in this case make a complaint

LikeARunnerHo · 06/11/2024 21:52

Crazy. I have a double buggy and there’s no way someone’s forcing me to take a bloody basket

AngeloMysterioso · 06/11/2024 21:51

It’s funny, I’ve always chucked stuff in the bottom of my pram instead of using a basket and I’ve never been followed (that I’ve noticed) or stopped.

Changingplace · 06/11/2024 21:50

How ridiculous, I don’t always take a basket if I’m getting 1-2 things, I wouldn’t shop there again.

MumOfOneAllAlone · 06/11/2024 21:49

He sounds like a jobsworth tbh although I got constant stares from the security guards when dd was little

Even though I went to the same lidl every single Monday 🙄🙄

Dobest · 06/11/2024 21:48

Laalaalaand · 06/11/2024 21:47

Because people load up prams with stuff to steal it.

Who'd a' thought it!

Laalaalaand · 06/11/2024 21:47

Because people load up prams with stuff to steal it.