To feel humiliated at being accused of shoplifting?

[kunoichi]

Yesterday I popped into a Tesco express for a couple of bits with my baby son.

I was carrying the little one in my arms and had my handbag on the other shoulder. Took my basket to the till and started checking out. Asked if there were paypoint facilities to top up my gas card. Everything was fine.

Then suddenly a female security guard leaned over and asked if there was anything I'd forgotten to pay for. I said no, not unless my little one had just grabbed some sweets from in front of the till. I checked his hands, found nothing and again said there was nothing I'd forgotten.

The security guard asked if I was sure. I said yes, of course. At this point people in the queue behind me were starting to mutter (and there were quite a few people in the shop around me). The security guard then told me this was my last chance and was I sure I didn't have a febreeze air freshener with me. I replied no, I hadn't even been on the cleaning aisle, I'd only got bread milk and coffee.

A young lad in tesco uniform asked the security guard if she wanted him to get a colleague (assuming the manager or another security guard) to which she said yes. By now I was really freaked out. I had my baby in my arms and everyone in the store thought I was a thief. I said look I'll show you, emptied my pockets, took off my coat and opened my bag on the counter so she (and everyone else) could see that I had nothing to hide.

Finally the security guard said "right, you can go now". No apology (at first) despite being heartbroken by this time at feeling so humiliated. I paid for my stuff and rushed to the car, dreading a hand on my shoulder as I walked out, though luckily that didn't happen.

I was still sobbing after driving home. OH asked what had happened and immediately called the store. He spoke to the manager and asked for the security guard to come on the phone to apologise to me personally.

Indeed she did apologise profusely, explaining that there was a group of women in the store, known to security, who were moving things around and I'd been mistaken for one of them.

While I'm grateful for finally getting the apology I needed, I'm still very upset about it. Shouldn't security be absolutely certain before accusing someone, especially in such a public and humiliating manner? I had been nowhere near any febreeze products. The only thing which I'd picked up and put back on the shelf (instead of in my basket) was a magazine I'd checked the price of.

Of course shoplifters should be apprehended and prosecuted, but I won't be going back to that store ever again. I would have liked an apology straight away, in front of all those people who probably now think I'm a thief who got away with it. Has anyone else had an experience like this?

I do think you should write a letter, though Op, if you can be bothered. Tesco are re-known for this, and should not be allowed to get away with it.
They should send you some flowers and chocolates, at the very least.

I didn't know pram pushers were considered likely shop lifting suspects. That certainly explains a few of my experiences of being followed around. I thought maybe I had a dodgy face of something

Isn't it G4S who provide Tesco with security guards?

Thats quite upsetting OP, Tesco are crap at pretty much everything, my ex works there and the security guards are notorious gorilla type things skulking around the isles.

I do understand the pram thing, my BF used to work at woolworths and a girl used to steal from there using her buggy, my sister even heard this girl outside proudly tell her chavvy boyfriend "Just stole some sweets and stuff from woolies, they in the pram"

Classy using kids in committing crimes.

I'd be furious and wouldnt have left without vouchers and an apology :-)

I spoke to my Dad about the incident today, he was furious and wanted to come with me to the store in order to give the manager and security guard a "dressing down"! To be honest I wasn't keen on even going to the store again, but he insists I take it further and after reading the posts here I'm wondering whether a letter (or email?) to head office is in order?

I certainly won't ever be going to that particular Tesco for shopping ever again, but since I often use Tesco petrol stations and regularly have shopping delivered (plus I have clubcard vouchers) boycotting the store altogether seems like cutting off my nose to spite my face. That, and I don't think it would make a blind bit of difference to the way falsely-accused shoplifters are treated!

Knowing the official procedure for how suspected shoplifting is handled would certainly put my mind at rest somewhat. I did try to ask the security guard when I spoke with her on the phone but don't feel I was offered an official line, it was more like "sometimes we do this, other times we do that..." With hindsight, almost as though she was avoiding blame.

Of course, I do not want the lady to be sacked, nor do I want "compensation", I just want to feel reassured that if I do ever choose to go in person to a Tesco store with my little one again, I won't be humiliated at being accused of thievery in public.

Does anyone know the postal/email address for head office?

I would write the head office as it is a training issue. They should be talking to people in the back out of sight

the security guards in tesco are emloyed by another company trying to remember the name, should know because they used to provide the guards for my work too -doh!

it's a massice contract for them and all the guards are desperate to work in a tesco store as it's seen as a chushy number

they are trained by the guard company and not tesco and many of them are over zealous and seriously over step the mark

I had to retrain each new guard as they were all have a go heroes!

to stop someone they should see them select and conseal the item and then go past the last point of payment without attempting to pay for the item

I'm sure I've let many shoplifters walk away because I haven't been 100% sure -it's not worth the risk

I once saw a security guard and some trolley blokes rugby tackle a shoplifter as he stepped out the doorway at Tesco. I was a bit suprised at how physical they were but I suspect he was a known shoplifter. They id pull some gamon out his trousers.

They id pull some gamon out his trousers

Ewwwwwwwwwww

op if i saw you i would presume the security guards were being idiots and not that you were stealing.

Call Head Office and give them hell.
It's true, you haven't technically stolen anything while you're still on the premises. Horrible, shoddy way to treat anyone; Tesco are usually staffed by muppets.