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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be annoyed by store security for following me with my pram?

67 replies

Hotmad · 05/03/2014 20:12

Since having my baby I have noticed that I have been followed by security guards in shops, one in boots, one in a sports direct and one In sainsbury who was undercover but so blatantly a secret one. I never have been followed like this before so I can only assume it's because I have a pram and probably look like someone so has been dragged through a hedge backwards Blush
Is this fair that they target mums with prams if this is the case?
Do mums with prams steal a lot?
Does this happen to others or is it just me?

OP posts:
whois · 05/03/2014 20:17

It's a totally common shoplifting technique to hide stuff in a pram or buggy I'm afraid!

WorraLiberty · 05/03/2014 20:18

Blimey I must be pretty unobservant Confused

I've had 3 kids and have never been followed round a shop by anyone to my knowledge.

KiwiBanana · 05/03/2014 20:19

Happens to me quite often. Doesn't bother me too much as I'm not stealing anything but I can see why it's annoying.

Cleartheclutter · 05/03/2014 20:19

Not unusual, another trick is someone in a wheelchair with a blanket on their lap, they put things under the blanket

HorraceTheOtter · 05/03/2014 20:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HorraceTheOtter · 05/03/2014 20:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Hotmad · 05/03/2014 20:24

I should add, i am not stealing so nothing to hide or be upset about just found it funny/annoying, I felt like I was deliberately proving my innocence by not being suspicious, I couldn't help it!

OP posts:
WeeClype · 05/03/2014 20:24

In Sainsburys yesterday every corner I turned there seemed to be a security guard watching me! After reading this I guess it's cos I had a double buggy.....even the people trying to sell credit cards didn't even stop me but asked everyone else Hmm

WooAGhostCat · 05/03/2014 20:25

When I had a temp job at boots as a student it was always mums with prams that were basically looting the place.
In the end I became suspicious of every Mum and baby. Even the naice looking ones with silvercross prams.

WeeClype · 05/03/2014 20:32

Oh god I'm going to feel paranoid now knowing that people will think I'm on the rob, even tho I've never stole anything in my life.

maybe a mascara when I was 13

formerbabe · 05/03/2014 20:34

Yes, I get followed all the time when I am shopping with my buggy... Once, I got so pissed off that I dumped my basket of shopping at the security guards feet, told him he could put the stuff away and walked out!

EatDessertFirst · 05/03/2014 20:42

DP used to be a supermarket security guard and about 50-60% of the shoplifters he caught had prams or buggies. The bigger the buggy, the more suspicious as well apparently (his words!). The wheelchair one, as mentioned by clutter was a pretty popular one as well.

So YANBU to be narked by this, but unfortunately, its way more common than a lot of people think. X

BakerStreet · 05/03/2014 20:44

I get this all the time and I haven't pushed a pram in over 10 years. Its not just confined to one shop either.

There is a little Indian security guard that follows me around my local supermarket every time he happens to be on shift when I'm shopping.
He makes it so bloody obvious that he's following me and doesn't stop until he see's me heading for the door.

I must just have one of those faces, either that or as dh reckons he must fancy me!!!

Finola1step · 05/03/2014 20:46

Yes, pretty common I'm afraid. When I worked in retail, one of the most common shoplifting techniques was the toddler in the buggy with a large basket underneath. Usually the toddler was just a bit too old for the buggy IYSWIM. If they got caught, they would always trot out the line "I put it at the bottom of the buggy so it didn't get dropped. I forgot it was there. I'm so tired with lack of sleep. I just forgot". The same story time after time. There was the odd genuine case but they were very easy to spot.

5littlefreckledspogs · 05/03/2014 20:49

Feel so much better reading this, I was followed round morrisons - a few months ago, and was so mortified I've not been back since - I thought I was the only one!

Oldraver · 05/03/2014 21:19

It is irritating I have had it happen to me but I have led them a merry dance a few times. I've also told a manager his security was a bit too obvious

VikingLady · 05/03/2014 21:46

Unfortunately DD (2yrs) does have a shoplifting habit. Small sparkly stuff goes around her in the buggy. It is why I didn't get her a cosytoes this winter! I've never been followed around the shops though - maybe I just look honest? Maybe because we don't have a big buggy, just an umbrella thing.

She's swiped enough without me noticing now that we have a new rule. If it looks like it cost over £1 we take it back, but less than that is just too embarrassing Blush

peppercold · 05/03/2014 21:58

Ds2 when he was little swiped three packets of Halls Soothers!

deakymom · 05/03/2014 22:33

its pretty common im afraid however ive bought clothing put it on the hood of the pram when i leave the store and the security tags were still attached the alarm did not go off!

ive also put something on the hood and had to go back to pay for it (they were surprised i was honest

i saw someone shoplift with a trolley once she put bottles of pop underneath and "forgot" to pay for them of course the girl at the checkout can't see the underneath (until she walked out the door but no security so what can you do Hmm)

BigRedBall · 05/03/2014 22:41

This happens to me in Boots by a security guard. He peers around and over the aisles as I pop anusol and sanitary pads in my basket. Whenever I look up he's there. I once pretended to walk around the shop for no reason, just marching here and there and he followed me! I must look like a thief.

puddingsforsandy · 05/03/2014 22:46

Try being black.

BigRedBall · 05/03/2014 22:50

Are you black puddingsforsandy? Confused

whitepuddingsupper · 05/03/2014 22:51

The security guard in poundland always follows me when I have the buggy. If I was going to shoplift (I'm not) it would be somewhere more worthwhile than poundland Grin.

Episode · 05/03/2014 22:52

second puddings!

QOD · 05/03/2014 22:54

I used to wander round sainsbury when dd had a 45 dance class, small store, look at all the clothes, wander uuuuup and doooooown and yes, the security guard would follow me every week
Sometimes for fun I'd not buy anything in the hopes he'd try to stop me as I left ... Mean

once I bought lube and self service tilled so the security sticker wasn't taken off and he asked to look in my bag when I set off the alarm.mortified is not the word and it was karma