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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:
wadi1983 · 05/03/2014 22:59

This happens to me all the time...

Twice today in fact...

I just stop dead still, and stare at them like there mad Wink ...

Entertains selfGrin

42andcounting · 05/03/2014 23:07

I will be on the look out now... not only do I shop with a big pram, I have a big empty bag hung on the handles and i put stuff in it as I go round, decanting it out again to pay. Stops me buying more than I can balance on the pram! Smile

DarylDixonsDarlin · 05/03/2014 23:13

I got followed regularly by security in my local Boots, with my Quinny Buzz - baby in car seat so no room for smuggling stolen goods, and have you SEEN the basket on a Buzz? Cant fit your own handbag in it, let alone a few lightfingered pickings Hmm oh and they knew damn well it was me going in there twice a week, i had squeaky wheels lol not exactly inconspicuous :)

Frusso · 05/03/2014 23:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

stickystick · 05/03/2014 23:25

Noone ever stalks me (that I know of) but unfortunately my child is a terrible grabber and on three occasions we've been walking down the street having emerged from a shop and I've found things I didn't know about, either attached to him or to the buggy.

On one other awful occasion, we set the alarm off leaving Zara. The security guard searched me, my coat, all my shopping bags, the change bag. We finally found one tiny baby shoe somehow wedged between the buggy and the empty mesh shopping bag attached to the side of the buggy. He then angrily demanded to know where I had concealed the other one....

TheMaw · 05/03/2014 23:27

I was in a gift-y homewear-y type shop today, it's laid out like a little maze, loads of wee nooks, and one of the shop assistants followed me. I just kept going into the nooks and kind of backing myself in, not able to get past her. It was really awkward. I find myself over compensating - like, if I pick something up I practically carry it over my head to the till.

HadABadDay2014 · 05/03/2014 23:30

My sister, SIL and me was all pregnant in 2008/2009, the same time holly oaks did a story line about the McQueens sisters using a bump to steal item. Every time we went shopping together security would follow us around.

DrCoconut · 05/03/2014 23:48

I was barred from my local Spar as a shoplifter. I have never stolen anything. The owners dad had followed me round on a couple of occasions and I wondered if he thought I was going to nick something. On the third occasion he told me as I went in that I was barred and he didn't have to give me a reason to refuse service. The assistant was mortified and said as I left that he'd speak to the owner (who is often away at his other shop). the next day I decided to go and ask the owner why I was barred. He admitted that his dad had noticed that things were going missing and had kind of assumed it was me as I had a pushchair. He said they had had words and I was unbarred. I told him (politely) that I would be shopping elsewhere.

wightjellybaby · 05/03/2014 23:50

Yeah my bros a security guard in a shopping center he says the same.

Back in the day when woolworths was around I always got followed round rather obviously by the security guard so id pick up extra stuff to what I wanted walk round with it for ages looking round then swop it or put it back then pay for what I wanted.

My view at the time was if im stereotyped (as teenager with purple hair dressed in black) thats not fair ive never stolen anything so do your job security try and search me call the police wast their time ive done nothing wrong

Bogeyface · 06/03/2014 00:56

Years ago my sister had a delivery problem at work and needed 20 fleece robes for a promotion (spa thing). So I went with her and she managed to find what she wanted in Primark so we cleared the shelves and were wandering towards to the tills, chatting, looking at stuff and we were dogged every step by the most obvious security guard ever.

She is not backwards in coming forward so eventually turned round, handed him both our piles of robes and said "If you are going to follow us, you can carry these" and he did! :o

StrawberryTartYum · 06/03/2014 01:08

Since I've had DS who's 9 weeks old I've been followed on my trips to Boots, he's very obvious and it makes me try and act natural so I end up looking suspicious anyway, I'm far too soft! Also I get flustered and forget what I'm in for, and when I turn round to go to another aisle I always end up bumping into him! Blush

Cuxibamba · 06/03/2014 01:52

I live abroad and stick out like a sore thumb (deathly pale and blonde)- security guards at supermarkets follow me around all the time, I'm instantly suspicious apparently. Tbh it doesn't fuss me, they're wasting their time so I can't care less.

Anonymai · 06/03/2014 04:12

I don't think I've been followed but I do get paranoid if I'm with the pram and have to get something out the bag on the pram for dd. I sometimes have eyes too big for the basket too and have to put things underneath the pram to get it to the till. I'm so paranoid about being accused of something, I hunt down a staff member, show them the stuff, take their name and carry on. That way, if I get accused, I can say BUT I TOLD STEVE I WAS DOING IT or something.

Homebird8 · 06/03/2014 05:16

Bogeyface I love your tactic! pressing the security into service. What about asking them to push the pram whilst you shop? Our very own shopping assistants MNers! What more could we ask?

Lj8893 · 06/03/2014 05:36

I've been paranoid since having dd as I'm aware they are more suspicious of prams. But my local boots security guard is pretty rubbish. I've never seen him follow anyone, in fact I've never seen him elsewhere in the shop but sat in his station by the front door.

Lj8893 · 06/03/2014 05:38

Oh I've been followed a few times by sainsburys security guard. She's a tiny woman aged about 70! Having seen some of the security/thief supermarket scuffles before, I do worry how she would manage!! that's probably why she follows me and not big scary looking people

Applejuice70 · 06/03/2014 05:43

Agree with puddings!

Homebird8 · 06/03/2014 05:58

A story for those of you with light fingered little ones.

My DS1 once took a bead necklace from a shop and put it in the bottom of the buggy (he was about 22 months at the time). When I realised, right over at the other side of town obviously, I traipsed all the way back to return it and spoke to the assistant asking her to explain to DS1 that he mustn't take things from shops and that Mummy has to pay for them first.

What she said though was great. She told him that he was a big boy now and could help the shops. It was his job to make sure that the shop things stayed in the shop unless they'd been paid for. He loved the responsibility and was vigilant about counting the items we'd chosen as we picked them and counting them again onto the till counter.

What a clever assistant. Never had a problem again.

Crazycake · 06/03/2014 06:00

It happens to me all the time, I have 4 children of my own and I'm a childminder. It used to really upset me but now I understand that they have a job to do.

Once in primark it was a busy bank holiday and I had dd in a pram. There were no baskets left so I had no option but to very obviously drape clothes over the pram. I'd noticed a plain clothed man following me for the best part of 40 minutes (he'd never make a good private detective). Eventually I turned to him and asked if they had a stash of baskets somewhere as there were none to be seen. This 6" man went bright red and said "how do you know I work here?" Don't be so flippin obvious haha Smile

ProudAS · 06/03/2014 06:34

If they're going to be that obvious ask them to push the pram/buggy for you. Leaves your hands free to do the shopping and pay for it and if light fingered DC grabs something you can blame security person

NoodleOodle · 06/03/2014 06:52

Some of these posts have really brightened my morning!

PollyPumpkins · 06/03/2014 07:02

I think I must look mighty shifty as I am followed regularly in a variety of shops and I am not even pushing a pram !

MrsSparkles · 06/03/2014 07:32

YNBU, but I managed to accidently shoplift a 12 pack of toilet rolls by putting them in the front of the buggy, DD was walking around. I totally forgot they were there and the cashier didn't notice either - a bit worrying!

I've also walked out with things I've put in the bottom.

PrimalLass · 06/03/2014 07:34

I got followed regularly by security in my local Boots, with my Quinny Buzz - baby in car seat so no room for smuggling stolen goods, and have you SEEN the basket on a Buzz? Cant fit your own handbag in it, let alone a few lightfingered pickings hmm oh and they knew damn well it was me going in there twice a week, i had squeaky wheels lol not exactly inconspicuous smile.

Squeaky wheels is a Quinny Buzz thing. I ended up with three different chassis as I kept taking the buggy back into John Lewis and causing a scene. It was like Chinese water torture.

puntasticusername · 06/03/2014 07:56

For some reason, my pram very often sets off the alarms on entering/leaving shops. If on the way out, I skid to a halt and start looking guiltily (despite having not stolen anything, I hasten to add!) around for an assistant to whom I can explain myself.

Half the time none of them care enough to even notice me, and the other half I get a cheery wave and "it's ok, love, we clocked you when you came in, don't worry". So is it common for prams to set the alarms off? As judging by this thread, I should feel lucky no one's yet taken me for a master criminal and hauled me off for a body search.

Mine's a Mothercare My 3, if that makes any difference.