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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

is this worth complaining about? suspected of shoplifting in JD sports. <classy>

106 replies

TheBitchOfDestiny · 22/10/2015 18:15

was in town with the 3 dcs yesterday. we had just been to the library and I had their books in the baby's nappy bag

oldest DC wanted to go in JD, so we had a wander round, it was packed, didn't buy anything, i just wanted to get out as I hate the place

the alarm went off as we walked out and a staff member who was stood near the doors shouted me to come back. I did so then he asked to search my bags. i was a bit taken aback, so I let him. obviously nothing was found. I hadn't bought anything from anywhere, so i think it was our library books perhaps hadn't been deactivated. I was really embarrassed as it was so busy, people were obviously looking at us and the bloke didn't even apologise.

thinking about it now I obviously knew I hadn't accidently stolen anything Hmm so think maybe I shouldn't have gone back, or refused to let them search my bags. but imagine if I had ended up with security chasing me or something, or if they had called the police, I would have died of embarrassment.

I also cant help but wonder if I look like the kind of skank that would nick from JD sports (or anywhere) Hmm

I told my friend today and she was horrified and thinks I should complain. i dislike the shop anyway, every time I have bought stuff from there (and have spent loads as have sneaker obsessed dcs) the staff are disdainful, seem to think they are something great and are usually far too cool to actually deign to serve you.

anyway, will put it to the aibu jury, should I complain?

OP posts:
Bastardshittits · 22/10/2015 20:10

back in the 90's, my sister bought something in Topshop, then went on to WHSmith when the alarms went off. She was only 14 and the security guard really grilled her, then checked her bag, spotted a top from Topshop which was still tagged. She then went back to Topshop to get the tag removed where they treated her like she had stolen the top until she produced the receipt. She left in tears and my mum wrote a Strongly Worded Letter to Topshop and they write back to apologise and gave her a £20 gift voucher. Result.

diddl · 22/10/2015 20:11

Sorry, that was all me, me, me!Blush

I don't think that there's anything to omplain about, OP.

Liara · 22/10/2015 20:20

We were at some clothes shop or other in London once, and dh going through set the alarm off. He dutifully went back, and through again taking off as many items of clothing as decency would allow, every time the alarm would go off.

In the end the security guard asked him 'do you have any chips in your body?' dh just looked at him and answered 'do you think I would tell you if I did?'

The whole situation was so ridiculous that the dc and I were sitting and watching in stitches.

I guess they just aren't 100% reliable. I have had situations where I left with the tag still on and the alarm didn't go off.

ohtheholidays · 22/10/2015 20:31

Haha you think that's bad my sodding wheelchair has a knack of setting off the alarms in shops either as were entering/leaving the shop or if were really lucky it does both.

wasonthelist · 22/10/2015 20:31

I cannot imagine why anyone would think of carrying on walking and not taking the item back to the till

Well mainly because it's a pointless waste of time.

diddl · 22/10/2015 20:35

"I cannot imagine why anyone would think of carrying on walking and not taking the item back to the till"

Because I knew that I had paid & had a receipt in the bag.

No staff reacted, so I thought maybe a faulty alarm?

diddl · 22/10/2015 20:36

Also, I mostly buy online, so I didn't occur to me at all taht the tag might still be on.

GruntledOne · 22/10/2015 21:10

kkcupcakes, your story reminds me of a book I read ages ago in which one of characters was an impoverished pupil barrister. He used to buy something small and get a receipt, then identify the store detective and make sure the detective could see him hanging furtively around the counter and apparently taking the item in question and pocketing it. He then walked swiftly to the door but making sure the detective had time to catch him. He would then allow himself to be taken back through the store loudly proclaiming his name and occupation and his innocence. When they found the receipt, he would make a big fuss about the damage they had done to his reputation because now loads of people knew that he as a barrister had been publicly accused of theft. He would then allow them to grovel and eventually would agree not to take it further on payment of hefty compensation.

You missed a trick there!

wasonthelist · 22/10/2015 21:29

Good grief gruntled. And people wonder why we don't like lawyers....

ToadsJustFellFromTheSky · 22/10/2015 21:35

I thought they weren't allowed to search you or accuse you of shoplifting unless they specifically saw you shoplift?

I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong...

reni2 · 22/10/2015 21:38

I still don't understand why some people find it irritating if someone sets off the alarm and walks out. I don't steal. I am innocent. I do not get why I ought to prove I am not guilty if these systems are shit (evidently, since I am honest but set off an alarm).

WorraLiberty · 22/10/2015 21:39

If I saw someone carry on walking after they'd set the alarm off, I would assume they were a thief, especially if a security guard went after them and they still wouldn't stop.

WorraLiberty · 22/10/2015 21:41

Toads, they have the power to detain (citizens arrest), until the police arrive if they have good reason to suspect someone has stolen something.

Triggering the alarm as someone leaves the shop, would be a good enough reason.

RJnomaaaaaargh · 22/10/2015 21:42

Could've been worse, could've been sports direct

ToadsJustFellFromTheSky · 22/10/2015 21:43

Speaking of setting alarms off, there was a time where it seemed the alarm would go off every time I walked out of a shop. I think it might have been the bag I was using at the time. However not once was I stopped by a staff member or security guard. They all just seemed to look the other way.

tobysmum77 · 22/10/2015 21:44

Well as the saying goes worra assume makes an ass out of u and me ..... Grin

ToadsJustFellFromTheSky · 22/10/2015 21:45

Which makes you wonder what the point of having an alarm is.

bodenbiscuit · 22/10/2015 21:46

They should have apologised.

It is absolutely not ok for them to assume that everyone is a shoplifter without proof.

I would certainly complain.

tobysmum77 · 22/10/2015 21:47

triggering the alarm as someone leaves the shop, would be a good enough reason.

Not if it randomly goes off because it doesn't like peoples keys. They would need a permanent police post.

bodenbiscuit · 22/10/2015 21:47

I disagree entirely that triggering the alarm is a good enough reason. A lot of things can trigger the alarm. This has happened to me in Tesco and I was not treated in such a way.

bigbluebus · 22/10/2015 21:48

I cannot imagine why anyone would think of carrying on walking and not taking the item back to the till

Well mainly because it's a pointless waste of time

Reasons its not a waste of time:

You may be going into other shops afterwards and will activate their alarm system too, which may mean that you get stopped by their security guard.

If it's an item of clothing, you won't be able to remove the tag from it without damaging the item when you get home.

bodenbiscuit · 22/10/2015 21:48

Wow did I just say something positive about Tesco?

reni2 · 22/10/2015 21:49

The only time a security guard ever came after me I just said I haven't stolen anything and will now go. He stepped aside and I went.

I could have been wrestled to the ground in a citizen's arrest (what fun!) but the result would have been citizen, security guard, police and I wasted an hour, Tesco sending me a £20 voucher as an apology, citizen and I had scuffed shoes and I still wouldn't have stolen anything. These alarms go off all the time, maybe some real, most not.

I don't block the traffic for a faulty car burglar alarm either. They too go off wrongly more often than for a real burglary.

ToadsJustFellFromTheSky · 22/10/2015 21:50

That's assuming that it's something you've bought in that particular shop that's set the alarm off bigblue. Lots of things can set an alarm off.

Thisismyfirsttime · 22/10/2015 22:02

In larger chain shops if we set the alarm off and have no item of clothing that would need the tag removing which may have been overlooked dh and I just carry on. In most larger shops/ supermarkets the security isn't in fact the man at the door who stops you but the security monitoring the cctv. So if your dh's nose hair trimmer item sets off the alarm they generally assume it's some mistake/ fault etc unless you've been watched stuffing items about your person and then tried to leave. Because I could go to Tesco, put steak and vodka and champagne in my coat or bag or pram but wouldn't be committing any crime and can't be stopped inside the store. So if you set off the alarm and get called back either the door guard knows they won't be getting info on you (broken camera on x location, cctv malfunction etc) and will check everything or there's been something to alert the cctv security about you. Either way, if you complain about them the security people can very easily lose their jobs for detecting wrong. Very easily. So I suppose it depends if you care if someone potentially loses their job for your slight embarrassment!