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

[TheBitchOfDestiny]

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 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)

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?

Don't complain but if it happens again you don't have to have your bag searched. I had a bottle of suncream in my handbag that set off quite a few alarms once. I didn't mind showing it to polite security guards but never met a rude one iyswim.

But as a pp said, when I worked in retail, you had to have seen the customer take product from shelf, hide in their bag/coat and then leave the shop without paying, before you were allowed to stop them.

Plus the police would only arrest them if they didn't have enough money/means of payment. Otherwise, they paid up, you told them they were banned in future and they buggered off. Then they tended to come back next time with a different hat on

YY reni2. I also think the carrier bag charge is an added problem for shop security - not that I object to paying 5p for a bag and I love turtles etc.

It's just that all those people carrying big bags of their own into shops is a thieves' tactic too. If a few people are doing it, the security staff know to keep and eye. Now loads of people are, mistakes will be made. Probably most of them will be on innocent people while the wily thieves skip away.

One of the things DH told me is a shoplifting giveaway is that they look everywhere except at the item. He's pointed it out and it's true. Professional thieves also become well known to staff. It's an occupational hazard.

We were shopping once and pointed at someone and yelled: 'That man is known shoplifter!'

It was quite embarrassing and a bit like

I completely understand what you're on about. I've just quit my job at JD Sports because of bullying and poor management. They make the staff treat you like you've stiken something when it's the staffs incompetency because they can't remember to remove a tag, and also the alarms go off for no reason and we are made to chance you like you're some sort of criminal. The way the staff deal with it is really unprofessional, and if you complain maybe they will give some training or something. Not that the managers would train you because you are forced to figure everything out on your own. Big worth a try. And I apologise on behalf of JD, I will never work/shop/recommend them to anyone ever again.

Chase you But worth a try sorry :D

I set an alarm off going into a shop once. Library books were the culprit. He should have apologised but he was just doing his job.

I went though JD Sports a few weeks ago and the alarm went off.

When checking my bag they found track suit bottoms with the security tag still on.

They took my receipt and the bottoms to the till to removed it, came back and said sorry.

They are just doing their job, the security guard won't have seen you walking around the entire shop and known if you did/didn't buy anything what is to complain about?