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AIBU?

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Original poster

About this security guard?

65 replies

QuestionableMouse · 01/03/2021 20:45

Called in the supermarket earlier, dropped my prescription off at the pharmacy and went to do some shopping.

I noticed a security guard (in high viz, radio and with a name badge!) behind me a couple of times but didn't think anything of it at first until I realised he was following me around the store. (and I realised while I was looking at some thrush cream, which was kinda uncomfortable)

After being trailed for maybe fifteen minutes, I turned around and asked him if I could help him with something. He mumbled no and walked off.

I had a trolley with my small handbag in and fairly nice clothes on. It was honestly such a creepy experience it's put me off going back in!

OP posts:
Laiste · 02/03/2021 13:14

What are you asking OP? Weather or not you should complain to the store?

SmileyClare · 02/03/2021 13:20

What was he saying on the radio? Target identified, now looking at the canesten duo, over Wink

Perhaps this is a new Tesco thing: hi vis hanging around by the pharmacy, make up and razors as a deterrent as these are the high value goods, easily shoplifted to be sold on?

Don't take it personally Op.

BitchIAmFromChicago · 02/03/2021 13:21

I’ve had this before and it was almost comical. The guard kept on peeking around the corner of every aisle and would then ‘hide’ every time I looked at him. I did find it funny but being followed around did make me feel quite uneasy.

MyLittleOrangutan · 02/03/2021 13:23

I'd feel uncomfortable. And it's not securities job to make people feel uncomfortable. You can put whatever you want in your bag, you haven't stolen until you've left the store so they're wasting their time anyway.

JesusAteMyHamster · 02/03/2021 13:24

The security guard in my local Morrisons is convinced I'm a shoplifter.........it's hilarious. He follows me around peering through shelves like one of the keystone cops.

It's off putting. And.i refuse to do a full shop in there but on the rare occasions I do venture in I like to give him a bit of a thrill by walking very fast and paying for my stuff at the cigarette kiosk 😂😂😂

Ponoka7 · 02/03/2021 13:26

"The guard kept on peeking around the corner of every aisle and would then ‘hide’ every time I looked at him."

I had that in superdrug. I called him over to help me find a day crean with hyaluronic acid in, so I could be out of the shop quicker. He wasn't amused.

Aprilx · 02/03/2021 13:29

@sqirrelfriends

For all of you saying "he's just doing his job" how would you feel as an innocent shopper bing followed by a security guard? I bet you wouldn't like it either.

It's happened to me before and it made me feel horrible and threatened.

Why would a security guard be wearing hi viz clothing in a supermarket? They are usually quite well lit. I think Op is imagining things.
PigletJohn · 02/03/2021 13:33

Jeffrey Archer has some quite nice clothes.

And is a member of the House of Lords.

He is also a notorious criminal.

Holshicup · 02/03/2021 13:35

The most likely explanation is mistaken identity, perhaps they had a discription of someone similar to you to keep an eye on.

catzrulz · 02/03/2021 13:40

Our Morrisons in a sleepy wee Argyll town wears a high viz vest with Security on it.
I've never been followed though as he spends most of the day standing at the door chatting to the staff controlling the entrance... with his mask down at his chin, but that's a whole other thread 🤗

daDUMdadaDUMdadaDUM · 02/03/2021 13:41

@MyLittleOrangutan

I'd feel uncomfortable. And it's not securities job to make people feel uncomfortable. You can put whatever you want in your bag, you haven't stolen until you've left the store so they're wasting their time anyway.
Well yes but how could the store know a person has left the store with something unless someone saw the person put it in their bag? If they end up taking it out and paying for it presumably they wouldn’t be accused of shoplifting.
sqirrelfriends · 02/03/2021 13:45

@Aprilx but they do tend to wear a high-vis vest. At my local Sainsbury's they are at the entrance but there's also usually someone by the pharmacy and healthcare section.

alsodetoxing · 02/03/2021 13:48

Since when was it a security guard's to pick out a random woman without justification and follow her for fifteen minutes?

Madness.

I would ask his superior for an explanation. Perhaps you looked like someone else.

CyberdyneSystems · 02/03/2021 13:48

Do you look dodgy?

Buccanarab · 02/03/2021 13:55

Since when was it a security guard's to pick out a random woman without justification and follow her for fifteen minutes?

Madness.

I would ask his superior for an explanation.

Oh absolutely. Security guards should only follow those of a less desirable nature. The working class, hoodlums, minorities and the like. But never, ever should a Middle class woman be considered as a potential thief. Hmm

SmileyClare · 02/03/2021 13:56

I think far too many people are wearing hi vis unnecessarily. Why on earth would someone in tesco need highly reflective fluorescent attire. It's not high visibility if too many people are walking around in it Confused

Anyway, I would find it strange to be followed for 15 minutes. It could have been that he was simply following a "route" around the store that you happened to be taking.

I wouldn't complain.

SmileyClare · 02/03/2021 14:00

Never should a middle-class woman be considered as a potential thief

There's a little board for staff to fill in next to the self scan tills in our Tesco: "Top shop lifted items this week"
This week at number 3 was Avocados!

Original poster
QuestionableMouse · 02/03/2021 14:03

I don't think I look dodgy. I'm just an average looking blonde woman.

OP posts:
Original poster
QuestionableMouse · 02/03/2021 14:03

I'm also absolutely not middle class 😂

OP posts:
thosetalesofunexpected · 02/03/2021 14:05

@QuestionableMouse

Next time Creepy security guard creeps you out op.

You just need to pretend act like you have a coughing bout fit.

Security guard will skiddle move away from you like you have bubonic black plague or something .😂

Original poster
QuestionableMouse · 02/03/2021 14:05

@SmileyClare

I think far too many people are wearing hi vis unnecessarily. Why on earth would someone in tesco need highly reflective fluorescent attire. It's not high visibility if too many people are walking around in it Confused

Anyway, I would find it strange to be followed for 15 minutes. It could have been that he was simply following a "route" around the store that you happened to be taking.

I wouldn't complain.

I was going around pretty randomly because I don't shop in that tesco very often and can't find anything. 😂
OP posts:
Nith · 02/03/2021 14:15

I don't really see why it's so creepy when he wasn't hiding the fact that he's a security guard. I would be much more worried if it had been just some random man with no obvious justification. You could perhaps have challenged him earlier if you were worried?

NeverDropYourMoonCup · 02/03/2021 15:21

@QuestionableMouse

I'm also absolutely not middle class 😂
Maybe that's it - no WC urchin woman with an itchy minge would be paying for something they could get on prescription?

I'd imagine you were in an aisle with high value, small items - face creams, makeup towards the end and the like, as well as Canesten. At the nearest big Tesco's to us, the security tend to stick to the face cream, hairdye and fake tan corners (not so much the makeup as it's a shit selection due to that being opposite the pharmacy desk with the razor blades).

The rest are concentrating upon the baby products and alcohol aisles there.

Anyhow, you're in one of the most 'valuable and stealable' areas of the shop. That's why he followed.

stressyheffy · 02/03/2021 15:45

There's a thing ... rich women stealing for the thrill of it. Maybe in your nice clothes he thought you looked loaded and bored.

sunflowersandbuttercups · 02/03/2021 15:51

@MyLittleOrangutan

I'd feel uncomfortable. And it's not securities job to make people feel uncomfortable. You can put whatever you want in your bag, you haven't stolen until you've left the store so they're wasting their time anyway.
It's not a waste of time at all.

They have to see you putting things in your bag to know you've stolen them in the first place!