About this security guard?

[QuestionableMouse]

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!

I agree it's because you were in the "small valuables" area of the shop. And by your own admission- wandering about aimlessly. He probably thought you were pissed

I think I'd feel a bit sorry for someone trying to pinch a tube of thrush cream and let it go. Obviously I'd be a useless security guard.

The security guards in my morrisons wear hi vis vests. They see no point as they are in the store but occasionally they are sent outside to queue manage so hi vis is needed then.

Me and my dh are security guards but not in retail so we try and look dodgy for a laugh.

I was once followed in another store when I was in buying booze and when I turned round and he saw I was in uniform and wearing my sia licence he went away.

Don't blame him, blame the thieving scum who are costing supermarkets a fortune. Anyone who works in retail knows there isn't a "shoplifter uniform", it would be very helpful if there was.

These days thieves have been known to wear Boden and Seasalt, you know.

Off topic but the other day I think saw a police officer stealing? I entered M&S homeware department and saw an officer in front of me, who went into a corner and awkwardly put a bakery item (it was in a pink box) into their back pocket. Fair enough, they could have paid already but just seemed weird that the officer put it in her pocket in a shady corner of the store well away from the food hall/tills/other people.

She probably paid for, but just goes to show that anyone can accidentally be shady,

That was probably Grandtheftwalrus in her security uniform. She sounds quite dodgy.

@SmileyClare

That was probably Grandtheftwalrus in her security uniform. She sounds quite dodgy.

Ah unfortunately not me, I don't work in retail and I never would, too many dodgy women with tiny handbags looking at thrush cream!

It’s not about what you wear or how you look it’s about your body language.
Most seasoned security guards are on the look out for particular actions of body language from customers and if they see it they know to be suspicious.

A close friend of mine is a ‘loss prevention’ specialist and trains security guards for a living and this is what she has told me, I love her stories, I find it all fascinating.

She’s said people who seem to be ‘browsing aimlessly’ especially in the current climate are immediately red flagged as suspicious because it’s not usual behaviour in a supermarket.

How do you tell if a woman is dodgy or not?

Back when DD was small enough to be in a buggy there was a certain security guard that would follow me around Poundland blatantly watching me every time I went in, I assume because people use the under buggy basket to steal. Never really bothered me, I used to take my sweet time going round the shop and watch him glaring at me from the end of the aisle. The real shoplifters must have been busy filling their boots while he trailed around after me.

@QuestionableMouse

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

I’ve seen many ‘non dodgy’ looking shoplifters, in nice clothes but then I don’t think all shoplifters dress like the Artful Dodger.

I've had this a few times too, and it also happens to me going through security checks at airports - I will be the one pulled to the side for extra frisking or checks or questions. I look very unremarkable other than looking very obviously white with blond hair, so I wonder if I'm part of a quota of white people they have to include in order not to be accused of pulling over too many non-white people? Doesn't explain the security guards in stores though, I think some of them are just creepy and like following women.

My car has also been pulled over by customs for checks at ferry ports and I've had to open the boot, explain the purpose of my journey, etc, then when they see the stuff in the boot, they quickly lose interest.

Only happens to me in GB, I could be smuggling all sorts to the continent and nothing ever happens to me over there!

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

I often wonder if they actually single out women with blonde hair.

@FionnulaTheCooler

Back when DD was small enough to be in a buggy there was a certain security guard that would follow me around Poundland blatantly watching me every time I went in, I assume because people use the under buggy basket to steal. Never really bothered me, I used to take my sweet time going round the shop and watch him glaring at me from the end of the aisle. The real shoplifters must have been busy filling their boots while he trailed around after me.

I was followed around Poundland too! Before kids, but it probably didn't help that I couldn't stop laughing as he was so blatant about it. The guy was genuinely speaking into his walkie talkie in a stage whisper - "just monitoring over at the homeware aisle now... making her way to phone accessories..." and the like. 😂 Not entirely sure who he was telling but unless it was some sort of surveillance tactic I can't figure out, he needed lessons in subtlety!

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

This was the problem OP.

I went to a large Tesco in a “bad” area once and my god, the things they had security tagged were hilarious. Pretty much everything over £4 was in a large alarmed plastic box, things like deodorant or vitamin d spray etc! I used to work in retail and deal with shoplifters so can only imagine the stock loss they experienced to lock down such items.

Literally anyone stole in my store - I worked at TOPSHOP so pretty much every customer was well dressed!

A lot of stuff gets stolen from pharmacy areas, shoplifters often leave the outer packaging on the shelf and pocket the contents.