Followed round Wilko by shop security team.

[ThreeWarriors]

I was shopping in Wilko today when towards the end I realised I was being very closely monitored by a very unsubtle security team. I went to the till and paid for my shopping and told the lady at the till how obvious they’d been and how uncomfortable they’d made me feel. She did apologise. The whole thing was very unnerving.

I have never stolen a thing in my life and have no reason to.

I am a DV victim and probably come across as less confident. I also struggle to make decisions in shops so like to take my time. I think there were at least two men, definitely one. There was a lady there too but she was much less obvious.

I was mainly buying stuff to send to my DD at uni and am now thinking of returning it all and buying it elsewhere.

I don’t want to be followed around anywhere by unknown men.

The plain clothes guy in TK Maxx hit me really hard by mistake. I was bending over to peer at some jewellery, he scuttled up and looked into my bags. I started to straighten up and he was so engrossed he didn’t move, lost his balance and flattened me.

He did apologise, in a terrified way. I’ve had my purse nicked twice in the queue there, so you do wish they’d at least try to go for people who were on the rob.

I think store security has got more obvious this year (maybe not that obvious) cos shops are bracing themselves for the poverty explosion that’s just starting.

I find it highly unlikely they had 3 store detectives, they'd be lucky to have one covering the store. Maybe your anxiety made you think people were watching you when they weren't?
Also they would not share pictures unless you had been previously caught stealing.

I find it depends on the area. My local area (rough as fibrous shit) you definitely get the security breathing down your neck unless you're a regular that they recognise. When I worked in the City and would go shopping, you'd barely notice the security guards😅 I don't think I saw one patrol a shop in all my years there!

I don’t think this is the case tbh. People will boycott stores over bad customer service ie being treated like a criminal if they’re not one

They would not hire a team of 3 people to do this; far too expensive. Especially with CCTV. You’re being paranoid.

Did they actually stop you op?

I get this all the time. Was diagnosed with ASD last year. Wearing a sunflower lanyard stops it to a certain extent - or at least makes the security guards subtle enough for me not to be unnerved by them!

I had a shop assistant blatantly follow me around Accessorize once. I don't look like your stereotypical shoplifter so I imagine that being a young looking woman was the reason. Very irritating and put me off actually purchasing anything. I asked her is she was ok and made it obvious I knew what she was doing. Then left and never went to that store again and they ended up closing down not long after.

I’ve never been treated like this in a shop before.

On the contrary I think I worked in retail for too long when I was younger, to the extent that other customers seem to think I work at random shops I visit

I can’t explain it, but shoplifters interact with products differently than customers do, and differently than staff do. They’re just more careless almost, like they don’t treat items respectfully. Staff members interact with products differently too, there’s a different “air”. You probably just did something in a manner that made them want to look a bit closer at how you’re interacting with their stock. Especially if you were around some of their common targets of theft.

I see where you’re coming from. However, shoplifters are not my problem. They’re Wilko’s problem. By following me around the shop, they’re making it my problem.

Completely wrong legally.

If it's some one I've been told shoplifters by the police. I'll be as subtle as a house brick

If it's some who has been caught before . They get asked to leave. Doesnt matter if they plan on buying items or not. Shoplifters aren't welcome.

I dont follow people unless I feel the need to or unless shop staff have asked me to . But I do try to be subtle . I certainly dont want people to be uncomfortable.

Like a pp said it's not something you can explain . Shoplifters move differently, and it sets off my shoplifter sense .

I used to get this a lot. I suspect I’m not entirely neurotypical. And certainly hate the feel of uncomfortable shoes or too tight clothes, so, yep. Always wear trainers and big hoodie.

i like to have my random stuff with me just in case, so have a backpack. And I tend to,be in a bit of a daydream, scuttling round, peering at labels intently making comparisons and randomly sniffing stuff. (And probably mumbling to myself too)

i always got followed in Woolies back in the day. To the point of them taking my basket off me to take to the till.

the nice thing is I’m over 50 now, and female, and therefore invisible it would appear. Even to store detectives.

the nice thing is I’m over 50 now, and female, and therefore invisible it would appear. Even to store detectives.

your not invisible . Shoplifters come in all shapes and sizes and ages . Oldest I've had is probably in theres 80s

I work in a retail store and they are usually just doing their job. When i am on the security run at work we are told to make it obvious we are walking around watching people to act as a deterrent because thats easier than dealing with someone who has already actively stolen.

As for the woman and over 50s comments believe me shoplifters come in all demographics and we are trained at work to look at any signs including someone hovering too long around certain shelves, people who seem unsure and linger or keep returning to the same place and picking everything up.

Not everyone is a shoplifter but anyone could be a shoplifter.

You've only ever witnessed white, middle aged men shoplifting?

Where on earth do you live OP?

Unfortunately it's a drawback of the society we're living in, the shop (s) obviously feel that pissing off and losing a few customers for having a very visible and robust theft deterrent, and those customers taking it personally, is more cost effective than just letting people carry on and losing the stock. I don't need to be subsidising people nicking stuff with higher prices, I'd rather be followed - I know I'm not going to steal anything, they don't, I'm just another person in the shop to them, unfortunately thieves don't wear a badge declaring them as one, could literally be anyone.

Shop lifters are stealthy mostly I'd think and if followed/challenged highly likely to loudly protest they've never stolen anything in their lives.
Don't blame the people employed to do the job, blame the people who pinch stuff in the first place and the system that doesn't take it seriously and act as a deterrent so there is very little in the way of concequences.

In year 7 on my first ever trip to town myself and my friend got stopped in Superdrug and they told us we had no choice but to consent to a search or they would lock us in their back room. We obviously had nothing we were looking to buy a certain matte foundation pot so we didn't have to foundation and powder in the mornings. They pulled out our bags infront of the entire store and tried to claim a boots own showergel was theirs? When I got back home I told my grandmother (who was a lawyer) and she called them going absolutely mental at the manager and threatening to sue, we got letters of apologies and vouchers etc. I still never went back and hated shopping in person ever since.

I was followed around Sainsbury's by a bald man in black security clothing. Every time I looked he was hovering and when I moved to another aisleway he was there. I knew he was following me and could not get why as I was doing nothing wrong.
When I got to the checkout he appeared and walked past me staring into my trolley. Then he moved to the end of an aisleway and watched me until I left the shop.
I called the manager and complained and she said he didn't answer the description of any of their staff and could only apologise.
i wish I had challenged him at the time but I felt uncomfortable and just wanted to leave. The little bastard.

And for anyone who will query or say ' its our job in retail' you don't have the right to harrass or stalk anyone especially minors, I attended a private school in Lincolnshire, I went out with £40 that day and ended up buying the foundation from boots again in the end and Superdrug employees left me with ptsd for shopping in person due to them being 'handsy' and inappropriate with myself as an 11 year old child.

My old workplace had upmarket clientele. We were trained to deter people by providing OTT customer service. Eg shady person enters a fitting room with a dress, I’ll put the item in the cubicle for them and gushingly say “that’s a lovely white maxi dress with florals, really suits you. It’s popular and selling fast. You’ve got a size 10, but if you need any other sizes that aren’t out let me know and I’ll radio someone to bring it to you immediately”. Makes shoplifters aware you’re watching the item without accusing them of anything and non shoplifters think you’re just nice.

Literally every demographic stole including well-dressed middle class people. The current fashion trend is athleisure, baggy clothing, trainers and joggers so it’s pointless watching out for certain attire.

Ring head office and complain.

They have the right to follow you. Minor or Not. You are on private property.

A lot of people excusing theft on here tonight.

I was once followed around the card/stationery section in Sainsburys once. The guy just hovered at the end of the isle staring at me I was so uncomfortable I laughed out of awkwardness. Yanbu.

A certain type of security guard has followed me and my DC too. They were obvious and it was unsettling, as a female DV victim to be followed around by a male on a power trip. I wonder if I go to the same Waitrose as Eurochick.