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Original poster

Followed round Wilko by shop security team.

213 replies

ThreeWarriors · 28/09/2022 21:03

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.

OP posts:
Anon778833 · 29/09/2022 21:13

ShaneTwane · 29/09/2022 20:52

Wheres the insult? That anyone can be a shoplifter?

No. That burly security twats think that it’s ok to intimidate women in a shop because they’re bored.

I do wonder whether men get followed around in shops like this? It would be interesting to know…

Anon778833 · 29/09/2022 21:15

Amazingly we have men in suits, women with freshly highlighted hair in nice summer dresses, even people in their work uniforms steal.

Exactly right! Because what makes someone a thief is their lack of moral compass / entitled attitude. Not that they look ‘poor’ and not that they have a pram ffs

ShaneTwane · 29/09/2022 23:22

I do wonder whether men get followed around in shops like this? It would be interesting to know…

Yes men get followed around shops all the time by security.

girlmom21 · 30/09/2022 06:29

Anon778833 · 29/09/2022 21:15

Amazingly we have men in suits, women with freshly highlighted hair in nice summer dresses, even people in their work uniforms steal.

Exactly right! Because what makes someone a thief is their lack of moral compass / entitled attitude. Not that they look ‘poor’ and not that they have a pram ffs

Nobody suggested you're a shoplifter because you have a pram but many shoplifters use prams to conceal stolen items.

Backthetruckup · 30/09/2022 08:11

ShaneTwane · 29/09/2022 23:22

I do wonder whether men get followed around in shops like this? It would be interesting to know…

Yes men get followed around shops all the time by security.

So where were they the 5 different times I witnessed when there were crimes actually being committed?

caringcarer · 30/09/2022 08:43

You might look like a person who has stolen from them before.

NurseInTraining · 30/09/2022 08:48

This sounds so uncomfortable for you but you raised it with staff and hopefully they will learn from it. Maybe if it bothers you then ask them why they felt you were worth targeting (this might just help you understand and maybe see there was some logic there - maybe not). Sounds like they aren't too good at their job so hopefully you can just think they are a bit rubbish. Honestly this would make me uncomfortable too.

Nolongera · 30/09/2022 09:02

It seems remarkable that the same people who find shopping stressful and/or have anxiety are the same people being followed.

The idea that they might stalk you by stacking shelves simply doesn't make sense. What happens when, after a few seconds browsing, you move on?

Do they continue to drag round a full cage, placing stuff in the wrong area which they are then going to have to move again later all to observe someone clearly not stealing?

This is nonsense and all in people's minds.

Backthetruckup · 30/09/2022 09:05

@Nolongera Do you work on a shop? You seem awfully defensive 🤔

Nolongera · 30/09/2022 09:24

Backthetruckup · 30/09/2022 09:05

@Nolongera Do you work on a shop? You seem awfully defensive 🤔

No.

gatehouseoffleet · 30/09/2022 09:56

Grandeur · 28/09/2022 21:15

Sorry but they're just doing their job

Why do people always say this. No they're not. Or, ok they are doing their job badly. You shouldn't know if someone is following you, that rather defeats the object!

If I think someone is following me, I just walk out again.

Also there's meant to be a member of staff 'hovering' at the end of the self service. They are there to assist. That's their job. The poor things are essentially covering 2 or 3 tills simultaneously why poor things? It's only usually an issue if you want to buy an age-restricted item and they need to approve it. They don't need to supervise each and every transaction.

gatehouseoffleet · 30/09/2022 09:57

To be fair, I can't remember the last time I thought I was being followed. But I have walked out of shops because they keep asking you if you need help. I just want to browse. That's a different issue though and one that's been done to death on here.

KassandraOfSparta · 30/09/2022 09:58

It depends what you think the purpose of the security team. They would prefer that you're not stealing in the first place - they don't want to be dealing with the hassle of calling the police, writing reports etc etc etc. They'd rather that you are deterred from stealing in the first place by making their presence felt.

TheSecondMrsAshwell · 30/09/2022 12:12

Many years ago, one of the Oxford Street women's clothes shops had security guards who were an intimidating bunch of uniformed arseholes. They would walk up to women in the lingerie section and stand next to them, smirking. You try buying a thong with a man you don't know leering over you. I used to ask them which set I ought to buy, because if they were going to hang round like a bunch of spare ones, they might as well make themselves useful. No, I'm not intimidated, so hold these hangers or piss off. I would always mention that they were OTT when paying.

Anyway, one day I went in and they were nowhere in sight. I mentioned that it was a relief to choose my knickers in peace and the assistant said that they had had a lot of complaints, but the cherry on top of the cake was one customer's husband throwing a hissy fit as he was so outraged that his wife was being closely followed round the underwear section by a man whose intent seemed to be to make her uncomfortable. So the contract was ended.

I know that shops have to protect goods, but they were the limit.

AuntSalli · 30/09/2022 18:31

@TheSecondMrsAshwell so yet again 100 women can complain and nothing is done. 1 man has a hissy fit in the action is instantaneous

XenoBitch · 30/09/2022 18:51

Why do people always say this. No they're not. Or, ok they are doing their job badly. You shouldn't know if someone is following you, that rather defeats the object!

Security guards act as a deterrent. If one is following you, then you would have to be bloody stupid to still attempt to steal something. Them following someone does prevent some thefts.

LikeTearsInRain · 30/09/2022 18:53

Agreed unknown large men should not be menacingly following women around stores. They should employ both male and female security so the appropriate person can monitor.

Needmorelego · 30/09/2022 19:06

@gatehouseoffleet I said "poor things" because by being the ONE member of staff monitoring several self service tills means they have to be getting a bag for someone/approving age restricted items/deleting an item accidentally scanned twice/fixing the 'unexpected itemin bagging area/helping someone who can't work the debit card thing/101 other things all at the exactly the same time running back and forth between tills.
When I worked retail we didn't have the self service so a till person sat at a till and served ONE customer and could focus their customer service on that ONE customer. Now they have to focus on several simultaneously - including making sure that the customer is actually scanning and paying for their goods correctly.

Agrudge · 30/09/2022 19:09

LikeTearsInRain · 30/09/2022 18:53

Agreed unknown large men should not be menacingly following women around stores. They should employ both male and female security so the appropriate person can monitor.

That is laughable.

isittheholidaysyet · 30/09/2022 19:12

Things I have learnt from this thread...

Always take a receipt and keep it till well clear of the store.

If someone is following you in a store, make a fuss, as you would if you were being followed elsewhere. (I think I might pretend to call the police! Not actually call obvs)

If you get bad customer service,complain to head office.

I shall certainly be a lot more prepared and aware of my surroundings when shopping now.

Namechangefail123 · 30/09/2022 19:13

That happened to my at a Holland and Barrett eons ago .. I've never been back since then!!

ShaneTwane · 30/09/2022 20:42

LikeTearsInRain · 30/09/2022 18:53

Agreed unknown large men should not be menacingly following women around stores. They should employ both male and female security so the appropriate person can monitor.

I am a 5'2 woman and am paid to follow people round and stop shoplifters. Does that help?

Agrudge · 30/09/2022 20:45

ShaneTwane · 30/09/2022 20:42

I am a 5'2 woman and am paid to follow people round and stop shoplifters. Does that help?

Show quote history

It is funny how just because it's a man its "menacing" .

Guilty of working while male

ShaneTwane · 30/09/2022 20:46

Today we had a few would be shoplifters including one who kept coming to the aisle i was patrolling. Upon the 3rd time of him doing a loop of the store to throw me off he rounded a corner and sighed really loudly when he saw me again. He gave up as i followed him down the aisle with his empty shopping bag and out the door. Really made me laugh to hear the sigh.

XenoBitch · 30/09/2022 20:46

ShaneTwane · 30/09/2022 20:42

I am a 5'2 woman and am paid to follow people round and stop shoplifters. Does that help?

Show quote history

There is a security guard in my local Lidl who is a 5ft nothing woman. During lockdown, she would be stood outside the store and singing to people. She was fab... tried to lift people's spirits.

Maybe, just maybe, not many women want to be security guards, so that is why you don't see many.