Security guard following me

[ColourMeBlue]

I am probably overthinking this, but here goes-i have shopped at my local supermarket for 20 years.Everytime there is a new security guard,I get followed.Without fail .Yesterday there was a new security guard.As soon as I walked in,she walked passed me and brushed into my arm.I imagine this was for me to make sure she had clocked me.When I paid she walked down to the till and stood at the end of the till glaring,and I mean GLARING at me.It was enough to put me off what I was doing.I know everyone will say if you are not shoplifting you have nothing to worry about,but that doesn't warrant me being followed every single time.What would others do?say something?leave it go?email a complaint?I'm so annoyed and a little upset today.She really was intimating.

I'd turn round and ask 'Is there a reason you're following me?' just to see if she really was or if she's just having a bad day and taking it out on you.

I wouldn't take 5 of them with me.i nipped in for bread and milk quickly

I think I will.its the only shop I am followed in,any other main supermarket I am left along(or watched more discreetly haha)

I think I'd be tempted to ask the guard about it. But I'd try to do it in a really relaxed and polite way, because being a security guard is a horrible job (95% boredom, 5% stressful encounters) and they probably feel quite apprehensive as a result of difficult/confrontational approaches that they have had to deal with in the past

My children go on their own where?I have never taken 5 kids to this particular supermarket.It was late and they were at home with their father .Also, they have been brought up better than to stuff things in their pockets.As I said in the original post,she is a new guard,so therefore wouldn't have known I had children.If I had gone shopping with 5 children,I would understand.But to nip in on my own and be followed is downright annoying

Maybe your mannerisms flag you up, for example, I wouldn't notice if there was a new security guard everytime. They are trained to read people as not everyone who looks dodgy steals, but the way people act give alot away.

Yes, I was going to say this. If it’s all new security guards over a number of years, it’s presumably something in your manner?

Complain to the manager. If there is no valid reason to follow you you deserve to be left alone

Blimey, already the implications OPs children have been stealing 😂

It sounds like they suspect you of shop lifting and all new security are told to look out for you.
It's impossible for us to know why but maybe you have an idea?
Maybe you look like someone else?
Maybe you shop with a pushchair or don't use a basket?
Maybe you dress a certain way?
Maybe it's the time of day you go.
Maybe you appear drunk or smell of cannabis?

I used to get followed in Aldi because I had a pushchair I would put stuff in the basket on the bottom instead of using a store basket or trolley. They were obviously checking I wasn't secreting stuff invthe pushchair and got it all back out at the checkout...which I did. But they didn't know that.

If 'every single new security guard' follows you 'without fail' then I think you're probably overthinking it. Or have a shoplifter tattoo on your head!

I would imagine that they've had quite a few in 20 years and it's a bit of a stretch to think that all of them single you out.

Unfortunately security guards are needed because people steal things and they don't usually announce they're going to, so it means that they have to observe everyone because anyone could be, and apart from certain behaviours there's no way they can know that except by watching, which means watching everyone. It's a sad fact of the society we live in and human nature unfortunately. I don't take it as a personal insult if one is around when I'm shopping, if I even notice then they're just there, I'm not shoplifting and they're just doing their job, they have no idea if I'm a shoplifter or not, so they observe.

Prices are high enough without having more added to cover increased theft, and if a security guard deters more theft then they're a good thing imo.

Well, people make assumptions of children based on the OPs previous posts, rightly or wrongly.

If someone has been going to a shop for 20 years, it is extremely odd to be followed by security every time there is a new one. I would assume my face is in the staffroom somewhere marked up as most wanted 😂

It’s because she has 5 children. People are so judgmental of big families.

I have anxiety and I get a bit anxious in shops especially when it’s busy so I may come across as acting a bit weird/shifty when I’m definitely not doing anything wrong and I feel like I’ve been followed round in the past or looked at by security because of this. It could be something to do with your mannerisms

I'm actually really interested in these replys.I notice there's a new security guard each time as they are standing at the entrance and start to follow me as soon as i walk in.I don't smell of cannabis or alcohol as i don't smoke or drink.Im not a known shop lifter,as I don't shop lift.,it's the walking into me and glaring as I'm paying that is frustrating.

I would have no idea if a security guard followed me, I just do my shopping. I also wouldn't know if there were new security guards. If you are looking around looking for security guards and clocking new ones, perhaps that in itself looks suspicious.

Imagine having one standing behind you so close you can feel their breath at the back of your neck.I could be picking something off the shelf,and there's a security guard on the other side peering though watching you.When I pay,the cashier looks over the counter at me,and says over her mic 'I can't see anything'.As in,checking me over.As I have said,20 years I have shopped there.im pretty sure they know by now,I don't shoplift.

Is it an Aldi/Lidl? I've noticed only fairly recently the security staff they have seem to be rather over zealous in all the ones I go to.

This actually made me laugh.Im not likely go missing anytime soon when doing my shopping.The security guards thankfully look after me 😂

Yes it is 😂

Well, the longterm staff are presumably used to you, but assuming there isn’t a giant photo of you in the staff room with the caption PERSONA NON GRATA, any new security staff don’t have any knowledge about pr preconceptions of you, so something you’re doing is making them watch you! Or are you from an ethnic minority in a very white area, and it’s good old racism?

😂I would just entertain myself and start having fun with the security but I obviously have too much time on my hands.