Boots security accusation.

[Startyabastard]

I live in a major city and I very regularly go to Boots inside a shopping centre. Sometimes I have a big shopping trolley that I push (relevant because when I 'complained' that security followed me to a neighbour they said that it was a method that shoplifters use and security are aware that they do this) but there are also many times when I don't use it.
Anyway: I am a hoarder and I have adhd, so I can be a bit eager with products, but I always display them clearly in my hands and go to pay at the checkout. I prefer the manned checkout rather than the self check out for the exact fear of being accused of shop lifting, but sometimes the staff direct me to the self check out and I pay there.
Sometimes I forget my receipt, but I am always happy to go back and get it/prove which self check out/manned check out I have been on. One of the staff asked me which self check out I had used when the security alarm went off when I was exiting the store and he showed me how he could prove the last purchase on the particular till.
I don't always wait for the receipt or if I do, it I accidentally take the No.7 voucher 10% off print out instead. Sometimes I also have the receipt.
The lip glosses randomly have those stuck on security tags and they often beep when I walk out. After payment, I openly ask staff to remove them.

Last time I went to the Boots that i most regularly go to and the one where the security commonly beeps when I exit with my most bought product lip gloss (not sure if relevant), I was in the middle of the shop going to buy exactly that and security was watching me very, very closely and hinting to the other security guard to come closer to me.
I didn't want to be dictated to by them (or appear 'guilty' by quickly exiting the shop), but the more serious security guard 'edged' me out.
They did not 'accuse' me or even talk to me, but they both towered over me and got so close as that I felt I had to leave the shop. One of them (can't remember about the other) was security with a high vis vest and walkie talkie. I wasn't taken to the back of the shop or asked not to come back again, neither did other staff do anything to help.
Most of my purchases would be able to be seen on my Boots advantage card, but there was a time when I didn't have one because they stopped working due to not being registered online.
However, they do also have CCTV, which I am guessing they haven't consulted.
When I have been stopped by a security guard before, because the product still had the tag on and it made the alarms go off, he asked me for my receipt. I didn't have it on me, but he said it was fine to leave the shop. I went 'above this' because I have paranoia about this exact thing happen and I told him I could go and get someone to prove it. He said it didn't matter, but if I insisted, I could show him my online banking purchase and I did. I said I was paranoid about being thought of a shoplifter and he said that if I was one, I wouldn't have taken the time to show him.
After this, on another day, this I incident happened.

I have consulted two staff members from two other Boots stores, one being a manager and they didn't think it was appropriate that security behaved in this manner. One of the staff suggested to me that I call/email the customer care line.
I will probably complete this, but I don't know if they will be thorough/able to find the records of me paying etc.
I could go back to the shop where the incident happened and talk to the manager as the other manager of the other Boots advised, but I suspect that I might be edged out again and hence unable to find the manager.
Thanks for reading.

Get your receipt!

If you can manage your ADHD enough to choose the make up products you can manage to get a receipt when you pay. Show the receipt to the guard & problem solved.

Shoplifting is a huge problem & shops need to prevent it. There are 'red flags' in people's behaviour that security will pick up on & it sounds like you do display some of these even if they are unintentional. The guards can't do anything if you genuinely pay & keep a receipt.

Just get a receipt!

Where I work we have been told by police and company profit protection team to never ignore 'red flag' behaviour for shoplifting where a child or vulnerable adult is present as it's a safeguarding concern. We always report these even if low value theft.

It's quite common for someone to use a child or vulnerable adult especially a push chair or wheelchair when shoplifting.

If they didn't speak to you why didn't you just politely ask 'Can I help you?' when they got close to you. This would have given them the chance to explain why they were there & gave you the opportunity to explain what you were wanting to look at & maybe buy.

I'll picture the scene 2 children non verbal ASD and ADHD around 3 and 6. The youngest in a SN buggy that he used to escape out of. The oldest on reins. I might as well be instructing aliens to shoplift.

I think you're overreacting. The alarm went off when I left Boots yesterday after buying an eye pencil as there was a small tag on it. I paid at the self service tills and didn't notice. The security guard was fine about it although I didn't have a receipt and took the tag off.

I think Boots need to address the issue though. If they're going to tag items they need to have someone at the self service tills keeping an eye out for tags and removing them.

We just follow the advice of the police & profit protection teams. If someone is displaying 'red flags' for shoplifting & there is a child or vulnerable adult involved we have to observe & report. That doesn't mean having a disabled child is the 'red flag' it would be other behaviours but having a child would mean we couldn't ignore it.

You would be surprised how many shoplifters exploit their children or disabled people.

Well she also used to put loads of tins of dog food in the trolley in Aldi. Only Aldi and we never even had a dog. Never had anyone spying on us.

Why would they spy on you for putting items in the trolley?

Our security team are mainly plain clothes & blend in with other shoppers so you would be unaware of them anyway.

Like I said there are 'red flag' behaviours which security are trained to spot. Kids putting stuff in trolleys is not one of them, having a disabled DC is also not one of them. Security would not be following someone because they have a child. It just means if there are red flags & there is also a child they cannot ignore & if a theft does take place they have to escalate to police to safeguard the child.

Would you want security staff & police to turn a blind eye if there was evidence that someone was exploiting a child or vulnerable adult in order to steal.
Many of these people will be stealing to order for organized criminal gangs with money going on to fund other serious crimes. These gangs do not care who they exploit.

Shoplifting is out of control.

You act what could be perceived as suspiciously, frequently in the same shop and decided to leave when staff paid attention to you. Which isn't going to look not suspicious is it?

It's a non-event, no-one did anything or said anything to you.

You already know how your behaviour can look suspicious so either stop doing it or stop shopping there if you're going to complain that staff pay attention to you.

Bit harsh mate