Aggressive Male Security Guards Mums Prams Asda Sainsburys Aldi

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Something I have noticed since becoming a mum.

When I used to go in the big supermarkets with my pram or children, I would get security guards following me around.

Worse Asda in Trafford park, the guards sit at the exit staring at me aggressively. I don't know how they think this is ok?

I notice if I am alone now as a women it still happens.
If I am with my husband this does not happen. He is free to take his time. It is complete prejudice against women!!!!

I am clean, well dressed, never stolen anything. I have complained to these supermarkets, they just ignore me and I am getting more, more frustrated. I just want to shop in peace without being treated like a criminal.

Only this Saturday did I see some poor women being searched at the exit of Asda, she was innocent. No apology from security guard. Whilst a group of 10 loud, lads were walking round the supermarket shouting and he was doing nothing.

Anyone else had these experiences?

How bizarre. I've never had this. Maybe complain to HQ rather than in store?

When I worked on the checkouts in Asda many years ago we were trained to glance in typical places people will either put products and forget they are there or put products with the intention of walking out with them. Under a pram/buggy was one of those places. It did happen a lot - mostly genuine, busy sleep deprived mum who has shoved a loaf of bread under the buggy and forgotten to put it on the conveyer, but a good few who were taking a chance on walking out with high value items.

The security guards trailing women with prams is just picking off low hanging fruit though. They get to say they are doing their jobs, being proactive etc, they get to feel big and powerful, and they have next to zero risk of anything kicking off (unlike if they confront a group of lads). Typical male dickhead behaviour.

The only times I have ever been suspected of shop lifting or stopped by security are when I've had a baby or small children with me. Including being followed into the toilets by a security guard in a Weslian Chapel. As if life isn't enough of a challenge in that phase of life .

I've personally never experienced this at any of the shops I've been to with my Son.

When I worked at Asda though we were told to have a quick glance in prams as people were going through the checkouts. It is really common unfortunately as prams are an easy place to hide things, some were accidental but a lot were intentional. My Sister was also advised the same when she worked in Tesco, although they were told to keep an eye out while they were going round the shop too (not follow them but if they were in the same aisle as you just to keep notice)

Easy targets. Like a ticket inspector on the train standing over a meek middle aged woman while she tried to find her ticket, while ignoring a gang of teenage boys throwing cans of drink at each other a few rows down.

The only people who hassled me in a supermarket when my DD was a baby was two shop assistant at different times on the self-checkouts. The security guard has absolutely no interest in me.

I deliberately choose the self-checkout next to his station as he would get out of his seat at busy times to help people on the self-checkouts plus he could clearly see what I was doing.

So I wasn't impressed by being accosted by one of the shop assistants when I had my DD in a sling because she couldn't see it was a baby, when the security guard had already clocked it.

The security guard only challenged and caught men stealing, including one with a pram.

I think security have to watch out for items placed in prams. When I was in Uni many, many years ago I worked in a well known high street store and I have to say it was rife. Items would be placed on the little tray under the pram and then ‘forgotten’ about by the time the checkout was reached.

It’s hard going shopping with a pram and convenient to use the tray for items, difficult to push the pram and have a trolley /basket too.

I would try not to take it personally, but I would feel the same OP.
It’s amazing how they don’t notice some things though, DH and DD went shopping and she picked up a toy- he didn’t realise. DD put it on the conveyor belt and the assistant gave it to DH without scanning it. It wasn’t until he got home and I said “not another toy” that he realised. It even had a tag on obviously we took it back to pay for it. We do go there a lot so maybe the checkout asst just thought it was our toy 🤷🏼‍♀️ and didn’t want to ask/embarrass.