wrongly accused of shoplifting by un-uniformed security guard-help?

ktann

Hi I am hoping some one can advise me if there is anything I can do about this.

I went in to wilkinsons today to get my dog a new toy, i picked it up, walked towards the queue which was huge so decided against it just for a dog toy, i put it back on a shelf and walked out.

I then a had a rather burley bloke come and tap me on the shoulder who was un uniformed, had no id or had anything showing he worked there tap me on the shoulder and asked me if i had taken anything and not paid for it, (no alarm etc had gone off)i said no and then asked if he even worked there (i genuinely thought it was just some strange man as he had no identification and was stood half messing with his phone) he said he did to which I replied he didnt look like he did, he repeated he did and asked me to go back in to the store...I looked at him wasn't sure what to believe so just said no wand walked off. I went to the shop next door to buy what i went in to wilkinsons for and when i came out there was the same man with 3 or 4 other uniformed men who then pointed at me.
At this point I started panicking as I wasn't sure what was going on and I was still sure they were just strange men as they all came and stood in front of me. I got a bit iratate at this point as you would as I have never stolen anything in my life and when i asked why he thought this i just kept being asked to go back in the store (by this point there was one other man there who did have a uniform on and so i knew it was legit)

I turned to the main guard who was clearly on a power trip and said that I would but I was going to make him look like an idiot as I hadnt got anything and afterwards I would complain and I wouldn't let this go, to which he kept repeating 'that's not gonna happen, no you wont' and everytime i said 'oh i will' he got a bit closer and slowed down his words...pure intimidation.

I went back in the store in to there back room past all the staring people (by which point i started to get upset as it was embarrassing and i was on my own)
There was a lady sitting in the corner who looked like she thought it was all ridic and looked a bit embarassed, the man in uniform and one of the men un-uniformed. The un uniformed man asked me what had happened while i was in the shop, i told him. I also started saying about the fact Im a 26 year old girl on my own and the security guard had no uniform or id etc so what was i supposed to think? the uniformed man then went on to say it's something they are looking at.

He kept trying to turn it all back on me saying i made a scene outside to which i said i got a bit angry as i was scared and upset and annoyed as I hadn't done anything and had had these men surrpunding me who i wasn't sure had anything to do with the store!!!...It went on and I said for them to look through my bag...he said he didn't need to do that as he was happy with what had been said...at which point i said i was far from and they hadnt heard the last of it and i left, again with everyone staring

It really shook me up and when i got outside a lady called me over bc i started crying and said she was going to call and complain as it was bang out of order.

it has really upset me and i def wont be going back in to shop mainly for the reason i am so embarrased! I am sat here feeling all bothered, the reason I went in to the shopping centre was to get anxiety medication prescription and instead got this and then forgot to get my prescription as i just wanted to go home.

Since this my partner has phoned the shop earlier and spoke to the manager, she has advised that the security guard has never worked at the particular store before as she does not know him,that he was on his lunch when i was approached so i shouldn't have been, especially because no one saw me actually take anything (just an assumption as he saw me pick it up and walk out with nothing) and that head office have already been warned there will be a complaint as he went and told them.
Can anyone advise please?



Thank you

Anselm

Send a letter to head office of wilkinsons and to head office of lost prevention (which for wilkinsons, may be provided by RLP but please double check) and tell them why you've told us, suggest some training etc and they might give you a free gift voucher as well as an apology.

DCFC79

ktann wrote: »

Hi I am hoping some one can advise me if there is anything I can do about this.

I went in to wilkinsons today to get my dog a new toy, i picked it up, walked towards the queue which was huge so decided against it just for a dog toy, i put it back on a shelf and walked out.

I then a had a rather burley bloke come and tap me on the shoulder who was un uniformed, had no id or had anything showing he worked there tap me on the shoulder and asked me if i had taken anything and not paid for it, (no alarm etc had gone off)i said no and then asked if he even worked there (i genuinely thought it was just some strange man as he had no identification and was stood half messing with his phone) he said he did to which I replied he didnt look like he did, he repeated he did and asked me to go back in to the store...I looked at him wasn't sure what to believe so just said no wand walked off. I went to the shop next door to buy what i went in to wilkinsons for and when i came out there was the same man with 3 or 4 other uniformed men who then pointed at me.
At this point I started panicking as I wasn't sure what was going on and I was still sure they were just strange men as they all came and stood in front of me. I got a bit iratate at this point as you would as I have never stolen anything in my life and when i asked why he thought this i just kept being asked to go back in the store (by this point there was one other man there who did have a uniform on and so i knew it was legit)

I turned to the main guard who was clearly on a power trip and said that I would but I was going to make him look like an idiot as I hadnt got anything and afterwards I would complain and I wouldn't let this go, to which he kept repeating 'that's not gonna happen, no you wont' and everytime i said 'oh i will' he got a bit closer and slowed down his words...pure intimidation.

I went back in the store in to there back room past all the staring people (by which point i started to get upset as it was embarrassing and i was on my own)
There was a lady sitting in the corner who looked like she thought it was all ridic and looked a bit embarassed, the man in uniform and one of the men un-uniformed. The un uniformed man asked me what had happened while i was in the shop, i told him. I also started saying about the fact Im a 26 year old girl on my own and the security guard had no uniform or id etc so what was i supposed to think? the uniformed man then went on to say it's something they are looking at.

He kept trying to turn it all back on me saying i made a scene outside to which i said i got a bit angry as i was scared and upset and annoyed as I hadn't done anything and had had these men surrpunding me who i wasn't sure had anything to do with the store!!!...It went on and I said for them to look through my bag...he said he didn't need to do that as he was happy with what had been said...at which point i said i was far from and they hadnt heard the last of it and i left, again with everyone staring

It really shook me up and when i got outside a lady called me over bc i started crying and said she was going to call and complain as it was bang out of order.

it has really upset me and i def wont be going back in to shop mainly for the reason i am so embarrased! I am sat here feeling all bothered, the reason I went in to the shopping centre was to get anxiety medication prescription and instead got this and then forgot to get my prescription as i just wanted to go home.

Since this my partner has phoned the shop earlier and spoke to the manager, she has advised that the security guard has never worked at the particular store before as she does not know him,that he was on his lunch when i was approached so i shouldn't have been, especially because no one saw me actually take anything (just an assumption as he saw me pick it up and walk out with nothing) and that head office have already been warned there will be a complaint as he went and told them.
Can anyone advise please?



Thank you

All they had to do was check the cctv for the store which would then have showed you putting the item back.

If true then yes complain, dont forget to pick up your medication.

43k_in_43m

I'm all for being nice to newbies but how did I know before opening this that it'd be someones first post - all that was missing was the ethnicity of the staff member. If I searched on Google for "I've been falsely accused of shoplifting" is this the first site that comes up :rotfl:

ktann

oh.nice, thanks for your help, that makes me feel way better I was only after some advise. Can't seem to post anything anywhere these days.

ktann

can someone tell me how to delete a thread please? I don't want comments like the above was just after some genuine advise from people who may know

Anselm

ktann wrote: »

can someone tell me how to delete a thread please? I don't want comments like the above was just after some genuine advise from people who may know

You can't delete threads, and I gave you some advice, write to them and see what they say.

ktann

I will thank you, I didn't mean you.

geri1965_2

Just ignore unhelpful posts. I posted up a link to an item on eBay and got accused of publicizing my own item. Some people are overly cynical.

43k_in_43m

OK I defend myself having been labelled 'unhelpful' - what exact 'help' does the OP want or is it just a vent ? There's no 'consumer' issue here, no 'Moneysaving' to be had and there must be hundreds of better places to air views on this topic than joining a site with the sole purpose of this post.

I'll add a helpful comment - put it down to experience and concentrate on the important things in life - by all means write to them and complain but don't make it the centre of your life.

MarkBargain

Surely security guards just can't accuse people on the streets of shop lifting like that?! I would have been tempted to call the police because of the harrassment. Fancy being accused of stealing a dog toy!