Advice - ASDA Security Guard

pendragon_arther

GrumpyPL wrote: »

Hi guys,

So I've been an ASDA shopper for a fair few years now as it's my local store and just a few minutes away from my house, but just now this evening I've had a bit of an issue down the store.

I walked into the store, went around and grabbed my bits. Security guard was following me around like a bit of a hawk - which didn't really bother me or stick out too much as he always seems to pick the youngest person to walk in to follow. (I'm in my late teens)

Anyway, I grabbed my stuff and went to the checkout. Was going to go to self service but since the cashier was at the till and there was a self service queue I decided to just go to the regular checkout. Put my stuff on there when the woman decided to get up and go over and help a customer who was seemingly having no problems on the self checkout... so I waited a couple minutes and she come back and started putting my stuff through. I thought this was weird and noticed the security guard had made his way slowly behind me and was now hovering near the exit.

So funnily enough I paid, bagged my stuff and walked towards the door when the guard (who btw is foreign (no disrespect), barely speaks English and stank of BO) stopped me and said "good morning sir" (it was 8pm), "can i look in your bag please?". I was carrying one of my overnight bags which had some confidential paperwork, a rainjacket and some deodorant in. I was quite polite to him and I said "I'd rather not", to which he replied "sir let me check your bag now please". At this point he reached out and gripped my arm (across the strap too). Obviously I was shocked and my instinct was to pull away from him. As soon as he did this I pulled away and pushed past him and out of the door as I felt like he'd just assaulted me and I was slightly scared.

He chased me out of the door, still having a small grip on my bag, so I pulled away again and he started screaming (literally) into his radio in a language that wasn't English... I told him I would wait for the police if he wanted me to, but he moved towards me again and reached for my bag, so I turned around and left & walked home.

I'm in a bit of shock - I know that security guards certainly aren't supposed to attempt to physically restrain somebody (and he was a bit silly for trying it with me, I'm a big lad), but I don't know where I stand with this & what I should do.

I've never been in this situation before & I've never stolen anything in my life. (well maybe £1 from my sisters piggy bank when I was 8)

I don't know what I should do? Should I contact 101 and report this as the store may have called the police anyway? Will they follow me on CCTV to my home? Should I go to the police station in the morning & explain?


If you are wondering why I didn't just submit to the search, I don't actually know why. Looking back it would've been easier, but I guess I was just a bit shocked to be touched like that and shocked to be accused of stealing like that.

Any advice would be very much appreciated as I'm a bit worried now. Thanks.

Why did you think the woman doing her job by putting your stuff through was weird? And if you've got nothing to hide why not let MR BO check your bag?

I'm not being funny but my nose if smelling something decidedly whiffy.

stevemLS

Because he had top secret papers in the bag, obviously.

photome

This story seems to get told on here on a regular basis.

visidigi

photome wrote: »

This story seems to get told on here on a regular basis.

Right about the same time as a school holiday too...

pinkshoes

GrumpyPL wrote: »

He chased me out of the door, still having a small grip on my bag, so I pulled away again and he started screaming (literally) into his radio in a language that wasn't English... I told him I would wait for the police if he wanted me to, but he moved towards me again and reached for my bag, so I turned around and left & walked home.

If you told the guy you were happy to wait for the police, and he still grabbed you, then you need to make a complaint to ASDA.

Put your complaint in writing, and tell them that if you do not receive a satisfactory response, you will be taking the matter further.

bod1467

photome wrote: »

This story seems to get told on here on a regular basis.

visidigi wrote: »

Right about the same time as a school holiday too...

Which is why I didn't respond to it when I saw it last night.

Spicy_McHaggis

GrumpyPL wrote: »

Thanks but I actually live alone and probably make more money per year than you have made in the last 2 and I'm 19, so take a seat buddy. :money:

Yet you draw the attention of asda security staff, no mater how much you earn you'll never buy class.

NiallB

GrumpyPL wrote: »

I walked into the store, went around and grabbed my bits. .

No wonder you got stopped then.....

DCFC79

This would have all been avoided if you had simply let him have a look in the bag.

JReacher1

DCFC79 wrote: »

This would have all been avoided if you had simply let him have a look in the bag.

I wouldn't let him look in my bag, especially if it had confidential papers in.

I think the OP acted correctly in saying he would wait for the police if they insisted on looking in it.