Supermarket alarm mystery

red0209

Not sure if this is the appropriate forum to post this, but as it relates to supermarkets and food shopping, here goes.

Suddenly in the past 4-6 weeks or so, virtually every time I am leaving a supermarket, I am setting off the alarm as I go through the exit. This happens at all of the big four supermarkets pretty much every single time. I haven't had metal plates inserted into broken bones in my body and I am not doing anything differently to what I have always done but it is becoming an increasing annoyance to have to deal with security guards accusing me of being a thief every time I visit the supermarket.

Does anyone have any idea as to what could be triggering the alarms in this way? :embarasse

jb66

a sticker tag on your shoe?

General_Grant

my OH used very often to set the alarms off - something to do with bit of computer kit he was carrying around with him

I've had it with a still activated security tag left in a book which was my travelling companion

Is it only supermarkets or also other shops with electronic sensors at the entrance?

Linda32

I was going to say a library book.

To be honest, I'm surprised you are ever stopped. When ever I see it happen to people or me for that matter I'm just waved on through the doors.

marleyboy

I used to set them off if I inadvertently had anything magnetic, once it was a screwdriver set. Although this would generally happen entering the store. Am surprised this doesn't happen on your way in.

red0209

jb66 wrote: »

a sticker tag on your shoe?

Been wearing the same shoes for years without problems, and there are no tags.

General_Grant wrote: »

my OH used very often to set the alarms off - something to do with bit of computer kit he was carrying around with him

I've had it with a still activated security tag left in a book which was my travelling companion

Is it only supermarkets or also other shops with electronic sensors at the entrance?

It seems to be just supermarkets. I've been in the likes of BHS and Boots lately without any problems. No alarms in Marks and Spencer either, including their Simply Food outlets. Tesco and Sainsbury's it goes off every time without fail, Morrisons and Asda I get away without the alarms occasionally.

Linda32 wrote: »

I was going to say a library book.

To be honest, I'm surprised you are ever stopped. When ever I see it happen to people or me for that matter I'm just waved on through the doors.

I just keep walking without looking back as I'm not looking to volunteer to be interrogated when there is nothing to see, but I have had a Tesco security guard empty my bags and go through my receipt over and over again. At Morrisons the security guard argued till he was blue in the face that I must have something with a security tag on it (I had about 5 food items from a quick shop).

marleyboy wrote: »

I used to set them off if I inadvertently had anything magnetic, once it was a screwdriver set. Although this would generally happen entering the store. Am surprised this doesn't happen on your way in.

It does usually. I was in Sainsbury's this morning and it went off on the way in and out. It's baffling as just like 99% of other people I had my car keys, phone and credit cards on me but nothing else even remotely magnetic, apart from the trolley I was pushing.

Tigsteroonie

I'm not sure if you're male or female (sorry!) but have you got a new handbag, purse or wallet recently? Something that might have had a security tag hidden that hasn't been removed? eta. New car keys? keyring? New phone?

If it were me, I'd be curious and testing this by noting exactly what I was wearing and carrying each time it set the alarm off, and then changing this completely for the next time - working out what it might be by process of elimination. (Not that I'm suggesting you walk past in bikini or speedos ...)

red0209

That's the bizarre thing Tigsteroonie, there is absolutely no chance I had anything tagged (I'm male by the way).

This morning for example I had just done the local Parkrun and went into Sainsbury's with my long-standing phone, car keys and credit cards in my pockets. I was wearing shorts, running shoes, running hi-vis jacket and socks. Zero chance of any tags being on anything I was wearing and the only metallic thing was the zip on the running jacket. I couldn't really have been dressed in a more minimalistic way short of going for Speedos this morning and it still went off on the way in and out.

Queenriderbrekke

Some mobiles have been reported to do this in some cases, also some key cards.

Which Park run by the way? My Husband and daughter do the Norwich, Eaton Park one.

Queenriderbrekke

Only way to check is to go through with just your clothes, no mobile/car keys or anything else in your pockets, then add an item at a time until you find the culprit x

red0209

Queenriderbrekke wrote: »

Some mobiles have been reported to do this in some cases, also some key cards.

Which Park run by the way? My Husband and daughter do the Norwich, Eaton Park one.

I've not changed my phone or car keys in quite some time, so it seems very strange how they would suddenly be triggering the alarms? I suppose next time I will leave the phone in the glove box to test.

Sunderland Parkrun.