I was accused of shoplifting!!!!!

I cannot believe what just happened!

I am in Rite Aid and I notice this stocky/muscular guy following me around - he kept appearing on every aisle I was on. He finally says to me "Excuce me, can I ask you a question?"
Me: What?
Him: What did you put in your bag?
Me: What are you talking about?
Him: I am undercover security and I know you just put something in your bag that you are trying to steal!

Then I basically went off on him and told him I wanted to see the manager!!! He was like "I"m so sorry, but they told me someone was shoplifting and you fit the description" I then stormed out of the store!!

W T F!!!!!!!!!! I have never been more mortified in my entire life!!!!!!

Re: I was accused of shoplifting!!!!!

I am sorry!!

Re: I was accused of shoplifting!!!!!

I hate being watched. And it happens to me more than wish it did! I must look like a loser who shoplifts. Sorry that happened to you.

I once saw a teen in CVS open her bag and dump a ton of make-up and nail-polish in it. I saw it with my own eyes. I had my kid in the stroller, so I casually walked up front to tell a store person, and she walked out at the same time. The sensors went off and the sirens sounded at the door and no one did a thing!

Re: I was accused of shoplifting!!!!!

I would have been so angry and definately would have went off on him.

Re: I was accused of shoplifting!!!!!

Ugh, that's awful.

I had something kinda similar happen- I bought two dresses from Lord & Taylor two weeks ago (spent over 250 bucks). I tried them on for Vinny and he loved one, was not crazy about the other b/c it was a little big on me.

We went back to exchange the one he didn't like for another dress about a week later. They returned and re-bought so I could still get the promotional discount they were running at the time (20%).

Then, we get home and I go to try on the existing dress he loved and the new dress (I have this thing with trying on)... the store sensor was ON the existing dress he loved! And the beepers went off when we left the store but I figured it was one of those new sensors you just cut off and they didn't "de-activate" it... Now I have this huge tag on the dress that I want to wear TOMORROW...

So, I go back to the store with the only receipts they gave me- turns out the girl rang it up wrong and I never noticed-- she charged me twice for the one dress Vin didn't like and returned (the one from the first trip that was too big) and since they were both the same price I never noticed...

So, it looks- to the cashier- like I stole the dress and am now asking them to remove the tag! So, I said "talk about America's dumbest criminal- who would bring the dress BACK to have the tag removed?!"

And she just gave me this LOOK like I had taken it-- and that look, I will never forget it-- made me feel like such shiiit and I was like UGH b/c I've never stolen anything in my life-- not even GUM when I was five!!!

Finally, the manager came over and took the tag off but still made me feel like I had taken it which REALLY bothered me-- when the receipts show how much money I spend in there and WHY would I buy two of the SAME dress?!

I'm so sorry that happened to you-- I know the lousy feeling that they try and put on you-- it's terrible.

I would have screamed at him and I would make a formal complaint with Rite Aid-- it's great that he's doing his job and all but he needs to be more careful before accusing innocent people!

Message edited 6/9/2007 8:58:53 PM.

Re: I was accused of shoplifting!!!!!

so...what did you put in your bag Just kidding!! Just laugh it off, no biggie, at least they didn't call the cops on you, I guess they didn't take it too seriously

Message edited 6/9/2007 9:00:49 PM.

Re: I was accused of shoplifting!!!!!

Posted by emilain

so...what did you put in your bag Just kidding!! Just laugh it off, no biggie, at least they didn't call the cops on you, I guess they didn't take it too seriously

Re: I was accused of shoplifting!!!!!

Re: I was accused of shoplifting!!!!!

Posted by KrisT

Posted by emilain

so...what did you put in your bag Just kidding!! Just laugh it off, no biggie, at least they didn't call the cops on you, I guess they didn't take it too seriously

It's funny because when I got home, I emptied out my entire bag to make sure something didn't accidentally fall into it!!!!!!!!

Re: I was accused of shoplifting!!!!!

Posted by emilain

Posted by KrisT

Posted by emilain

so...what did you put in your bag Just kidding!! Just laugh it off, no biggie, at least they didn't call the cops on you, I guess they didn't take it too seriously

It's funny because when I got home, I emptied out my entire bag to make sure something didn't accidentally fall into it!!!!!!!!

yeah, and..did the OPI nail polish "accidentally" fall into the bag?

Re: I was accused of shoplifting!!!!!

I am sorry you had to deal with that.

I am pretty sure that you cannot be accused of shoplifting unless you leave the store with the merchandise. Does anyone know if that is true or not?

Re: I was accused of shoplifting!!!!!

Posted by KrisT

Posted by emilain

Posted by KrisT

Posted by emilain

so...what did you put in your bag Just kidding!! Just laugh it off, no biggie, at least they didn't call the cops on you, I guess they didn't take it too seriously

It's funny because when I got home, I emptied out my entire bag to make sure something didn't accidentally fall into it!!!!!!!!

yeah, and..did the OPI nail polish "accidentally" fall into the bag?

Re: I was accused of shoplifting!!!!!

Posted by emilain

Posted by KrisT

Posted by emilain

Posted by KrisT

Posted by emilain

so...what did you put in your bag Just kidding!! Just laugh it off, no biggie, at least they didn't call the cops on you, I guess they didn't take it too seriously

It's funny because when I got home, I emptied out my entire bag to make sure something didn't accidentally fall into it!!!!!!!!

yeah, and..did the OPI nail polish "accidentally" fall into the bag?

it's all good Kris., just take something for all of us next time,, I could use some clinical strength secvret next time you go into Rite Aid, if I get there 1st I'll make sure to take something for you, what do you need girlfriend?

Re: I was accused of shoplifting!!!!!

Posted by KrisT

Posted by emilain

Posted by KrisT

Posted by emilain

Posted by KrisT

Posted by emilain

so...what did you put in your bag Just kidding!! Just laugh it off, no biggie, at least they didn't call the cops on you, I guess they didn't take it too seriously

It's funny because when I got home, I emptied out my entire bag to make sure something didn't accidentally fall into it!!!!!!!!

yeah, and..did the OPI nail polish "accidentally" fall into the bag?

it's all good Kris., just take something for all of us next time,, I could use some clinical strength secvret next time you go into Rite Aid, if I get there 1st I'll make sure to take something for you, what do you need girlfriend?

No problem! I need some Schick Quattro razors - since they are so expensive

Re: I was accused of shoplifting!!!!!

I'm sorry to hear that happened.

Re: I was accused of shoplifting!!!!!

Re: I was accused of shoplifting!!!!!

Re: I was accused of shoplifting!!!!!

I worked at Burlington and we had off duty cops that worked there. They always told me that you can only say something once the person is out the door. Otherwise they can say they were just 'holding' it until they went to buy it.

Re: I was accused of shoplifting!!!!!

Re: I was accused of shoplifting!!!!!

That is so aggravating!!

Although to some extent, it is good to know they have security.

That happened to me once in the city, I went to The Body Shop. I had a big tote bag with me (my pocketbook) and I guess maybe they think that's for taking stuff...so I noticed the security guard following me around, and then I heard the salesperson say to the guard "Watch this one, I think she is up to something" Ok, because I am browsing!! So since I heard it I yelled back and said "Whatever, I am not trying to steal but now you have just lost a good customer, I won't be coming back!"

It really made me mad but I guess they are doing their job...but when it takes away from the shopping "experience" it is aggravating.

Re: I was accused of shoplifting!!!!!

I had an alarm go off at Macys and the security guard made me empty the entire contents of my bag infront of everyone which I believe is ILLEGAL!

Re: I was accused of shoplifting!!!!!

Posted by My2Boys

Posted by Goldi0218

I am sorry you had to deal with that.

I am pretty sure that you cannot be accused of shoplifting unless you leave the store with the merchandise. Does anyone know if that is true or not?

This is true. He can not accuse you of stealing while you're still in the store regardless if he actually *saw* you put something in your pocketbook. There's always the possibility that a potential thief will put the merchandise back or pay for it out of fear of getting caught.

He needs re-training. I would call the store manager and raise holy hell about how you were falsely accused of stealing and won't shop there again unless there's a big gift card with your name on it.

Re: I was accused of shoplifting!!!!!

Re: I was accused of shoplifting!!!!!

wow thats ridiculous!

Re: I was accused of shoplifting!!!!!

First of all as a lawyer and as the daughter of a criminal lawyer, I hate rent a cops. That said you cannot BE ACCUSED OF SHOP LIFTING UNTIL YOU ARE OUT OF THE STORE. Regardless I would have made a stink, insisted the police be called and made a report. Then I would contact corporate and insist I be made whole for my embarrassment.

Seriously, if you ever get stopped for shop lifting never go in the "back" with these guys because they are not above planting something on you. Instead, insist the police are called and then allow them to look in your bag.

I understand that these guys are a necessary evil but they are usually a bit too zealous for my taste.