Not surprising (and pretty much self-evident) self-checkouts increase a store's theft rate by over 100% more than trying to sneak something past a cashier (assuming you can find one). So, you were probably caught pocketing the gummi worms (sour no doubt, but really?) on a surveillance camera. Either the guard (or monitor) missed on camera you scanning them or the camera somehow didn't catch it. Chances are he didn't know what you put in your pocket, although obviously it wasn't a rotisserie chicken. Well, you weren't accused of sticker switching which accounts for an even higher "shrinkage" rate via self-checkout than outright theft. Truth be told, you do have a Snidely Whiplash look about you --- minus the top hat. At least you didn't compound the misunderstanding by exclaiming, "Curses! Foiled again!"
This is similar to my recent visit to WalMart. I needed a tiny crochet hook; I found one, then decided to wander around the store to see if there was anything else I wanted. There wasn't, so I strolled out the first set of doors and into the entryway -- oblivious of the crochet hook in my hand.
I saw someone unloading stuff from a cart into their car and suddenly realized -- OMG -- I walked out without paying! I went back and stood in line for a cashier, explained the situation and paid. She congratulated me for coming all the way back to pay for it, to which I replied: "The only thing worse than getting arrested for shoplifting would be getting arrested for shoplifting an item that cost $1.98."
I wondered why the hell I hadn't been spotted on a surveillance camera, but figured they decided that because I hadn't tried to hide the item but was practically brandishing it, I was somehow innocent. Plus I hadn't actually exited the store -- I was still in the entryway between doors. Would they have grabbed be if I'd gotten outside?
Honestly, I don't think they have actual live surveillance of those cameras. The best way to shoplift is to get the item you want and stroll around the store looking at other things. The item you intend to steal magically works its way into a pocket or bag, and, voila!
In a time when shoplifting is performance art, you should feel no guilt. There is risk, however, and it is possibly that you will be pursued by Russel Crowe for the rest of your life, and he will sing at you with no mercy until you pay for your crime. Also, you may be forced to peer into Anne Hathaway's nostrils.
This is probably beside the point. But how did the security guard know you had the gummies in your pocket? You presumably paid for them and then put them in your pocket. I do like the way you messed with him a little. And interesting how we white people don’t get hassled like that very often. It does make me really feel for someone who does get followed, or questioned because of the color of their skin. ( ie the folks ICE is scaring, etc.)
An acquaintance who was an attorney used to walk the aisles of stores and just put her desired groceries in her pockets. After having half of the store personnel following her she would walk to the cashier and unload everything onto the conveyor belt. (Carefully patting herself down lest a roll of Certs was missed.) She would pay for her booty and on the way out give the security guard a big toothy smile and say, "Have a nice day" and walk out.
I’m an internal auditor at times. If a fitness place is having me sign a form but not comparing my ID I’ll sign it as Wally Cobblemocker from Walla Walla, WA. Because I hate procedures stringently required but stringently designed.
The questions asked were accusatory. You had no idea why he was Interrogating you. It must've been a slow night since he actually walked out of the store after you for a small bag of candy. He needs to work on his interrogating and customer service skills.
You did fine, he did fine. The reason they stop someone for gummi worms is because that person could be stealing every time they come in the store. And at least that way the security guard can look them in the eye and memorize their face for next time, when they've got the five ribeyes tucked under their armpit.
The store ALSO has record of what you bought and paid for! They could have checked their own damn sale record before harassing you over some gummy worms, FFS. Absolutely not okay.
Would never happen to me because I save all my receipts--and even if I hadn't, I could bring up the receipt on my phone (in my Walmart app). But if the guard saw you put the gummies in your pocket, he must surely also have seen you scan and pay for them.
If this happened more than once, then you could be angry. But really, the guy was just doing his job and he made a mistake. Mistakes happen. End of story.
Amazing what people try to shoplift: a table saw stuffed down pants, a canoe carried by two, portage style, and various large electronics like 50-inch flat screen TVs. Btw --- the "canoeists" were caught when they returned to buy paddles.
Having a husband who worked retail for 40 years, I’ve heard horror stories about shoplifters. The one rule stores he worked in followed was not to stop someone who was thought to have shoplifted until that person was out of the store. Sorry, the security guard did what he was supposed to do. An innocent mistake by both the of you. I’m glad you didn’t go Karen on him.
On the other hand I recently went down the rabbit hole on YouTube watching Karen’s getting arrested for everything but shoplifting (seems bad behavior at airports is a big deal). I hope I never act like those people did!!
In some states, just pocketing an item within a store can be a crime.
For example, Arizona 13-1805.B.1 includes in shoplifting when someone "Knowingly conceals on himself or another person unpurchased merchandise of any mercantile establishment while within the mercantile establishment."
Consuming in a store is a crime everywhere. I’m frequently thirsty, but I save the can in my cart to show my good intentions. I haven’t done the chicken (yet). I also don’t eat chicken.
I blame this on self checkout. Better to pay cashiers than security guards if they are going to suspect everyone of stealing.
If they employed adequate staff, including cashiers, this would probably not happen all the time.
Not surprising (and pretty much self-evident) self-checkouts increase a store's theft rate by over 100% more than trying to sneak something past a cashier (assuming you can find one). So, you were probably caught pocketing the gummi worms (sour no doubt, but really?) on a surveillance camera. Either the guard (or monitor) missed on camera you scanning them or the camera somehow didn't catch it. Chances are he didn't know what you put in your pocket, although obviously it wasn't a rotisserie chicken. Well, you weren't accused of sticker switching which accounts for an even higher "shrinkage" rate via self-checkout than outright theft. Truth be told, you do have a Snidely Whiplash look about you --- minus the top hat. At least you didn't compound the misunderstanding by exclaiming, "Curses! Foiled again!"
This took a lot of enforcement effort; would have been better spent watching the registers.
This is similar to my recent visit to WalMart. I needed a tiny crochet hook; I found one, then decided to wander around the store to see if there was anything else I wanted. There wasn't, so I strolled out the first set of doors and into the entryway -- oblivious of the crochet hook in my hand.
I saw someone unloading stuff from a cart into their car and suddenly realized -- OMG -- I walked out without paying! I went back and stood in line for a cashier, explained the situation and paid. She congratulated me for coming all the way back to pay for it, to which I replied: "The only thing worse than getting arrested for shoplifting would be getting arrested for shoplifting an item that cost $1.98."
I wondered why the hell I hadn't been spotted on a surveillance camera, but figured they decided that because I hadn't tried to hide the item but was practically brandishing it, I was somehow innocent. Plus I hadn't actually exited the store -- I was still in the entryway between doors. Would they have grabbed be if I'd gotten outside?
Are you white? Were you dressed like a middle class suburbanite? If the answer to both questions is “yes”, then you had little to worry about.
Honestly, I don't think they have actual live surveillance of those cameras. The best way to shoplift is to get the item you want and stroll around the store looking at other things. The item you intend to steal magically works its way into a pocket or bag, and, voila!
I'd give him a break. He was trying to do his job - and not a very pleasant job at that.
The security guard is not where there is an issue (at least not in this case).
In a time when shoplifting is performance art, you should feel no guilt. There is risk, however, and it is possibly that you will be pursued by Russel Crowe for the rest of your life, and he will sing at you with no mercy until you pay for your crime. Also, you may be forced to peer into Anne Hathaway's nostrils.
Jeff, you may think that peering into Anne Hathaway's nostrils is funny.
But it's snot.
I could be so lucky as to peer at anything of hers, though I’m not aware of the reference for the joke.
Well, look at it this way, if it had been a Home Depot you could have been thrown to the ground, zip tied and spent two days in detention.
This is probably beside the point. But how did the security guard know you had the gummies in your pocket? You presumably paid for them and then put them in your pocket. I do like the way you messed with him a little. And interesting how we white people don’t get hassled like that very often. It does make me really feel for someone who does get followed, or questioned because of the color of their skin. ( ie the folks ICE is scaring, etc.)
An acquaintance who was an attorney used to walk the aisles of stores and just put her desired groceries in her pockets. After having half of the store personnel following her she would walk to the cashier and unload everything onto the conveyor belt. (Carefully patting herself down lest a roll of Certs was missed.) She would pay for her booty and on the way out give the security guard a big toothy smile and say, "Have a nice day" and walk out.
The late Jimmy Buffett had a take on that. It still makes me sad to type "the late Jimmy Buffett". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VRnPsusqtU
I’m an internal auditor at times. If a fitness place is having me sign a form but not comparing my ID I’ll sign it as Wally Cobblemocker from Walla Walla, WA. Because I hate procedures stringently required but stringently designed.
I would have required from him the basis for the search, my 6th? Amendment right.
The questions asked were accusatory. You had no idea why he was Interrogating you. It must've been a slow night since he actually walked out of the store after you for a small bag of candy. He needs to work on his interrogating and customer service skills.
Did you have a hoodie on? 😆
You did fine, he did fine. The reason they stop someone for gummi worms is because that person could be stealing every time they come in the store. And at least that way the security guard can look them in the eye and memorize their face for next time, when they've got the five ribeyes tucked under their armpit.
Or the rotisserie chicken in their pocket, which would be a funny skit.
If I had to choose which of the three things you bought that I might possibly ingest, it would be the dog food.
The store ALSO has record of what you bought and paid for! They could have checked their own damn sale record before harassing you over some gummy worms, FFS. Absolutely not okay.
If they had taken the time to check their sales records before stopping him, he would have "gotten away."
Would never happen to me because I save all my receipts--and even if I hadn't, I could bring up the receipt on my phone (in my Walmart app). But if the guard saw you put the gummies in your pocket, he must surely also have seen you scan and pay for them.
If this happened more than once, then you could be angry. But really, the guy was just doing his job and he made a mistake. Mistakes happen. End of story.
Amazing what people try to shoplift: a table saw stuffed down pants, a canoe carried by two, portage style, and various large electronics like 50-inch flat screen TVs. Btw --- the "canoeists" were caught when they returned to buy paddles.
Buy??
Having a husband who worked retail for 40 years, I’ve heard horror stories about shoplifters. The one rule stores he worked in followed was not to stop someone who was thought to have shoplifted until that person was out of the store. Sorry, the security guard did what he was supposed to do. An innocent mistake by both the of you. I’m glad you didn’t go Karen on him.
On the other hand I recently went down the rabbit hole on YouTube watching Karen’s getting arrested for everything but shoplifting (seems bad behavior at airports is a big deal). I hope I never act like those people did!!
It's not theft until you leave the premises.
In some states, just pocketing an item within a store can be a crime.
For example, Arizona 13-1805.B.1 includes in shoplifting when someone "Knowingly conceals on himself or another person unpurchased merchandise of any mercantile establishment while within the mercantile establishment."
Ouch!
Consuming in a store is a crime everywhere. I’m frequently thirsty, but I save the can in my cart to show my good intentions. I haven’t done the chicken (yet). I also don’t eat chicken.
Exactly!!
How could anyone eat those disgusting things?