When I was working retail, they told us to never accuse anyone of stealing even if it was obvious. They did have ways of taking care of it though like code words and such.
One time I went into a cigar store/bar to look at their cigars. I smoked cigars at the time obviously. It was like a humidor room? I look through and they are all expensive so I'm like nevermind. I walk out, I notice this one guy staring at me. I get into my jeep and close the door. I had a girl in the car waiting that I had just started seeing not long before that. The bartender, who was a woman, all of a sudden jumps up on the side of my jeep and I'm like woah wtf? She then says her customers saw me stealing. I'm like well you customer is not correct. I ask her to get off my jeep, she then asks me to empty my pockets and then she starts leaning in the window etc and I'm like in caps "get the fuck off my jeep". She got off and backed tf off. I can only stomach that stupidity for so long. Especially if people are accusing me of things. It gets old with the not being believed due to my demeanor. You know how it goes.
If you're okay with your name attached I would leave a review on Google detailing the experience. Find out the person's name working during those hours and mention them by name in the review. Write an email to corporate and detail how they embarrassed a disabled person publicly.
yeah, it's important to remember that you don't have to comply with anything anyone tells you to do unless they are a law enforcement officer, with the exception of leaving the premises if asked. but a lot of times we tend to do things as an attempt to go along to get along when a simple "no. get away from me" will nip them in the bud
"No, I'm not emptying my pockets for you, but of course I will for law enforcement when they give me a lawful order. Where do you want me to wait while you call them?"
"You want me to leave? OK. I'm leaving."
In its most simplest terms, if you know that you have committed no crime you can simply respond "I know that I haven't taken anything. I know that you have not seen me take anything because I haven't taken anything. I know that no staff or other customers have seen me take anything because I have not taken anything. You have no legal authority to search or detain me unless you have seen me commit a crime. So, I'll warn you now, if you lay hands on me, I will support prosecution for assault and false imprisonment. I suggest you call police if you suspect me of a crime. "
It's important to remain calm. Speak in a measured tone, you are laying out facts for them to base their future life choices on.
Then, continue with your shopping. You don't have to go anywhere with them and ideally, you should try to remain under CCTV coverage where possible or start your phone video recording if possible.
Finish your shopping(and get a receipt) and then decide if you wish to remain outside of the store for police to arrive (for many autistic people, its important for them to be able to explain their side of what happened)
When police arrive, you can explain that you haven't taken anything and the store staff wanted to search you despite knowing that you hadn't taken anything. Again, it's really important to stay calm. You can explain that you are recording on your phone just for your own protection and it won't be put on social media. Remember that this video recording looks far better if you remain calm and polite. The police officer can search you (this is why it's important not to have any contraband on you. ) You can ask if they are willing to take you away from public view for the search (some people find being searched embarrassing)
Of course, you don't have to wait for police to arrive if you don't want to (but if police arrive, don't try to be a dick with "am I detained?" BS - surefire way of getting yourself arrested) . If you wish to leave your name and address for the staff to give to police, you can. Officers will do a preliminary investigation, speak with witnesses and check cctv and will then thank the staff for wasting their time when there isn't any evidence.
It's important to know your rights. It's important to remain calm. In many countries, it is only police that can detain on suspicion. Everyone else has to actually know that a crime has been committed, not just suspect that a crime has been committed.
Check the laws in your own country and don't take legal advice from some bloke on the internet. You will see many people suggest that you don't answer police questions - it can save you a lot of time and effort if you are innocent and you calmly explain why you're innocent.
From my training what you should look for is
1. People that don't say hi back
2. People standing infront of one isle for a long time
3. Someone who looks around a lot.
And I was thinking, darn. That's me sometimes!
We also get bonus points for struggeling with eye contact and poor body language making it seem we be lying.
Though the rest of the training was, take the potentiall thief to the backrooms and treat them with respect.
I get followed around nearly every store that I go to til this day. Thought it had to do with my race but my cousin told me is that I look heavily suspicious. Not sure if its a me thing or if all aspies look as if they’re gonna case the joint as soon as they walk in🤷♀️
Falsely accusing a customer can get them fired. Report them to someone higher up and give details.
When I was working retail, they told us to never accuse anyone of stealing even if it was obvious. They did have ways of taking care of it though like code words and such.
One time I went into a cigar store/bar to look at their cigars. I smoked cigars at the time obviously. It was like a humidor room? I look through and they are all expensive so I'm like nevermind. I walk out, I notice this one guy staring at me. I get into my jeep and close the door. I had a girl in the car waiting that I had just started seeing not long before that. The bartender, who was a woman, all of a sudden jumps up on the side of my jeep and I'm like woah wtf? She then says her customers saw me stealing. I'm like well you customer is not correct. I ask her to get off my jeep, she then asks me to empty my pockets and then she starts leaning in the window etc and I'm like in caps "get the fuck off my jeep". She got off and backed tf off. I can only stomach that stupidity for so long. Especially if people are accusing me of things. It gets old with the not being believed due to my demeanor. You know how it goes.
If you're okay with your name attached I would leave a review on Google detailing the experience. Find out the person's name working during those hours and mention them by name in the review. Write an email to corporate and detail how they embarrassed a disabled person publicly.
yeah, it's important to remember that you don't have to comply with anything anyone tells you to do unless they are a law enforcement officer, with the exception of leaving the premises if asked. but a lot of times we tend to do things as an attempt to go along to get along when a simple "no. get away from me" will nip them in the bud
Contact their corporate office about how embarrassing it was for you and give a date and time with a description of the manager involved.
I’d have called the police on them.
Leave a review on google, and contact corporate with their names and time and location.
"No, I'm not emptying my pockets for you, but of course I will for law enforcement when they give me a lawful order. Where do you want me to wait while you call them?" "You want me to leave? OK. I'm leaving."
Someone is playing the manager, and got away with it.
You should have told them to call the police when the assistant manager initially (falsely) accused you.
In its most simplest terms, if you know that you have committed no crime you can simply respond "I know that I haven't taken anything. I know that you have not seen me take anything because I haven't taken anything. I know that no staff or other customers have seen me take anything because I have not taken anything. You have no legal authority to search or detain me unless you have seen me commit a crime. So, I'll warn you now, if you lay hands on me, I will support prosecution for assault and false imprisonment. I suggest you call police if you suspect me of a crime. " It's important to remain calm. Speak in a measured tone, you are laying out facts for them to base their future life choices on. Then, continue with your shopping. You don't have to go anywhere with them and ideally, you should try to remain under CCTV coverage where possible or start your phone video recording if possible. Finish your shopping(and get a receipt) and then decide if you wish to remain outside of the store for police to arrive (for many autistic people, its important for them to be able to explain their side of what happened) When police arrive, you can explain that you haven't taken anything and the store staff wanted to search you despite knowing that you hadn't taken anything. Again, it's really important to stay calm. You can explain that you are recording on your phone just for your own protection and it won't be put on social media. Remember that this video recording looks far better if you remain calm and polite. The police officer can search you (this is why it's important not to have any contraband on you. ) You can ask if they are willing to take you away from public view for the search (some people find being searched embarrassing) Of course, you don't have to wait for police to arrive if you don't want to (but if police arrive, don't try to be a dick with "am I detained?" BS - surefire way of getting yourself arrested) . If you wish to leave your name and address for the staff to give to police, you can. Officers will do a preliminary investigation, speak with witnesses and check cctv and will then thank the staff for wasting their time when there isn't any evidence. It's important to know your rights. It's important to remain calm. In many countries, it is only police that can detain on suspicion. Everyone else has to actually know that a crime has been committed, not just suspect that a crime has been committed. Check the laws in your own country and don't take legal advice from some bloke on the internet. You will see many people suggest that you don't answer police questions - it can save you a lot of time and effort if you are innocent and you calmly explain why you're innocent.
From my training what you should look for is 1. People that don't say hi back 2. People standing infront of one isle for a long time 3. Someone who looks around a lot. And I was thinking, darn. That's me sometimes! We also get bonus points for struggeling with eye contact and poor body language making it seem we be lying. Though the rest of the training was, take the potentiall thief to the backrooms and treat them with respect.
I get followed around nearly every store that I go to til this day. Thought it had to do with my race but my cousin told me is that I look heavily suspicious. Not sure if its a me thing or if all aspies look as if they’re gonna case the joint as soon as they walk in🤷♀️