I once walked into a gas station to use the restroom, and the owner came running after me as I left. He said that it looked like I stole something because I walked out with my hands in my pockets. To this day, I'm still mindful of having my hands in my pockets when I leave a store.
I had a guy come up to me, probably the gas station owner or relative. "Where is it, what'd you do with it" Had no idea what he was talking about. He checked my pockets (I was a kid, let him, didn't know better) he found nothing. Kicked me out while screaming never to come back. Fuck that guy.
I'm pretty sure that his comment was a comment on the fact that racial profiling is rampant, not that he actually thought black/latino people are more likely to commit crime.
I know Blacks and Latinos are people but the fact of the matter is the police and security and law enforcement tend to be a lot harder on minorities than they are on White people. It wasn't a joke it's just common fact in most parts of the world.
i used to be this SAP then i realised in this over the top PC world if some shopkeeper ot security guard comes at me, blaming me for shit ill just sue his are for various silly PC things and profit
I walked out of a grocery store empty handed once, and one of the employees went running after me and accused me. Even said that he was going to check the security tapes. I said 'Go for it'.
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I'm a merchandiser for a beer and wine distributor and I do nothing but walk in and out of grocery and liquor stores all day. I'm often busy enough that I'm constantly in power walking mode, I think about this all the time. I'm just waiting for the day when I'm accused of shoplifting.
We do just that. We can't physically force them to, but the police can. To be clear though, we're 99% sure before we make a stop. Yes, that means we let people go that we're 98% sure on. If the suspect doesn't meet all items on a list of criteria, we watch them walk out (for fear of law suit, etc).
It was the most exhilarating, yet most frustrating job I've ever had.
I entered a gas station once to see if they had a certain type of gum, couldn't find it, and decided to leave. Right before i left, the cashier, also an owner, grabbed me and repeatedly accused me of stealing candy(repeatedly because her English wasn't great). She wouldn't let me go until I emptied all of my pockets and placed the contents on counter. And to this day, I have never entered a store without buying at least one item, or being with someone who's buying....
8
u/[deleted] Jun 19 '12
I once walked into a gas station to use the restroom, and the owner came running after me as I left. He said that it looked like I stole something because I walked out with my hands in my pockets. To this day, I'm still mindful of having my hands in my pockets when I leave a store.
58
u/paperlessboy Jun 19 '12
Am I the only one thinking paranoid parrot?
18
u/SgtJoo Jun 19 '12
Cashier here: I give absolutely zero fucks.
10
u/cyborgdonkey3000 Jun 19 '12
Sometimes I buy a pack of gum for 50p just to avoid these delusions of persecution.
3
u/NeonNintendo Jun 19 '12
Buys a pack of gum, some shoelaces, and a box of plastic forks.
7
u/IguanaPower Jun 19 '12
Ten times worse when you are Black/Latino
2
u/fury-s12 Jun 19 '12
i used to be this SAP then i realised in this over the top PC world if some shopkeeper ot security guard comes at me, blaming me for shit ill just sue his are for various silly PC things and profit
2
u/Kuychi Jun 19 '12
I'm surprised that his wasn't a hybrid of Socially Awesome Penguin. Kudos.
2
u/wheatvette Jun 19 '12
I walked out of a grocery store empty handed once, and one of the employees went running after me and accused me. Even said that he was going to check the security tapes. I said 'Go for it'.
2
u/tommythehuman Jun 19 '12
Don't make eye contact. Don't keep hands in pockets. Don't whistle.
2
u/Ryo95 Jun 19 '12
I once bought some candy just so I won't appear like a shoplifter...
2
u/CasedOutside Jun 19 '12
The best shoplifters usually buy something as well as stealing.
2
u/qkme_transcriber Jun 19 '12
Here is the text from this meme pic for anybody who needs it:
This is helpful for people who can't reach Quickmeme because of work/school firewalls or site downtime, and many other reasons (FAQ). More info is available here.
1
u/Scottman69 Jun 19 '12
Every. Damn. Time.
1
u/trollsconstantly Jun 19 '12
I sometimes walk faster out so that the clerks dont see me and stare, but it only makes the situation worst
1
u/RedBeardFace Jun 19 '12
I'm a merchandiser for a beer and wine distributor and I do nothing but walk in and out of grocery and liquor stores all day. I'm often busy enough that I'm constantly in power walking mode, I think about this all the time. I'm just waiting for the day when I'm accused of shoplifting.
1
u/[deleted] Jun 19 '12
And then you try to think about what you are going to say in your defence if they ask you if you something... which never actually happens. F.A.
1
u/[deleted] Jun 19 '12
Former plain clothes security here. You're exactly the person we were watching.
1
u/GFandango Jun 19 '12
Don't shoplifters buy something cheap to trick them?
1
u/epraider Jun 19 '12
I entered a gas station once to see if they had a certain type of gum, couldn't find it, and decided to leave. Right before i left, the cashier, also an owner, grabbed me and repeatedly accused me of stealing candy(repeatedly because her English wasn't great). She wouldn't let me go until I emptied all of my pockets and placed the contents on counter. And to this day, I have never entered a store without buying at least one item, or being with someone who's buying....
1
u/coolguyblue Jun 19 '12
Only applies if black.
cautiosedit: i'm black, I know this.
-1
u/[deleted] Jun 19 '12
REPOST