I work as late night cashier and last night something happened that never happened before. I was sitting at my register when I notice a woman walk out of the store without purchasing anything but the door detects an unpaid item and starts beeping loudly. Without missing a beat, she keeps on walking like she doesn't hear it. I would normally let this go but since she didn't purchase anything I have to check her. I run towards the door shouting, "Ma'am!". She doesn't hear me or she heard me and decide to ignore me. I yell a second time and drop the niceness in my voice a level and increase the volume. She keeps on walking and at this point I realize she is ignoring me on purpose. We are in the parking lot and she is almost to her car. I yell again and drop the niceness completely while staying at the same volume I was previously. She turns around and says nothing but the look she has on her face is one of pure annoyance. I politely tell her that I must check her purse for any items that may have made the door go off. At this point, I want to remind everyone I am going completely by the book here which is rare since I am a terrible employee 99% of the time. It is what she did next that threw me for a loop. After explaining that I needed to check her bag for stolen items, she turned around like I had just ended the conversation and walked away. Thinking quickly, I called out to her and said that I wouldn't need to touch anything and that I was only going to look for any thing that might have set off the door. She tells me and I am quoting her, " You want to check my purse?." I tell her, "Yes, ma'am." She turns around again like ended the conversation and proceeds to walk to her car and I go through my options at this point.
Option 1:
I could take her purse by force. I am a big guy, but her attitude already told me she was ready to fight if necessary and I don't want to get fired.
Option 2:
I could threaten to call the cops. I don't know if she was stealing anything except for the beeping at the door which could have been from a tag that was on her purse before she walked through the door. I didn't want to call the cops and risk embarrassment. She could have kept walking and drove off in her car. What do I tell the cops when they ask what she stole? "Oh I don't know, but the door went off and I am almost sure she stole something because of her attitude." Not happening.
Option 3:
I could walk back into the store and pretend her purse didn't have anything at all. I unfortunately chose this option because it was easier than the others. I am not proud of it but I still believe it was the right choice.
I wonder what you would have done my fellow Escapists. What would you guys and gals do in this situation?
Edit: I would like to thank everyone who posted. After reading your posts, I realize I should have got her plates and called the cops anyway. I doubt she will ever come back to the store again considering our little run in, but next time, I will definitely call the cops no matter what.(I work night shift a lot so odds are this is going to happen again.)
Option 1:
I could take her purse by force. I am a big guy, but her attitude already told me she was ready to fight if necessary and I don't want to get fired.
Option 2:
I could threaten to call the cops. I don't know if she was stealing anything except for the beeping at the door which could have been from a tag that was on her purse before she walked through the door. I didn't want to call the cops and risk embarrassment. She could have kept walking and drove off in her car. What do I tell the cops when they ask what she stole? "Oh I don't know, but the door went off and I am almost sure she stole something because of her attitude." Not happening.
Option 3:
I could walk back into the store and pretend her purse didn't have anything at all. I unfortunately chose this option because it was easier than the others. I am not proud of it but I still believe it was the right choice.
I wonder what you would have done my fellow Escapists. What would you guys and gals do in this situation?
Edit: I would like to thank everyone who posted. After reading your posts, I realize I should have got her plates and called the cops anyway. I doubt she will ever come back to the store again considering our little run in, but next time, I will definitely call the cops no matter what.(I work night shift a lot so odds are this is going to happen again.)
