Pregnancy & Parenting Checking bags in shops.

[dr nick]

I usually time my exits so as to avoid the bag checker when they are distracted. It's good practice for when i decide to nick something.

I'd love to know if any bag checker has ever caught anyone in the act.

 

[dr nick]

A few years back when I was younger and more prone to being a w***er for no reason, I was in a store (like Kmart or DJ's, I forget which one) and I was on my way out with my back pack on my back, in my own little world and never saw the lady who appeared as if from nowhere as I passed through the scanner gates. As I was about to walk away she said "Sir, can I check your bag." Now, without even thinking about it I've just said "Isn't that what these gates are for?" and continued on my way with a little turn of my head just to see her standing there with her jaw dropped to the ground, but she never ran after me.

Now, I wasn't stealing anything and normally I would stop and show my bag, but that day I was so into what I was doing that when she just appeared my mouth went into motion before I even realised what I was doing. I didn't really mean to be rude, but it probably came off that way. But if you refuse, what can they do? Nothing apparently.

And what are the scanner gates for (besides going off for no apparent reason a few dozen times every day) if you are going to take a cursory glance in the bag anyway?

The scanners detect those little metallic anti-theft strips which are stuck onto the inside of book covers / jacket pockets etc etc. Once they are ripped off they detect **** all. What do you think they do, detect an unscanned bar code?

 

[Ice-Wolf]

The scanners detect those little metallic anti-theft strips which are stuck onto the inside of book covers / jacket pockets etc etc. Once they are ripped off they detect **** all. What do you think they do, detect an unscanned bar code?

Also those things aren't on every product usually just the more expensive easy to conceal stuff.

 

[RoJo Junior]

The scanners detect those little metallic anti-theft strips which are stuck onto the inside of book covers / jacket pockets etc etc. Once they are ripped off they detect **** all. What do you think they do, detect an unscanned bar code?

This.

I'd say about 25% of the items in stores would not set off the electronic gates (books, toys,confectionary, most nursery stuff). Anything that doesn't have a sticker as the price tag or that doesn't have one of the EAS tags (dye tags/sticky tags like on DVD's etc)

Not trying to give you ***** ideas as I used to do this shit job, but have now risen through the ranks to supervisor

If it wasn't for the jailbait juvies working Saturday mornings I'd be long gone.

 

[GPW1]

i know will sound politically incorrect but often i see mentally challenged people being the bag checker. its obvious the manager doesnt want this person serving customers/handling money/doing anything important so they just stick them at the entrance.

 

[RoJo Junior]

i know will sound politically incorrect but often i see mentally challenged people being the bag checker. its obvious the manager doesnt want this person serving customers/handling money/doing anything important so they just stick them at the entrance.

Retailers hire them so they can pay them $2-3 an hour less too.

They either do that job or given something away from people like nightfill/storeman type jobs. Why hire them for in the first place if that's the way they're going to be treated IMO.

 

[Ice-Wolf]

Retailers hire them so they can pay them $2-3 an hour less too.

They either do that job or given something away from people like nightfill/storeman type jobs. Why hire them for in the first place if that's the way they're going to be treated IMO.

I think it is more likely that they hire them and then find out that they are hopeless at any other job so try to minimise the damage.

 

[clarkoscluster]

A shop has NO legal right to inspect your bag. I just refuse and demand to speak to the manager and then tell him or her to ring the police if they suspect me of stealing, and have them come and inspect my bag. They always give in and let me through. Pricks, im no thief.

100% wrong. A supermarket is private property and as such, you must comply with the terms and conditions of entry. It's similar a similar scenario to how you can have your own property (eg: can of coke) confiscated when you enter a sports stadium. If you refuse, you can be detained on reasonable grounds (eg: if the shop-owner or staff-member legitimately believes you have stolen goods). You can also be banned from re-entering the store if you refuse to comply.

I honestly don't get why it's so hard. Shrinkage costs retailers millions per year (some may argue they're loaded enough as it is, but it doesn't help our country or economy having free-loaders coming in and taking whatever they please). To counter this, they impose bag checks as a condition of entry - fair enough surely? If you've done nothing, why worry? The person inspecting your bag has likely never met you and may never meet you again so who cares what they think of your possesions?

 

[Helicopter Punt]

100% wrong. A supermarket is private property and as such, you must comply with the terms and conditions of entry. It's similar a similar scenario to how you can have your own property (eg: can of coke) confiscated when you enter a sports stadium. If you refuse, you can be detained on reasonable grounds (eg: if the shop-owner or staff-member legitimately believes you have stolen goods). You can also be banned from re-entering the store if you refuse to comply.

I honestly don't get why it's so hard. Shrinkage costs retailers millions per year (some may argue they're loaded enough as it is, but it doesn't help our country or economy having free-loaders coming in and taking whatever they please). To counter this, they impose bag checks as a condition of entry - fair enough surely? If you've done nothing, why worry? The person inspecting your bag has likely never met you and may never meet you again so who cares what they think of your possesions?

I'm not sure they can unless 'reasonable grounds' or 'legitimately believes' means 'finds committing' (Vic Crimes Act s.458 & s.462). If your'e subsequently found not to have stolen anything they risk the criminal offence of 'false imprisonment' and your claim for false arrest. Anyone can arrest anyone at anytime, but unless you have been delegated the power of arrest and release by the state, you would want to be very careful to comply with the above sections of the Crimes Act.
They can explicitly ban you, however.

 

[Ed_Gein]

What do some of you have in your bags/handbags that makes it an issue to be searched?

Was just thinking that myself really.

Only time i've been asked to have a bag checked is when i've bought a DVD or something from the entertainment section in k-mart/target etc and they ask to check it on the way out.

Don't see the problem either way if it was a bag from another store. What are they going to do? S****** and laugh about it?

I reckon people are being a bit precious to be honest.

 

[BABYBOMBERS2007]

A shop has NO legal right to inspect your bag. I just refuse and demand to speak to the manager and then tell him or her to ring the police if they suspect me of stealing, and have them come and inspect my bag. They always give in and let me through. Pricks, im no thief.

Is this actually a fact???

The shops are close to my Uni and I always am buying stuff and im sick of showing my stuff.

 

[hirdy_is_champ]

Is this actually a fact???

The shops are close to my Uni and I always am buying stuff and im sick of showing my stuff.

Surely it's not that hard to just open your bag?

 

[BABYBOMBERS2007]

Surely it's not that hard to just open your bag?

It looks like I am a thief, when I have never broken the law. I mean I walk through those alarm things.

 

[Ed_Gein]

It looks like I am a thief, when I have never broken the law. I mean I walk through those alarm things.

But they're checking all of the people that walk out, not as if they are singling you out.

 

[Helicopter Punt]

Is this actually a fact???

The shops are close to my Uni and I always am buying stuff and im sick of showing my stuff.

The choice is yours.
They can't use force to do so, and if you didn't steal anything on what basis could they justify incarcerating you?

Not guaranteed you will be welcome back if you choose to ignore their policy, though.

A more pertinent question you might want to consider if you decide to assert your rights is how far are the next closest shops?

 

[bigpapagman]

i only get offended when they let two older people walk out in front of me and dont say anything but then they check me. Im a 21 year old female, hardly a risk but i always feel as if im being targeted when Im checked and someone 10+ years older is just let past with a friendly smile

**** or GTFO.

 

[BABYBOMBERS2007]

But they're checking all of the people that walk out, not as if they are singling you out.

But they dont check ppl's pockets, or frisk or strip search. Anyone could hide stuff anywhere.

 

[Le Grille]

I really don't get some of the people here.

It's about living in a society, the shop wants to protect itself and it is not like they are strip searching you or anything like that, or accusing you of anything, gee im sure people look at someone getting a bag checked and think "I wonder what that thief stole. I have no problem for a business to protect their interest.

What is so hard about opening your bag for 10-20 seconds?

Like someone else said earlier how precious would you have to be to have a problem with that?

 

[Emerald]

I'm seeing a flaw in your system here, it appears people have invented some form of bagless theft.

Haha really??

I knew this girl in another store asking people to empty out their pockets, ended up with her getting a serious injury.

I'm not saying door-checkers PREVENT shoplifting - if anything I'd say serious shoplifters would see the door person as a bit of a fun challenge - my point was that it does deter kids from doing it.

I just don't see the logic behind people kicking up a stink about getting their bags checked when it would be so much easier just to accept it and move on...?

 

[King Elvis]

**** or GTFO.

Strong post.

 

[rayven]

When I did my security training I was taught that to have your bags checked by staff it has to be a condition of entry and that has be visible at the entrance to the store/shop....otherwise they have no right...however if they wish to detain you , its basicaly a civilian arrest and they have to have observed you commiting a crime that actualy hurts/threatens someone (graffiti or such offenses do not count).So yes they have a right to check, but no powers if you refuse, unless they witnessed you placing an item in that bag and you tried leaving that store without paying for.....
You can place something down your jocks, but until you actualy try to leave, no offense has been commited.
They can't detain you on the "belief" or do a body search!

 

[dr nick]

Question to the bagcheckers...

Have you ever caught a theif doing a spot bag check?

 

[Impunity!]

I put blood filled used syringes in my bag just to get back at the bag checkers

 

[Upgrayedd]

Question to the bagcheckers...

Have you ever caught a theif doing a spot bag check?

Plenty.

After working/managing 4 bottleshops in 3 years ive caught at least one person in every store, even one i was only working in for 2 weeks

Everything from bottles of wine, Casks, Bottles of beer, Six Packs, Even some bastard whos slipped 6 bottles of Jacks in his backpack (was watching the stupid arseh*le via a security camera) Thats $240 of turnover for a store, immediatly speaks on why people get their bags searched.

Usually they go sheepish and just go "i forgot" or just hope you dont find it, however ive had about 5 people ark up about me asking to look in their bags, 4 of them had stolen something and one was absolutly shitfaced, noticed him and was kicking him out, thought he was looking dodgy so i asked and got a spray.

I've always not cared, In any case if the sign is displayed and i refused to let them go though, i imagine they would kick me straight out if they recognised me walking in next time, its exactly the same thing i would do if someone refused to let me have a quick check, i would say "unless you allow me to look inside your bag on your way out im not letting you in"

With the hundreds of thousands of dollars that coles/woolworths lose out every year due to thefts no wonder they want to search bags.

 

[mchawk]

A shop has NO legal right to inspect your bag. I just refuse and demand to speak to the manager and then tell him or her to ring the police if they suspect me of stealing, and have them come and inspect my bag. They always give in and let me through. Pricks, im no thief.

And you have the legal right to sue. Always remind them this. Funnily they buckle within seconds