Door searches at Wal-Mart

[milk man]

What is the name of your state? Kansas

Is it illegal to ignore the alarm while exiting a store when one has paid for all merchandise?

What is the store's security authority to stop a person that ignores the alarms while leaving?

Is it illegal to refuse to be searched by the door greeter if the alarm does not sound?

Thank you.

 

[las365]

searched by the door greeter

I always thought that was just an extra-friendly hug! Hmm.

 

[fairisfair]

What is the name of your state? Kansas

Is it illegal to ignore the alarm while exiting a store when one has paid for all merchandise?

What is the store's security authority to stop a person that ignores the alarms while leaving?

Is it illegal to refuse to be searched by the door greeter if the alarm does not sound?

Thank you.

Nope, and it isn't illegal for them to call the police and get you an official pat down.

 

[milk man]

So if I walk out of the store and the alarm goes off, or a security person wants to search me, I can refuse and keep walking?

Do they have a right to lay hands on me or detain me?

If they do detain me and I've done nothing wrong, can I sue them for false arrest?

If they call the police and I've done nothing wrong, can I sue them?

I don't steal. I just don't like the harassment while leaving the Evil W. I shop at other places when I can, but the small town I live in doesn't offer too much more than Wal-Mart.

 

[outonbail]

So if I walk out of the store and the alarm goes off, or a security person wants to search me, I can refuse and keep walking?

Do they have a right to lay hands on me or detain me?

If they do detain me and I've done nothing wrong, can I sue them for false arrest?

If they call the police and I've done nothing wrong, can I sue them?

I don't steal. I just don't like the harassment while leaving the Evil W. I shop at other places when I can, but the small town I live in doesn't offer too much more than Wal-Mart.

Oh boy, were talking about stopping for thirty seconds, maybe a minute. What's the big deal?
If you're so busy that you can't stop and let them check your bag, maybe you should have someone else do your shopping. Lets face it, those alarms go off about once every fifty to a hundred times you pass through them. So it's not like your going to have to deal with this great inconvenience on a daily basis.
Besides, if you don't have the minute available to stop and speak with the Wal Mart door
monitor, where would you ever find the time to sue them?

But hey, if you want to keep on walking and ignore their request to check your purchase, go right ahead. But don't be surprised if they refuse to allow you to shop there anymore.

 

[mike_lee]

This is a growing area of civil disobedience. I refuse to back into the store but if they come out to me with the proper respect I'll cheerfully cooperate.The last thing I'll do is apologize to them.

http://www.michaelrighi.com/2007/09/01/arrested-at-circuit-city/

http://alex.halavais.net/you-may-not-see-my-receipt/

Here's the greatest prank of them all as 50 people in blue shirts walk into a busy best buy and just stand around http://www.improveverywhere.com/2006/04/23/best-buy/

 

[CdwJava]

Is it illegal to ignore the alarm while exiting a store when one has paid for all merchandise?

No. But it can add to the reasonable suspicion to justify a detention.

What is the store's security authority to stop a person that ignores the alarms while leaving?

In most states they have a right to detain people who they have reason to believe have committed a crime. The alarm activation is generally sufficient to support this reasonable suspicion and, thus, a detention by staff.

Is it illegal to refuse to be searched by the door greeter if the alarm does not sound?

No. But it is likewise not illegal for them to detain you and call the cops.

- carl

 

[milk man]

Oh boy, were talking about stopping for thirty seconds, maybe a minute. What's the big deal?
If you're so busy that you can't stop and let them check your bag, maybe you should have someone else do your shopping. Lets face it, those alarms go off about once every fifty to a hundred times you pass through them. So it's not like your going to have to deal with this great inconvenience on a daily basis.
Besides, if you don't have the minute available to stop and speak with the Wal Mart door
monitor, where would you ever find the time to sue them?

But hey, if you want to keep on walking and ignore their request to check your purchase, go right ahead. But don't be surprised if they refuse to allow you to shop there anymore.

I wanted to thank you personally for your response. I don't know what your problem is with my question, but if you thought you could make me feel small, it didn't work. I haven't stolen anything. In fact, on night while loading our purchases, I found a pair of sunglasses that was at the bottom of the cart. My wife had put them in the cart and I didn't see them while I was loading the belt. I took them back in and paid for them.

To all the other's, thank you. This is what I understand; I don't have to stop. If I keep walking I can be detained (physically if necessary) because I've added to the suspicion that the alarms have attached. And it is not considered false arrest, battery, or kidnapping.

 

[xylene]

I don't steal. I just don't like the harassment while leaving the Evil W.

Shop at another store. Or better still shop less.

I shop at other places when I can, but the small town I live in doesn't offer too much more than Wal-Mart.

Shop online then. Absolutely NO ONE is forced to shop at Wal-Mart unless they want too.

 

[milk man]

Wow

Who closed my thread?

This is a tough crowd over here. All I did was ask some questions. I wasn't looking for a dressing down or arrogant answers.

I know I can shop at other places. And I do. But this is done at other places like Best Buy. So Wal-Mart is just an example for some general legal advice, hopefully given by professionals, because they are the most blatant.

As far as I'm concerned when I paid for my merchandize it's mine. I don't steal stuff. I have a good job that leaves me alone in people's homes. If I'm convicted of stealing I will loose my job. I'm sure the old lady that needs Depends or a guy that bought Preparation H really wants to show their purchases to the door greeter.

I'm always respectful to the door greeters. I'm pretty sure that a mid-sixties lady rather not be digging though my stuff. In fact I'll make an assumption that many of them are wiping tears from their eyes driving to work.

 

[FlyingRon]

You were the one who chose to argue with people who told you what the law was. It was only then that you started getting more of an argument (other than the cheeky comment about hugging the greeter).

It makes no difference that you "don't" steal things. While you are on the store's property they are within their rights to detain you briefly to make sure that you didn't, especially if they have reason to believe (alarms going off) to the contrary.

The issue is not the ownership of the merchandise. They can stop you even if you haven't bought anything nor appear to be carrying anything.

 

[milk man]

You were the one who chose to argue with people who told you what the law was. It was only then that you started getting more of an argument (other than the cheeky comment about hugging the greeter).

It makes no difference that you "don't" steal things. While you are on the store's property they are within their rights to detain you briefly to make sure that you didn't, especially if they have reason to believe (alarms going off) to the contrary.

The issue is not the ownership of the merchandise. They can stop you even if you haven't bought anything nor appear to be carrying anything.

Outonbail's tone was uncalled for. Whether you agree with me or not, not to mention that he gave me no advice except they might ban me from their stores.

Please show where I've argued with anyone that has given me professional advice, I haven't.

And why did you put don't in quotes? Do you believe I steal?

And I thought I made it clear that some things bought are of personal nature. Some won't realize this until they have medical problems and pee their pants uncontrollably.

I think the next time an alarm goes off I'll stop. Not because "I" think it's the "right" thing to do. Because the professionals on this board have told me the reason they can stop me.

Again, thank you to those that have answered my questions in a professional manner.

 

[milk man]

I always thought that was just an extra-friendly hug! Hmm.

Now this I thought was funny.

 

[RiotAct]

Man, just how often are you at walmart? I shop there all the time, way more than the average person and I've never once had the alarm go off. But if it did, you can bet your a$$ that I'd stop and let them check my stuff out.

When the alarms goes off on people, it's normally because a cashier who's not paying attention, didn't disarm one of the little tags in something you bought. It's not the fault of the door person so why give them or the whole store a hassle about it? Go back to the cashier and tell them "PAY ATTENTION!"

 

[Grayson]

Sometimes a cell phone or something of similar nature can set the alarms off.

The door greeter doesn't know either way what is, they're just doing their job and if they don't do it they get fired. Have a heart and just stop for them. As far as having personal items in your back the person just checks your reciept makes sure nothing is missing from it and you're on the way. They don't sit there and ask nor do they even know what items in the bag go to who and for what reason. I think you may be a bit paranodi in that part of it.

If you don't like being stopped from the alarms or whatever reason exit out the Auto Section where there is no door greeter.