Security Guards!

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Security Guards!

Anybody ever worked as a retail security guard or CCTV monitor? Can anyone tell me what is the procedure when apprehending a shoplifter? I assume that CCTV radios to the guards on the shop floor, but what kind of language do they use? Do they use the same language as the police, 'IC1 male,' and all that? Also, if you have done this kind of job, what is a typical day like? I would be very grateful if anyone can help me

Hi Sid, I've a little experience of this, I'll send you a message. Shep
Thought I had already responded, but it's vanished into the ether. Thanks very much, Stan. My connection's not much cop when it comes to watching videos, but I'll give it a try some time. Thanks for recommending those two poems, thoroughly enjoyed both. Thank you Shep! Prepare to be milked

 

I was a store detective aged 17. My boss told me to follow two burly men out of the shop because they had stolen a magazine and not to come back to the shop until they reached their home. I am still following them. One day this will be over.

 

Thanks Lavadis that's very helpful. I hope you are getting overtime!

 

I would just pop in the local supermarket and ask the security staff there, most of the time they have enough time on their hands to talk and most people seem willing to share their experiences because, I guess, talking to a writer and the idea of having a tiny slice of their life put into a story makes them feel special. A long time ago a man I worked with wanted his name mentioned when he found out that I was writing a work based story, so I wrote 'and as for Billy Williams, what can I say? What a guy.....' Or, alternatively, I would just bullshit my way through it, but I understand you wanting an authentic ring to your story, because there'll always be some wag saying "Oh, no no no, that's not how it works at all."
My Wife was apprehended for shop lifting in a big supermarket because she forgot about a 100ml pot of youghut lurking in the corner of her trolley, when she unloaded her other stuff. This burst of amnesia was most likely caused by trying to balance a very unhappy teething six-month old with the shopping at the time. At the entrance to the store she was grabbed by women security guards, complete with police-like activity belts (you know, things that talk, handcuffs, truncheon, taser, horse-whips and leather underwear) She was escorted in a not particularly friendly way to a little dungeon somewhere in the bowels of the building and shown a video of her "suspicious behavior" -- A video of her entire visit to the store, including parts where the baby 'lost it' due to teeth pain and she had to find a place in amongst the shelves and trolleys to sit down and calm the cherub. She was then charged: "Any thing you say will be taken down and used in evidence" and shit like that. She replied, 'after buying fifty-pounds worth of things, do you think I'd bother to steal a 25p pot of yoghurt?' Then she showed her Belgian identity card and explained we were leaving for home in two days. For some reason they let her off with a warning . . . . nice people. I won't mention the name of the store -- yes I will it was FUCKING TESCOS. I might be wrong but I think they use G4s for security. This was 13 years ago (pre-9/11 and all the subsequent security shit that followed) I imagine it's worse now. (I don't exaggerate here! Well, maybe about the leather underwear, I'm not sure about that) I hope this helps, Sid. Bex

 

Damn, I was counting on the bit about the leather underwear being true, bexley, which is why I've been in and out of Tesco 48 times in the past half hour and stolen 47 consecutive bags of value range pasta twists at 36 pence a piece and a tub of 28 pence value gravy granules because I'd already emptied the pasta shelf. I even dressed up as Anthony Worral Thompson, but I think the security guards must have been asleep.
No, they were probably awake, but as they were G4S staff they just hadn't turned up. That and the budget cuts have reduced the leather underwear to plastic bags with holes for the legs.
That'll satisfy my kinky desires, shep, I'm not ridiculously fussy.
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