Store Security KK-M@rrtt, Queensland?

Question

I was wondering what my Families rights are and if someone could please advise me of there legal rights. They were shopping and were at the register when about 5 people stopped them from leaving and asked if there bags had been searched. One of the Children with them were playing with a toy in the store and the girls had put the toy down on a shelf somewhere in the store. The security then asked to search there bags and made my family go back into the store and find the toy in question. They did this. They didn't apologize to my family for wrongfully searching their bags or for wrongfully accusing them. Is there anything we can do to about this as we all don't know our rights as consumers? My family were left feeling very humiliated and embarrased. Thanks in advance. :D

Answer 1

I have been in the security industry for over twenty years and I did own my our security company, In NSW not QLD, The Security/ Loss Prevention Officers had NO right to treat your family in this matter, it was very unprofessional and properly illegal.

NO one has the right to search your bag unless 1, you have been placed under arrest and you were not arrested, 2, A police Officer but only if they have a search warrant or have reasonably grounds to believe you have a weapon or drugs in your bag. these are the only situation that requires you to comply with being searched in this manner,

You should report the this matter to the manager and send a copy of the letter to the stores head office as well.

secondly when you enter a store there is signs stating "we reserve the right to inspect bags when you leave". These signs are complete Bul*Sh*t, they do NOT have any such right whatsoever so next time they ask to inspect your bag say no and keep walking I do, and they never say a word because they know they can not do anything if you refuse.

To treat young children in the matter in which your children was treated is shameful.

Answer 2

There is a big sign when entering the store that they have the right to search your bags when leaving (regardless of if they think they need to). You always have the option of not entering the store. Everyone leaving the local store here has their bags inspected. Everyone.

Answer 3

Sorry, I don't actually have an answer to your question (and I have looked) but I'd like to share this with you.

I know just how your family members felt.

Obviously nothing has changed at Kmart in 30 years.

A very similar thing happened to my family at a Kmart in Adelaide, almost 30 years ago.

We refused to go back into the main part of the store with them, but the security people were trying to be very intimidating, did speak extremely loudly and did just about frisk us at the door.

We had done nothing wrong or illegal.

Thankfully we didn't live in Adelaide, I would have died of embarrassment if it had happened near home.

Other shoppers were staring at us as if we were criminals.

And why wouldn't they?

We were being treated like criminals by the Kmart staff.

When they realised they had made a mistake there was no apology........ nothing.

I suppose it's no surprise that I haven't shopped at Kmart since.

Answer 4

They can search your bags at the register or approach you after you leave the store but only if someone has watched you enter the store, do all your shopping and leave and still suspects you have something stolen.

They can not make you go into the store and find the item, that's their job not yours.

They won't apologise, they're heartless. Unfortunatly they are a big company you are one little individual, they will always win.

If it were me, I would return the toys for a refund and not return. Be sure to tell all your family and friends too.

Sure the expectations of customer service may be a little too much for some people, but ***, why do they have to be so rude!