Shoplifting

[marcusmarcusrc]

Ugh. I was in CVS today, trying to figure out what the difference was between two brands of Colgate (my suspicion being that they have a high-priced brand which is basically identical to the lower-priced brand, but that a certain percentage of customers will buy it because "more expensive must mean better, right?") and I noticed that the young, black guy next to me was taking an odd number of floss packages off the shelf, and didn't have a shopping basket with him. While my brain was slowly going through analysis and options (is he shoplifting? am I being unduly suspicious because of his skin color? what is the right thing to do - call the store management, ask him what he's doing?) he took the opportunity to grab some stuff, move close to the exit, and then run. A clerk ran after him, but he was long gone...

Anyway, I feel vaguely soiled by the whole experience. But, for future reference, should this happen again - what is the right course of action? Tanatoes, I know you have shoplifting problems at your store - do you have suggestions?

(in other life, things at the EPA keep heating up. It is exciting, but life-consuming - I had dinner at work the last two nights... I look forward to sharing what we're working on when it goes public in a couple of months)

Comments

[chanaleh.livejournal.com]

All I can say is...

Shoplifting dental floss???

*shakes head*

[katybeth]

Heh. That was exactly my reaction.

I'm curious what others have to say, though.

[firstfrost.livejournal.com]

When harrock and I went to California for Christmas, we both forgot to pack our deodorants, so we stopped at a drugstore to get some. They were all in a locked case. I was baffled.