
Donna of Brooklyn, NY on March 17, 2010
I need help. I'm not sure what my writing this will do. But things like this need to come to an end. I would like to share my experience that I'm not so happy about. Today, March 16, 2010, at around 4:30PM, I was inside Forever 21 located in King Plaza Mall, Brooklyn, New York. I picked up one item to try on that was $4.99. I purchased it then walked out.
A couple minutes after that, my friend and I were approached by an estrange man wearing a hoody and with slow pace. Right away, I'm thinking he's about to rob/harm us because he seemed too suspicious. He then identified his self as the Lost Prevention Officer for the Forever 21 store. He started speaking but was delaying whatever he had to say. I then said for him to get to the point, because I had no idea what his purpose was for stopping us.
He then said to me that he was watching the camera and saw me put something in my Macys bag. I was shocked when he said that. I then repeated what he said in disbelief of the accusation. I told him to go ahead to check my bag to see what he was looking for. He refused to check my bag and wanted to take me back inside the store. There was no reason for us to go through with that because I already knew I had nothing.
At that point, I got so upset. I was livid. I took every piece of item from my Macy's bag (2 dresses and a pair of shoes belonging to Macy's), and I threw it in front of him, so everyone looking on could see because he was already stopping me causing a stare. I then asked him for his name which he failed to provide. I then went back in the store asked to speak with a manager.
The cashier (who failed to give her name as well, which I'm sure they're supposed to be wearing a name tag) said that one manager is on break and the other just clocked out, so no managers were present. I waited some more, because I wasn't leaving until I got what I wanted. I asked for the corporate number for the company, and a customer service number was given to me.
I asked the same cashier, who I have previously asked to call the manager, to identify the LPO. She looked at me and lied telling me he did not work there. That put the icing on the cake, and I was furious once more. The LPO called the Mall Security to whom I went ahead to gave my side of the story as to what went on.
The LPO, now telling his side, told the securities that he did not say what I aforementioned. He's now telling the securities that he told me that I might've put something of my own in the Macy's bag and that maybe it was my jacket that I placed in the Macy's bag. Not only did he wrongfully accuse me and humiliate me in public, he went ahead and fabricated the entire situation.
A while after, a woman came over saying she is the Senior Manager. Her name is Patricia, she apologized and asked if there was anything she can do for me, like she was trying to not make the situation escalate into me taking legal actions which I intend on doing. After saying so, I asked her for his name, and she too wouldn't provide it.
I had taken a picture of the LP officer which I was considering using to identify him. I was asked nicely by the mall securities to delete it, being that he is undercover. They didn't want it disclosed to others who weren't aware of his position there at that location. I went ahead with the securities to go write a complaint.
While doing so, he then accused my friend of taking sunglasses from another store. His words were "I didn't see you come in my store with it, but I saw you leaving with it." The glasses she posed weren't something that's sold in either stores. He got worse and said he was going to call the cops, because if I'm making a complaint, he would like to make one about me for taking his picture. He said that I invaded his privacy. He sounded so ridiculous, but I decided to hang around for cops who did not show up.
This situation was a huge inconvenience for me. I had an engagement I had to cancel. I missed out on sleeping, because I usually sleep before my graveyard shift and because I was there. And I didn't eat currently. I feel as if I'm getting sick. Something needs to be done. I'm taking this as far as it can go. I just feel that I was targeted because of my race. I've been a loyal customer for this store for years, and for this to happen to me just leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Please help me with steps I need to follow in order to take legal actions. And I would like people to know what's going on. Thank you.