This happened months ago but I'm still ticked off and wondering what happened. There were some women in there looking at watches under a glass case saying "I want a Seiko" very loudly. I was looking at the cheap $15 watches displayed on round racks. They kept staring at me. When I left, a city cop approached me and said some people said it looked like I took something. He asked why I looked nervous and I asked him wouldn't he be? But he was nice and searched my purse and let me go b/c it was obvious I was innocent.
I called the store the next day and they had no idea what had happened. They said they had not called the police. Then I started to wonder--woudln't they have confronted me themselves if they suspected me of stealing? Would I even have gotten to my car in the parking lot?
Was I, perhaps, a decoy for those women? Did they, in fact, steal a watch, then call the cops on ME to distract everyone while they got away? Who is responsible for what happened to me?
2007-01-23 14:46:21 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
Wow! You weren't, by any chance, in Fraudville Extreme aka Vancouver, British Columbia? This sounds like one of our infamous Howe Street cons.
Seriously, where this incident occurred is important as it determines the applicable law in those circs. Each jurisdiction is different. Don't spit on the sidewalk in Singapore or authorities may publicly horsewhip you.
Contact the local police with a description of the policeman who stopped you and the place where you were stopped and searched. If the cops can't ID the officer and his report of the incident, they'll tell you how to proceed. Was it really a cop who stopped you? If not, the cops will no doubt be interested.
If, however, it was a real cop who stopped you absent a complaint from the store, and who then went ahead anyway absent proper procedure to search your purse, you might have a civil claim. But before taking it up with a lawyer, find out whether your 'cop' provided a legitimate report of the incident. That's the starting point.
2007-01-23 15:13:30 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
first of all the way it works in a place i use to work in.. they have cameras and also people who pose as shoppers. they will follow you and the control room and the walkers will talk about what you have and where you put it. they cant touch you until you go out the doors to the outside then they can approach you and they have to be able to tell you what you have and where its at. then the law is called. i am thinking maybe this wasnt a cop maybe he just wanted in your purse or to search you i think you should call the police dept and find out. if he even works there and if so then ask them what the deal is.
2007-01-23 14:52:20 · answer #2 · answered by momoftwobestkids 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The store called the cops. They did not want to stop you to find out you didn't take anything. That's how companies can get sued from "bad stops." They would rather have the police check you out.
2007-01-23 19:11:23 · answer #3 · answered by John71 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds to me that the "police man" stole something from your purse.
The "women" were probably with the police man.
If the police man was a somewhat hot guy, chances are, that guy was not a policeman. He was a pimp who earned his living posing as authority and got away with theft.
2007-01-23 14:56:41 · answer #4 · answered by T.VO 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋