Yesterday I was accused of shoplifting. I wasn’t paying attention and walked out of an office supply store while still holding an expensive package of pens. The store treated it very seriously. One security guard apprehended me as another blocked the exit, they then escorted me to a back-room where my person and backpack were thoroughly searched, after the surveillance tapes were reviewed so as to examine all of my actions in the store. It was terribly embarrassing, and none too scary, for me.
When they concluded that it was just a stupid mistake on my part the manager was very apologetic and even gave me a coupon for a 10% discount off my next purchase. He explained that they have had some trouble with shoplifters recently and considering that I am young and was carrying a backpack, they thought me very suspicious.
I would like to know what my rights are if I am accused of shoplifting. Do they have the right to grab me and take me to a back-room where they search all of my belongings? Can I refuse and just leave and under what circumstances?
Also, the manager explained to me that many people where lining backpacks and other pouches with aluminum foil to thwart the security tags. I found this very shocking! Is it really true that those foil stickers and other measures are so easily overcome? What about those larger devices I have seen, the round grey plastic contraptions with a blinking led, speaker and cords that run through them and tightly wrap around the item. They appear very expensive, are these also so weak that someone could just stick it in an aluminum bag and walk away? What are the different types of security tags and how do they work? I always assumed that they were not passive devices, but actively broadcasted where they were and could easily penetrate something as flimsy as a pouch of foil. How are they able to stop thieves when their security measures are seemingly so weak? Are their other tags that are not so easily overcome?