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My family has encountered numerous occasions when we were implied to have been a thief by certain comments without actually being called a thief.

In fact, my mother-in-law (now deceased) at age 78 went to Walmart one day to get some Ben-gay creme (which she kept openly in her hand). The garden department was right next door and their plants extended into the parking lot. Being a lover of flowers, she slowly drifted through their department to the outside beyond the gate looking at even more plants, but half their parking lot was filled with plants, etc. She realized at that point that she was outside the store, although she was still on Walmart premises in the parking lot. At once, she turned to go back inside the gate to pay for the item and was approached by security who then interrogated her, called the police, and banned her from Walmart for stealing and had her escorted out of the store by a  [sic] woman which totally humiliated her and caused degradation of character. The woman was a devoted Christian and had never had a thought of ever stealing a thing in her life! Because she was elderly, she did have episodes of dementia from time to time and had wandered outside admiring their products before she realized what she had done.She was looking for hanging flower baskets and the employees didn’t know where they were, so she walked outside to search for them.

The Called My 78 Year Old A Thief – Aloud!

It was shortly after this that she found out that their merchandise on the parking lot was not considered to be on Walmart property according to them–but rather City property. How convenient! THEY DID CALL HER A THIEF! She politely and courteously cooperated with them when they asked to search her purse, etc. and then they still banned her. Her sister was with her at the time of the incident and was also banned because of the episode! Looks to me like if they are going to accuse you of stealing outside the store, then anyone who buys plants outside the store gate is considered a thief by those standards! If you are still on the premises looking at their products, you shouldn’t be considered a thief until you jump in your car and drive away with the merchandise! At that time, they could collect your tag number and report you, but to arrest you when you are still on the premises is ridiculous!

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