Mum said she was a store detective. She got the job through Uncle Charles because he was working as security guard with the Group 4 Security in London. She said the interview was surprisingly simple.
She shared numerous stories about her catching thieves in the different malls and shops she was sent to. While she was sharing, I asked "Have you then stolen anything before?" She said, "Yes!".
Her 1st year in London, when she's attending nursing school.
One day she was in Tesco, eyed on a few small canned food and thought "I could easily take this home without paying".
She secretly put 1 or 2 in her coat, on her way out, she was caught by the worker in the store! She was shocked when she was stopped. Asked what's her name she said "Jackie". She was brought back to meet the store manager, they asked for her ID, it was stated on her ID her full name and nursing school. The store manager was angry that she gave a name different from her ID and threatened to make a police report on her & send her home.
She went back to her dorm... went to her friend Tan Yan's room but didn't tell her what happened. She was still frightened by the threat that they're going to send her back to Malaysia. She couldn't sit still and so she left Tan Yan's room, went down to the public phone. She dialed to the POLICE STATION! A policeman answered, she told him what happened, and whether she really would be sent home? Policeman asked "How much does the items worth?" She said "Less than 1 pound." Policeman said there shouldn't be anything to worry about, but he offered to check whether any report has been made and had her call him back. She called back, policeman said the store manager didn't make a report. He said it's easier to discuss face to face so she went to the police station! Policestation was empty, only that 1 policeman there. Policeman said he called the store manager, and was told that she gave them a fake name, he sounded very stern. She said "Sir! At the spur of moment, I was just trying to protect myself, it's a normal reaction!" (so funny you should hear this directly from her) Anyway, that's it. No report made, police was forgiving and she was not sent home. She said that the police was young and handsome! :P
When Uncle Charles join her in London 8 months later, she gave him 1 advice "Let me tell you from experience, you better not steal here." :D I wonder how she cracked people up whenever she shares her story about the policeman??
Now who knows few years later she'll be a store detective? :) And a really great one! She caught so many thieves, 3 to 4 cases a day! When the police came after a report was made, often saw her and say "you again!" She had to go back to the police station to give her statements in the police car. She even had to keep records in a small note book just so she have all the details written, to refresh her memory when she has to attend court. She said for demonstration purpose, she even brought a basket and some food items into the witness box. How cool! The lawyer representing the thieves asked questions like "Are you sure from your distance you could see clearly that this person steal? Are you sure you're not trying to proof yourself by being so aggressive about catching thief because you're new in this field?" etc. After the court ended, the lawyer apologise to her because he was just doing his job and those questions must be asked. :)
One store manager of a mall in a small town was shocked to know there were thefts in his store, "you mean they want to steal from me??!" Other store detectives never caught any thieves, according to mum, they never really do their job, they just wait for lunch breaks & tea times to chill. Plus, no one would expect a Chinese lady to be the store detective. ;)
She often takes a basket and pretend that she's one of the shopper, with the help of mirrors she spot the thieves.
When she notice someone stole something, she would follow behind them to stand in the cashier line, the store guards would stand by to assist her. Once the thief was out of the store, she would call them and greet them "Miss, I believe you have something in your bag which you had not paid for. Will you please come back with me to see the store manager?" Some thieves are old woman, and they will broke down because of the fear.. some quietly return.. some threw back the items at her and ran off.
After mum graduated as a barrister (from nursing school she went to law school), she continued to work as store detective, hoping to earn more money before returning to Malaysia, she caught a mother & daughter - big thieves! They came in with a roller basket, put in big packets of frozen meat & salmon into the roller basket. At the check out counter, they only paid for the cheap items like potato chips. When she stopped them as they left the store, they both gave a very fierce look, and she said they looked like they have stolen more than once!
Her last success was this girl who stole a mink coat.
The girl somehow discovered that she was the store detective and she immediately left the store through the back door. It happened in a sudden, the guards were not notified so mum went after her alone. The girl knew she was being followed, suddenly turned back, threw the mink coat back at mum and punched her in the face before running away! She said the punch was so hard that she immediately saw stars! The minute she returned to the store with the coat, she called her supervisor and said she wants to quit. It must've felt so bad being punched at!! :P
Well, she stole once, but she caught so many who has stolen. I'm sure she's given back to the community much more than she's taken. :) I'm so proud of her!!
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