Today, I was at Walgreens shopping for my children, as they made perfect grades on their report cards. I am an untraditional looking mother, with blue streaks in my hair and tattoos. To boot, I saw a coworker from my second job (roadie for national shows) at the front of the store, and introduced him to my kids. He is also unconventional lookiing, with dreadlocks to his knees.

We went around, picking toys, and ended up at the pharmacy. I needed to pick up prescriptions, but there was a HUGE line. I asked a gentleman if he was using a cart next to him, and he said I could use it. My kids proceeded to dump all our intended purchases in to the cart, and I organized things I had in my hands: wallet, keys, and insurance card. In doing this, I dropped my card, and my son handed it to me. I placed it in my pocket.

We proceeded to walk to the photo section to pay for pictures, and planned to return to the pharmacy line after. While walking back to the front of the store, an asst manager approached me and asked me to ‘come with him.’ I was confused and taken by surprise, asking WHY?! He said “we’ve caught you on camera putting something in your pocket. your son handed you something, and you have it in your pocket”

All three kids (4, 5 and 7) were horrified and scared. I went to the back, as to not scare them any further, and the store manager comes back and tells the assistant to ‘close the doors to the office’. He knew what was happening.

I asked him to see the video, and asked exactly what he was going to do about it when he was proven wrong. at this point, i still had NO IDEA what he was talking about!! I pulled my pockets out of my pants, and exposed my wallet, sweats and keys. The kids were SCARED, asking what was happening. The manager could NOT bring up video.. there was a technical problem.

He kept telling me that they ’saw me put something in my pocket.’ then my boy reminded me… “mommy, your card”.

It was my insurance card!! The manager would not let me go, as he was trying to make the video work. He was unsuccessful.

I asked him if they pull EVERY ELDERLY person back there that puts something in their pocket. He couldnt answer, only repeating that they ’saw me put an item in my pocket’

All the while, my kids are terrified. I asked him if he had children, and he responded, TWO, my kids ages. I asked him how HE would feel to see this very look on his own childrens faces.. watching their mother go through this.

I walked out, and all he could offer was an apology. I am upset that my children have to live with this memory. An apology just isnt enough for me.. I am not satisfied. They were scared.. adn now they are angry. They are saying “I HATE WALGREENS!” “why did that man do that you to mommy?” I was crying, humiliated and embarrassed. I KNOW i was profiled.

Do I have any ground for legal action?

Thank you.. incident happened in San Antonio, Texas. I’m a 33 yr old mother of three.. there to reward my children for perfect grades, and they walked out with terror instead. I appreciate any info!!!

i was caught shoplifting in ny for12 dollar stuff. they don’t call the police but they made me sign for 3 papers one of them was,for charging 12 dollar .i was so nervous so i didn;t read that well. i had license of different state and school id , bank card , but i gave them wrong address. what should i do now??

A close friend of mine was picked up for trying to steal merchandise out of Wal-Mart. He was picked up outside of the store by a few of the loss prevention staff. He got all the way to his car and actually put the merchandise in his trunk and as he was shutting the trunk (it was already closed) they apprehended him. My question is are they legally allowed to tell my friend to open up the trunk or did they cross the line?