Photos: Man allegedly falsely accused of shoplifting, then assaulted
Victim had till slip as proof of purchase.
A Florida resident, Brian Eland, claims he was assaulted by Goldman Street Spar‘s security staff in the presence of his family and other shoppers, after they had falsely accused him of stealing a slab of chocolate.
On Saturday afternoon (16 July) Eland, his wife and five-year-old son visited the Spar to get a few odds and ends. While his wife was getting the groceries, he and his son each chose something from the sweets section. Eland chose a slab of chocolate and his son decided on some mini biscuits. At the checkout point he told his wife that he would pay for the sweets while she paid for the groceries. He then told her that he and his son were going outside to play PowerBall.
He put the chocolate and the till slip in his shirt pocket but as he was about to exit, a security guard stopped him and asked him to come with him. Eland told him he was going nowhere and asked the security guard if it was about the chocolate, but the guard ignored him and grabbed him. Eland pushed him away. A second guard joined in and then forcefully took him to an office. They again pushed him around and manhandled him. He showed them the till slip but they were unrepentant. He demanded to see management but they refused to come down from their office. When they eventually sent someone down he demanded an apology, which was refused. A scuffle broke out again, but this time Eland retaliated by head-butting the security guard. The police was called and the situation diffused.
“Any sane person would expect a professional security guard to kindly ask you to produce proof of your purchase if they suspect that you have stolen something. Instead they chose to assault and humiliate me in front of other shoppers and my family,” said an upset Eland.
The Record contacted Spar but the manager who was on duty said he was aware of an incident at the door, but he did not know what it was about. He said he would investigate and ask the guards to explain.
Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at roodepoortrecord@caxton.co.za (remember to include your contact details) or phone us on 011 955 1130.
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