I was visiting for the first time this past Saturday with my husband, mother in law, and 12yo daughter. After being in the store for quite a long time, my daughter was approached (by the owner?) and accused of shoplifting a small ring into her shorts' pocket. None of us were near her at the time she was approached. When we went to confront the accuser, she explained that her security officer saw my daughter continually trying on rings and then ""tugging"" at the bottom of her t-shirt. Never did he actually see her place anything in her pocket. My daughter was crying hysterically by this time. The woman made an attempt at a very empty apology, adding that she didn't realize my daughter was so young (as if to suggest she might shoplift if she was a bit older) and also suggested that my daughter must surely ""have friends"" who shoplift, so she should be able to understand the owner's position! We were so outraged. I can't help but think that this incident would never have occurred if my daughter was white and not mixed -- I definitely got that vibe. Joke was on them though -- my mother in law was about to spend over $400 on a rug when this occurred. Needless to say, we'll never cross their threshold again.
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