December 11, 2010
As a concerned resident of (Yonkers, NY), I am writing about a problem of racial profiling. That occurred on December 11, 2010 at 6pm, while I was leaving your store Abercrombie fitch, at the Westchester mall store # 10527 one of your security officers stopped my husband & myself based solely on according to your store manager was suspicious activity
First of he said it was store policy before anyone leaves the store, funny thing, as he attempted to GRAB the bag from my husbands hand he asked did we have a receipt for the items we had. I asked him what the hell did he think was in my hand? All awhile a customer was walking right out the store; he did not ASK THAT CUSTOMER TO STOP!! BUT ITS STORE POLICY??!!??? We had other bags as its is Christmas and that was not our first store, he then asked to see what was inside our other bag as reluctant as my husband was he opened that bag as well, meanwhile a scene was being formed outside the store you not UNDERSTAND the embarrassment we went through?
We then left dumfounded as to what happened, we went back to Abercrombie fitch and watched on the opposite side of the mall, NOT ONE CUSTOMER was stopped WHEN THEY LEFT THE STORE as frustrated I became I went back to speak to the guard to ask him if its STORE POLICY WHY DIDNT HE STOP ANYONE ELSE. Again your store manager stated that we beeped when we left the store.. I said you are joking right? I asked how is that possible when there are no alarm sensors at the doors. At that moment she changed her story again and told me that one of the employees suspected suspicious activity. I said could it have been when we were waiting online for 20 minutes SPENDING $ 175.00 because there was only one cashier as busy as that store was? She smirked & laughed and said LIKE I SAID ONE OF THE EMPLOYEES SUSPECTED SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY at this point again another scene I then asked her for the her district mangers name & information she refused to give me the information. I said fine so I asked did the security guard work his identification and did he work for Abercrombie fitch or the mall? she said that we worked for the mall. I again left because there was no answers or cooperation and truly pointless.
Since she told me the guard worked for the mall I thought let me go make a report on the guard, again she made me like a complete idiot after waiting for a security supervisor for the mall we came to find out that he didnt work for the mall he worked for Abercrombie fitch through a different company.
The mall supervisor security guard told me to go into the other Abercrombie fitch and get the information I needed because clearly I couldnt get it from the original store, as aggravated as I was the store manager at that store clearly seen I was so upset & frustrated that she asked was there anything she could have done.. I told her as appreciated as I was for her offering to help there was nothing she can do. I also told her that if my daughter didnt want the coat that I brought her I would have returned it immediately without hesitation. But just know I WOULD NEVER SPEND ANOTHER PENNY IN THAT STORE EVER, After telling my daughter what happen she urged me to return the coat.. Please forward my thanks again over to her.
This violated our civil rights. For unreasonable search and seizure There cant be an explanation that can justify why they both did Without parable cause, needless to say neither one of that had a reason this was based on hearsay, which was unfounded information, not even an apology was given! I urge you to take action now to address this problem. And unfortunately this is not THE LAST of this I WILL be seeking legal actions!