I recently went to Winchester Walmart with a friend to purchase a year planner, a filing case, and a DVD. All of my items totaled about $30.00. When I made my way to the exit, the receipt checker asked to see my receipt. I told them "No, thank you. I've payed for my merchandise" and continued heading for the door. The woman blocked my path and told me she wouldn't let me leave unless I showed my receipt.

I asked if she was accusing me of theft, to which she replied "Yes. You are a thief. I'm detaining you until my manager and the police arrive." I told her I would wait for her manager. At this point I was upset and wished to clear things up with someone who would understand my rights, being a manager and all. Unfortunately, when the manager met my friend and I, waiting just outside the doors, we were greeted By Chris accusations, reiterations of store policy, and a bold disregard for what I "claimed" were my rights.

I told the manager that he was welcome to conduct an investigation into the matter and that I would wait patiently, so long as that investigation did not involve searching my person without my consent. I tried to explain that my issue was not with their staff, but with the idea of being treated like a thief without any due cause. I went so far as to tell him exactly where I payed for my items and who he could speak to in order to verify that information.

Chris heatedly responded with "I don't care! You're a thief until you show me your receipt!", at which point he grabbed my DVD out of my hands and marched off into a locked office. I immediately protested the theft of my property and had my friend call the police, who were already on their way to investigate the two "shoplifters".

Shortly before the police arrived some ten minutes later, my belongings were returned with a half-hearted "We saw that you payed for these..." and nothing else delivered by a cashier. The police arrived and told me that if someone were to steal my property outside the store, it was theft. But if it were stolen by the store manager, it was him protecting his property, regardless of wether or not it was actually stolen. I inquired that, if the store policy were to punch each customer in the face, if it would still be considered assault. The police shrugged, told me again and again that there were no charges to be filed, and left. Long story short, I left humiliated and without so much as an apology from Chris.

I'm outraged that someone could treat a customer this way. Given the circumstances, I was very calm and polite in explaining why I would not show my receipt, how he could verify the merchandise was payed for, and that I would wait while he investigated. Instead Chris called me a thief in front of God and everyone, stole my property, and didn't even have the decency to apologize for the mistake.