Coles shopper confronts stranger over shocking aisle incident
- Replies 34
We’ve all had those moments in the supermarket where we feel like someone’s watching us—maybe it’s just a fellow shopper reaching for the same tin of baked beans, or perhaps it’s that nagging feeling that you’re being followed down every aisle.
But for one Coles customer, that uneasy sensation turned into a full-blown confrontation, and the whole wild encounter was caught on camera!
The drama unfolded when a Coles shopper noticed a woman in a red top seemingly shadowing her every move.
Feeling uncomfortable, the shopper decided to whip out her phone and start filming.
The resulting footage, which has since gone viral on social media with nearly 400,000 views, shows the shopper confronting the woman, asking: ‘So what’s the reason you’re making (a) video?’
The shopper’s response? ‘Well, you’re surveilling me, so I’m surveilling you too.’
Social media quickly lit up with speculation. Many viewers were convinced the woman in red was an undercover Coles security guard—also known as a loss prevention officer.
Many major retailers, including Coles, employ plain-clothes staff members to watch out for shoplifters and suspicious behaviour.
One commenter, claiming to have worked in the role, explained:
‘The girl in red is an undercover security guard of the store. She is looking at the woman who is filming the video to check if that woman is stealing from the store. Every store has surveillance like this, but people don’t know. They just wander around with some products like they’re shopping, same as other people, to keep eyes on the thieves.’
The original shopper even replied to a question about how she knew the woman was a loss prevention officer, saying: ‘She told me. I did it to make her leave me alone.’
It might surprise some, but undercover security staff are a common sight in Australian supermarkets—though you’d rarely know it!
Coles, Woolworths, and other major retailers employ these plain-clothes officers to help prevent theft, which costs the industry millions every year.
A Coles spokesperson confirmed to the media: ‘Plain-clothes security guards are employed in some stores to help keep our team and customers safe.’
Loss prevention officers are trained to blend in with regular shoppers, discreetly monitoring for suspicious behaviour.
They’re not there to make honest customers feel uncomfortable but rather to deter and catch those who might be up to no good.
Absolutely. Australian businesses are within their rights to employ uniformed and undercover security staff to protect their property and staff.
These officers are trained to observe and, if necessary, intervene if they suspect theft or other criminal activity.
However, they must still respect your rights as a customer. If a loss prevention officer ever approaches you, you’re entitled to ask for identification and clarification about why you’re being stopped or questioned.
If you ever feel uneasy or believe you’re being unfairly targeted while shopping, try to stay calm.
You can ask the person politely if they work for the store and request to see their identification.
If you feel uncomfortable or harassed, ask to speak with a manager or supervisor.
While loss prevention officers are responsible for keeping everyone safe, they are expected to act professionally and treat all customers with respect.
Shoplifting is a significant issue for Australian retailers, with losses running into the billions each year.
This has led to increased investment in security measures, including CCTV, electronic article surveillance (those beeping security gates), and, yes, undercover officers.
While most of us are just there to pick up our groceries, these measures are in place to keep prices down and ensure a safe shopping environment for all.
And remember, next time you’re at Coles, and someone seems to be following you a little too closely, they might just be doing their job… or maybe they’re after the last packet of Tim Tams!
Credit: TikTok
Have you ever felt like you were being watched in the supermarket? Maybe you’ve spotted an undercover security guard in action, or perhaps you’ve had a misunderstanding with staff? Share your stories and thoughts in the comments below—let’s start the conversation!
But for one Coles customer, that uneasy sensation turned into a full-blown confrontation, and the whole wild encounter was caught on camera!
The drama unfolded when a Coles shopper noticed a woman in a red top seemingly shadowing her every move.
Feeling uncomfortable, the shopper decided to whip out her phone and start filming.
A Coles shopper was filmed confronting a woman believed to be an undercover worker. Credit: @astridfoxmusic / TikTok
The resulting footage, which has since gone viral on social media with nearly 400,000 views, shows the shopper confronting the woman, asking: ‘So what’s the reason you’re making (a) video?’
The shopper’s response? ‘Well, you’re surveilling me, so I’m surveilling you too.’
Social media quickly lit up with speculation. Many viewers were convinced the woman in red was an undercover Coles security guard—also known as a loss prevention officer.
Many major retailers, including Coles, employ plain-clothes staff members to watch out for shoplifters and suspicious behaviour.
One commenter, claiming to have worked in the role, explained:
‘The girl in red is an undercover security guard of the store. She is looking at the woman who is filming the video to check if that woman is stealing from the store. Every store has surveillance like this, but people don’t know. They just wander around with some products like they’re shopping, same as other people, to keep eyes on the thieves.’
The original shopper even replied to a question about how she knew the woman was a loss prevention officer, saying: ‘She told me. I did it to make her leave me alone.’
It might surprise some, but undercover security staff are a common sight in Australian supermarkets—though you’d rarely know it!
A Coles spokesperson confirmed to the media: ‘Plain-clothes security guards are employed in some stores to help keep our team and customers safe.’
Loss prevention officers are trained to blend in with regular shoppers, discreetly monitoring for suspicious behaviour.
They’re not there to make honest customers feel uncomfortable but rather to deter and catch those who might be up to no good.
Absolutely. Australian businesses are within their rights to employ uniformed and undercover security staff to protect their property and staff.
However, they must still respect your rights as a customer. If a loss prevention officer ever approaches you, you’re entitled to ask for identification and clarification about why you’re being stopped or questioned.
If you ever feel uneasy or believe you’re being unfairly targeted while shopping, try to stay calm.
You can ask the person politely if they work for the store and request to see their identification.
If you feel uncomfortable or harassed, ask to speak with a manager or supervisor.
Shoplifting is a significant issue for Australian retailers, with losses running into the billions each year.
This has led to increased investment in security measures, including CCTV, electronic article surveillance (those beeping security gates), and, yes, undercover officers.
While most of us are just there to pick up our groceries, these measures are in place to keep prices down and ensure a safe shopping environment for all.
And remember, next time you’re at Coles, and someone seems to be following you a little too closely, they might just be doing their job… or maybe they’re after the last packet of Tim Tams!
Credit: TikTok
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