THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, November 27, 1995 TAG: 9511230004
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A6 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 30 lines
Recently I went through the most embarrassing moment of my life going through the checkout line at a grocery store in Portsmouth.
The little red light started blinking and the bell blasting. Store personnel came flocking around, telling me to pull off my coat for examination, pull my pockets inside out so they could check for stolen goods. And when they found that I had not stolen anything, I didn't get even an apology.
I am 74 years old. I do not steal because I am a Christian and not only believe it to be a sin but that it is morally wrong to take what is not mine.
I have nothing against devices to detect objects being stolen, but they must work. To put people through what I went through is unforgivable.
When I confronted the store manager, he said that sometimes the devices malfunction. It seems that store personnel don't care if some innocent people are embarrassed. I have made my last visit to this store.
RAYMOND R. CROSS
Portsmouth, Nov. 16, 1995 by CNB