On Thursday, May 16th, my friend and I visited Mayfair Mall with our four children, ages seven, nine and twelve (2). At approximately 06:45 PM, we entered Claire's. We let the children look around the store while we waited at the front for them. This is our normal practice and has never been questioned since our children are not noisy, do not run around like wild animals, and have never showcased poor behavior in stores. After approximately five minutes of being in the store, we noticed a mall security guard enter the store. We didn't think anything of it, as it looked like the security guard was coming into chit-chat with the store associate. After about seven minutes, the security guard signaled us to come over. I got up and walked over by him, and he mumbled something to the effect that one of our children was stealing. The four children gathered around because they were interested in hearing what he said. Since he (this was "Officer" Stanley, #202) didn't say who exactly he was accusing or who did what, I said who, who exactly are you talking about? The security guard randomly pointed to my friend's daughter. And I asked what exactly she did (my friend was making her way over at this time). The security guard once again mumbled something (my best guess is that even he didn't want to hear his nonsense?!) and said my friend's daughter had a bracelet on her wrist. Okay, I'm pretty sure many people do this in a store like Claire's- they TRY ON jewelry products. If that is illegal there should be a sign posted so that all customers are treated EQUALLY. I immediately said then let's have the child take off her sweatshirt so you can see there is nothing on her wrists... and let's also have her show you there is nothing in her sweatshirt pockets. The security guard wanted nothing to do with a logical rebuttal and then he said "just leave". So. This security guard is ACCUSING A CHILD OF THEFT, but when we offer to show him she has nothing on her (and never once did she attempt to leave the store)... he won't have any of it. Makes absolutely no sense. Bizarre. Pathetic. Sickening.
After my friend walked over from the front of the store and once again asked the security guard what he was talking about, he quickly became more defensive and asked us to leave. The situation was so bizarre because we continued to offer to show that this child had nothing on her, and he wanted nothing to do with any form of rebuttal. We also asked to see the video footage from the store. Once again, the security guard told us to leave. The entire situation was just that- BIZARRE. Finally, after we did leave the store (yes, we overstayed our welcome while trying to understand the issue and trying to show the security guard that the child was not trying to steal anything- isn't that what any parent would do?), then the security guard called the Wauwatosa cops on us to eventually escort us off of the property.
Also of note, at one point, when we reminded the security guard that someone could have searched the child, he replied that we had never given him a chance to call a female officer to do so. Again, WHAT? He almost immediately asked us to leave the store, and in doing so, I guess he was encouraging theft because, allegedly, one of our children had a bracelet on their wrist?!
If you become the target of discrimination at Mayfair Mall by the security guards from Andy Frain Security, SPEAK UP! Contact the Mayfair Mall Security Office, contact Andy Frain Security, contact Mayfair Mall Management, contact the company that owns Mayfair (Brookfield Properties Retail Inc.), and contact the MEDIA! The media will be our next step. One instance may not be a big deal; however, I highly doubt we are the only group of people who were discriminated against at this mall. If everyone treated in an abhorrent fashion by Mayfair Mall Security speaks up, maybe something will be done to rectify said situation! DO NOT WILLINGLY LET YOURSELF BE THE TARGET OF MAYFAIR MALL SECURITY, PARTICULARLY "STANLEY, #202" 's ABUSIVE TACTICS. read more