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iPhone Sets Off Store Alarms?

grantsdale said:
Probably wrong. RFID hasn't been around long. The big stand sensors are magnetic.
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RFID technology was invented in 1945. The first patent in the US was given in 1983. In 1990 I worked retail stores that used Sensormatic tags.

Edit: I have to apologize. This time it's me that didn't do my research. Sensormatic ultra-gator tags (the ones we used) are actually "Acoustic-magnetic" technology according to their website.

Excuse me while I go warm up my crow. :eek:
 
Jeffrosproto said:
A security guard has absolutely no right to detain you, keep you from leaving, or touch you inside or outside the store, so there was no reason to run or go back inside with him. He isn't a cop, and therefore has no right to detain or arrest you. He can however call the cops, but he can't stop you from going to your car and driving away.
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Incorrect. He can detain you for a reasonable amount if time if he suspects you of shoplifting.
 
A cordless drill in my pack was setting them off. I had carried it before without a problem.
 
steve knight said:
Hey I resent that remark. I gave up on keeping one at home the batteries would die from lack of use. so I just drag it home as needed.
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Fixed.

Can't say I've set those alarms off due to my iPhone, and those questioning why the op was running, maybe he was scared? Just an idea.
 
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I'm bumping this because I'm having the same issue. Since getting my iPhone 4S, I've been setting off alarms in every store I walk in. It took me a while to realize it was my iPhone causing the issue.

Any idea what's causing this?

FYI, no my iPhone is not stolen:).
 
I've had something similar happen a few times but never pinned down what caused it. I'd go through the barrier, it would beep like crazy (no one else around), step back again and through again and it didn't beep.

The only commonality between the times was that I was carrying the iPhone but I never really thought it might be the cause.

Maybe when Location services is active?
 
I'm confused as to why someone who didn't do anything would run?


Next time, remove the unpaid merchandise from your pocket. ;)
 
Beric said:
Incorrect. He can detain you for a reasonable amount if time if he suspects you of shoplifting.
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Not so. Only a commissioned peace officer may lawfully detain you. A security guard has no more authority than you do. You are free to leave at any time and if they physically attempt to detain you, it is assault and you are free to defend yourself. If a "security guard" put his hands on me you can be assured I would neutralize the threat to my person immediately, file assault and battery charges and sue the employer.

Just because you hire someone for a specific purpose, stick a badge and uniform on them....does not give them any special authority above and beyond the average citizen. Only commissioning from an official law enforcement agency can do this.

EDIT: Thinking more on this, I'll put this disclaimer: It depends on your state and local laws. In some areas, citizen arrest is legal. (but you better be right or your ass is sued big time)
 
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Joe-Diver said:
Not so. Only a commissioned peace officer may lawfully detain you. A security guard has no more authority than you do. You are free to leave at any time and if they physically attempt to detain you, it is assault and you are free to defend yourself. If a "security guard" put his hands on me you can be assured I would neutralize the threat to my person immediately, file assault and battery charges and sue the employer.

Just because you hire someone for a specific purpose, stick a badge and uniform on them....does not give them any special authority above and beyond the average citizen. Only commissioning from an official law enforcement agency can do this.

EDIT: Thinking more on this, I'll put this disclaimer: It depends on your state and local laws. In some areas, citizen arrest is legal. (but you better be right or your ass is sued big time)
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In Illinois, you would commit aggravated battery (a class 3 felony) if you "neutralized" the threat on a private security officer who was acting within his duties. Those duties vary upon security agency. A lot of private security officers even carry sidearms and handcuffs. Are you saying that those are just for show?

720 ILCS 5/12-4 said:
(b) In committing a battery, a person commits aggravated battery if he or she: ......
(20) Knows the individual harmed to be a private security officer engaged in the performance of any of his or her official duties, or to prevent the private security officer from performing official duties, or in retaliation for the private security officer performing official duties
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HKUSP.40 said:
In Illinois, you would commit aggravated battery (a class 3 felony) if you "neutralized" the threat on a private security officer who was acting within his duties. Those duties vary upon security agency. A lot of private security officers even carry sidearms and handcuffs. Are you saying that those are just for show?
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Yeah, that's why it's never good to seek or give legal advice on the Internet...what is one way where I live is completely different somewhere else. And why I put the disclaimer in my post.

We get this type of debate on the radar detector forums...where laser jammers are discussed...while it's illegal to jam radar, it is not illegal to jam laser...however, many municipalities have laws which state that any interference with police speed measurement devices is illegal....some do and some don't.

It all depends on where you live....in Texas, with the Texas Castle Doctrine, I can shoot your ass dead if I catch you stealing my property. All I need is a reasonable expectation that I won't recover my property. Do that somewhere else and I'm going to prison.

As far as armed security guards, well, that's different. To open carry you must go through a commissioning process, which changes things. Even so, I would not mess with an armed person. You never know how they will react and what they will do, regardless of their training, legal allowance, etc.
 
Beric said:
Incorrect. He can detain you for a reasonable amount if time if he suspects you of shoplifting.
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Actually, that depends upon the state law. Security guards are NOT law enforcment. They are, according to most laws, merely another civilian. One cannot detain another without the possibility of a kidnapping charge.
At least in Texas.
If they grab you, you are allowed to properly defend yourself to procure your freedom.

Hey..it happens.

But when those things go off I keep walking. I've paid for the item, it is now my property. They cannot search me without a warrant. Regardless if I'm on their property or not.
 
iceterminal said:
Actually, that depends upon the state law. Security guards are NOT law enforcment. They are, according to most laws, merely another civilian. One cannot detain another without the possibility of a kidnapping charge.
At least in Texas.
If they grab you, you are allowed to properly defend yourself to procure your freedom.

Hey..it happens.

But when those things go off I keep walking. I've paid for the item, it is now my property. They cannot search me without a warrant. Regardless if I'm on their property or not.
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In Canada you can do a citizens arrest is you have reasonable grounds with a crime in progress. A detector going off would probably be considered resonable grounds and i would stop if asked.

On the other hand when I leave best buy or any other store and they ask to see my receipt, I never do.

In this case I have goods that I purchased and don't need to show the receipt to the greeter apron leaving. If it was a security guard stopping me because I was doing something suspicious I would stop, but showing a greeter a receipt without suspicion is not required.
 
In the UK anybody can make a citizens arrest, detaining you using reasonable force until the arrival of the Police.

P.S: I took the OP to be joking about the running away screaming part, and still do. :cool:
 
cfedu said:
On the other hand when I leave best buy or any other store and they ask to see my receipt, I never do.

In this case I have goods that I purchased and don't need to show the receipt to the greeter apron leaving. If it was a security guard stopping me because I was doing something suspicious I would stop, but showing a greeter a receipt without suspicion is not required.
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Having used to work at Best Buy a long time ago...at my store, the only time they checked receipts was if the person paid for their item(s) back in the individual departments (out of sight from the loss prevention employee). So, someone pushing out a 42" flat screen TV on a shopping cart from the middle of the store (not the checkout lanes) would be stopped to verify the person wasn't simply wheeling out a brand new unpaid several thousand dollar television. I don't find this unreasonable one single bit. And for someone to actually take "offense" to that is ridiculous. When product gets stolen, that hurts the company which in turn drives prices up which directly affects the customers. If you can't simply show a person a receipt because they're trying to do their job and prevent merchandise from being stolen then you should just shop online.
 
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Does anyone have any idea as to what's causing this issue? Should I take the phone back to Apple?
 
Interstella5555 said:
4)Why is the security guards race important?
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I guess the story is based in a predominantly white area (or a different race to the protagonist) so being black is not the norm. I doubt it would be important if the incident happened in Soweto.

Why are people afraid to mention race. So he was black. So what. Is the security guard ashamed to be black? I wouldn't have thought so.

I hate they way people are forced into trying to describe someone by any means other than mentioning race.

I am white. Call me white. I won't be offended in the slightest.
 
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