Accused and confused

This morning I walked into Edgars in Rosebank Mall in search for a specific item of clothing. I was browsing around, seeing other items I might like, scanning through. I saw make up items on sale. I picked some up and put them back after realising it's not what I want. I saw makeup setting spray and thought I could do with some. It was in a small box about 15cm in height and 3cm in width. Compact, sure. I kept it in my hand. I could feel eyes on me. Not like I haven't before so at the time it hadn't bothered me.

I walked around the store back to my initial mission, looking for my item of clothing. I walked over to the Accecorize section, looked at a few headbands, put them back and decided to leave the store and put the box in the section in which I was standing in.

I walked out but before I could step past the stores doors, the security guard called me and started speaking to me in a language I did not understand. I met her with "Pardon?" and she asked me where the box I had was, in English.

Then the stares clicked.

I told her I left it in the Accecorize section and she could go look and find it there if she wished. This woman did not even make eye contact with me but instead looking at me head to toe, over and over. During this she's asking if that's where I found it, I was honest and told her no, flustered with embarrassment as she was insinuating that - along with the stares - it was on my person. Now, imagine this; I'm wearing high waist skinny jeans, a crop top (also tight fitting) and have nothing but my cellphone, earphones and a tiny crop top hoodie in my hands. Where would I have possibly have hid the box? Down my throat? She continued looking at me after I told her where she'd find it and walked out.

It was unbelievably embarrassing. Walking through the doors and having those scanners go off is far less embarrassing than being downright asked where what I had in my hand is with the notion of theft in mind.

I then came back about an hour later with my mom and my mom asked the security guard if we looked like ****** and the guard changed her story! She denied addressing me in another language, singling me out (we asked her if she asked all the customers where they left their items, and she said yes), and that she didn't think I was *****ing.

We then went to the store manager and notified her of the events.

I'd expect this from a small sideline store but not from a store where designer wear dominates the floors and elite products grace the shelves. A security guard targeting an individual with rights to walk out of a store without buying anything and embarrassing them is disgraceful. Even worse to relay such body language and questioning tone to someone minding their own business is below par. I was humiliated in a store I've always felt comfortable enough in to spend my time, hard earned money and efforts in.

Train your staff to look out for real threats. My face was fully visible, my clothing too tight to fit anything but my limbs in and I was not walking in a stance that suggests that I have something to hide!

So why was I singled out and intimidated? This has never happened to me before in my life. My demeanor was so innocent! Now I'll be over thinking EVERYTHING I do when I walk into an Edgars and their associates' stores because I could be pounced at any moment. If I hadn't responded to her would she have taken me in? Hurt me physically and embarrassed me further? I'd hate to know. All the emotional turmoil for an item that didn't even cost R50?

Utterly disgusted, disappointed and disdainful. Shame on you, Edgars.