POTENTIAL WALK IN THEIF

I decided to visit our local PEP Stores in Somerset West on Saturday morning when I was halfway in the Store one of the employees came running to me calling me, stopped me (and I must add this is month end so you can just imagine for yourself how many people are not only walking in but in the store itself) and told me that I cannot go into the store with my backpack on!!! My response excuse me?!? I was told again that I was not allowed to enter the store with my backpack, so I asked this tiny little lady who works in PEP as she had the uniform on and asked 'and these people that are carrying their handbags why are they allowed to enter the store' and she politely shook her head and said I will NOT enter the store with a backpack I even tried to open my bag so she can see what the contents were and she shook her head and would not allow me entry at all! Now please when I mention the word "backpack" I am not talking about a school backpack or the brand name type backpacks I am talking about what I use and call my "handbag" as I keep all my personal information and my purse and everything else but the kitchen sink - my backpack measuring the length 30cm in length and 24cm in width (I measured it!) could cause such a scene! I did notice a lot of ladies carrying handbags double the size of my backpack. So I just wanted to thank PEP Stores for making me feel like a ******** and humiliating me in the process. I then left the store as instructed and walked into Edgars, Foschini, Matt and May, Jet Stores and I even took the bold step and walked into a Jewellery Store American Swiss and guess what no one approached me and told me I could not enter the store because I had a backpack on. So this leaves me with the burning question was I a potential walk in ******** ready to ***** all the valuables displayed in store???? What gave it away my backpack????