A branch of the low-price department store Pepco in Poland has been compelled to make an apology after video footage revealed that staff had locked customers in against their will.
A prosaic bout of pre-holiday shopping came to an abrupt halt at an outlet of Pepco in Szczecin, northwest Poland, when the branch manager decided that a thief was in operation in the building.
Around forty people were apprehended in the store, with all exits locked.
Video footage revealed anxious mothers pleading that their toddlers be allowed to answer a call of nature, whilst others complain that they are late for meetings. In spite of complaints by shoppers, no exceptions were made.
Half an hour elapsed before security arrived on the scene. No charges have been brought for theft, and it appears that the alarm was spurious.
Video evidence recorded by mobile phone has now prompted the firm to make an apology. Operational Director of Pepco Poland Marcin Stanko has admitted that the measures taken were inconsistent with procedures for apprehending shop-lifters.
“In the course of our ten-year-development of the firm (counting 250 shops in Poland) no similar incident has ever happened,” Stanko told the gs24.pl web site.
Unlawful imprisonment is technically punishable by a minimum 3 month sentence in Poland. Pepco is now offering the maltreated shoppers a belated Christmas present involving vouchers for the store to the value of 250 zl (65 Euro). (nh/pg)