Caught at Woden. I’ve seen this happen too many times, and neither the guards nor the sales staff are paid enough to have to deal with this.
Hopefully this will serve as a warning to potential shoplifters – don’t do it.
And if you’re stupid enough to try and you’re caught, cop it on the chin. Don’t run and struggle, putting the safety of others at risk.
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Every Thursday afternoon, we package up the most-read and trending RiotACT stories of the past seven days and deliver straight to your inbox..(Didn’t get the initial confrontation but the rest including a stupid escape attempt at 2:05)
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What’s Your opinion?
The long arm of store security in Woden
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gooterz said :
If you refuse to leave the centre after a security officer asks you to, you may be viewed as a trespasser. The security officer may then use reasonable force to remove you from the centre. The security officer may make a citizen’s arrest if you resist his/her lawful efforts to remove you from the centre.
Basilbrush said :
The last part made me LOL. People on the internet ALWAYS tell the truth.
Henry82 said :
You can only use reasonable force to arrest someone.
Fairly sure that being on some land doesn’t give the right to physically tough you, only if they arrest you for a crime, in which case they’d take you to the police and not just escort you out.
You can only really use force in self defence or to protect property. I dare say that taking a photo isn’t really damaging to property.
buzz819 said :
they can still ask you to leave the area, and use reasonable force to remove you.
Not sure why this is turning into a debate about filming rights in public places.
For the record, this footage was made available to Westfield and through them Police before it was given to RA.
Deref said :
Once saw a flash mob in Westfield Woden up near the supermarkets, with one guy filming it. Westfield security went up to him and told him they couldn’t film there. Mob was gone in a flash.
Frustrated said :
Of course having a sticky beak recording it and posting it on YouTube for our edification is completely different…
bearlikesbeer said :
While it may be “private property” any place that is open to and used by the public, whether payment is required for entry or not, is a public place.
bearlikesbeer said :
It’d be great to see a flash mob organised with hundreds of people all taking photos in Woden Plaza!
Tooks said :
A camera is just a prosthetic set of eyes and memory, your allowed to go in and look around but not allowed to remember it?
Are they also disallowing people with photographic minds too?
One reason to photo in a shop is to take pictures of what your buying. Its easier to get a better price elsewhere if you have a photo of the price.
The main reason places ban photography is that it can be used to expose bad practices. Like if fire doors are covered, things you could potentially sue over if anything happens.
Perverts are illegal anywhere, so I can’t see why that is an excuse
Basilbrush said :
So, you’ve been on the internet before this?
I enjoy taking photos. Do I need a better reason? I mostly take photos of the food in Westfield Woden. I also take photos of poor parking attempts, funny signs, people in silly hats, advertisements for specials my wife might be interested in, and sometimes incidents like in the video above.
What other types of people take photos and videos in shopping centres? Lots. Westfield employees are big fans of the activity, too. They have cameras everywhere. Just look up. They even record images of other people’s kids (which sounds kinda creepy).
bearlikesbeer said :
Trying to think of a reason why you are repeatedly taking photos/videos in shopping centres…
I’m sure there’s a good reason, but consider this: what other types of people take photos and videos in shopping centres?
Westfield Woden is private property. Westfield Woden has a photography policy. Westfield security has approached me on several occasions and directed me to stop taking pics within the centre, and to delete any photos/video I’ve taken (on my phone). Westfield is well within its rights to enforce its photography policy, but I think ordering people to delete photos/videos is a bit rich. Each time I’ve refused Westfield security’s direction to delete pics I’ve been escorted out.
buzz819 said :
Well yes I did actually….why would I then write something not true?
gooterz said :
Be interesting to see them try and stop someone filming.
Basilbrush said :
Yeah, I’m sure that is exactly what happened?
You stood and listened to the entire conversation etc?
gooterz said :
Ok, so how now you are saying that shop keepers should take the role of moving people they have caught stealing into the security room, without calling for security to attend? Also that people should be dragged to that room regardless, without been given the chance of “coming along” nicely?
They let someone film most of it… I’m pretty sure you will find the WHOLE thing was filmed by centre closed circuit television systems AND it was in a public place, so how could they stop someone from filming it?
I saw a young kid at the Gungahlin shopping centre steal a phone from one of the shops and was caught by the centre security…..and the police arrived and let him go coz security were too rough with him. What the? He then walked off laughing.
buzz819 said :
Once they caught him everyone just walked away. If you arrest someone you call the cops first thing not the Mall rent a cops. Then you get more than just one person to stand next to the thief.
Most places have a security room that can be locked until them cops arrive. It all just looked sloppy and they let someone film most of it.