A Washington woman’s shopping trip to Zara ends in drama after she is wrongfully chased by the store’s employees, who suspected her of shoplifting. A former Lululemon manager from Charlotte, North Carolina, is weighing in on the situation.
TikTok creator Alex (@lextalktoomuch) discussed her opinion of what happened to Douniya (@itsdouniya) in April at Alderwood Mall in Lynnwood, Washington. Douniya chronicled how she was pursued all the way to her vehicle after leaving Zara. The issue? She hadn’t stolen anything.
“We’re only seeing the Zara footage because she pressed charges and/or sued the [expletive] out of them,” Alex says to start her video. “That’s the only reason we’re seeing it.”
Alex explains that she used to be a Lululemon manager for approximately three years. “And I’ll tell you right now, everybody got a ‘no chase’ policy,” she says. “Everyone has one. This exact same thing happened at one of the Lulus in Atlanta, and those girls did get fired, and they got their crazy tails on the news talking about, ‘We got fired for protecting the store.’ No, you got fired because it clearly states, ‘Do not chase people.’”
What Is a ‘No-Chase’ Policy in Retail?
In previous eras, stores treated suspected shoplifters more aggressively. Lately, however, many retailers have implemented “no chase” policies intended to protect staff and other patrons from violence. That decision coincides with both an increasingly professional class of thieves and sophisticated internal surveillance systems.
And there’s another good reason for these policies: Sometimes shoppers like Douniya are accused wrongfully, and that can cost retailers big time in legal fees. In 2021, for instance, an Alabama woman received a $2.1 million settlement from Walmart after being falsely accused of shoplifting. A year later, an Oregon man won $4.4 million after being racially profiled in a Walmart by employees.
Douniya’s video shows not only her being pursued as she leaves Zara but also being followed as she gets into her car. Although the employees appear to briefly surround her car, Douniya is able to maneuver out of the parking space. She remained in the vicinity and called the police.
Former Lululemon Manager Weighs in on Zara Video
Back to Alex’s take on the situation. “In the Zara video, I’m not gonna lie, that lady is better than me,” she jokes. “I would have ran all four of them heifas over. This is crazy for a number of reasons.”
She continues, “As a manager, I used to always tell people, if people are bold enough to steal from you in broad daylight … they’re already crazy. What makes you think they’re not crazy enough to whoop your [expletive]?”
Alex says she also believes the security footage from the mall had to have come from law enforcement or through legal proceedings.
“Not only are we watching the mall security footage; we’re watching the police body cam,” she says. “Charges, pressed. That discovery came through. And it’s probably coming to light now … because a settlement is already on its way.”
What Will Happen to the Zara Employees?
She says, based on her experience, she believes the employees involved are either unemployed or on suspension pending an investigation by Zara into that specific store.
“And this is the thing: Black people don’t call the police enough, and we don’t sue the [expletive] out of people enough,” she says. “I promise you that they have done this before, and no one has ever said [expletive]. I wouldn’t have even thought to take off running. To take off running knowing you didn’t steal nothing is so funny. But the fact that they actually followed her? Y’all are dumb. Y’all fell for the play, and I need that check. I need it.”
In conclusion, Alex says, “She let them get out the way a little bit. She pulled off, called the police on them, and stayed on the property. She did everything right. Take notes.”
AllHipHop contacted Douniya via TikTok direct message and Alex via email for comment. We also contacted Zara’s parent company, INDITEX, via press email for comment. We will update this story if any party responds.
@lextalktoomuch Thinking on your feet a skill that will get you a CHECK #lextalktoomuch #zara ♬ original sound – AlexusIman🤍