So this past summer i got caught taking candids in my neighborhood Walmart. Long story short I took a super obvious pic, security guard greeted me near the front, and I gave up my name, showed him my ID, and gave him my address. He tried to get me to show the pictures but I refused. My punishment was a 2 year ban w/ a criminal trespass warning (which I had to sign papers for and everything). Nothing got sent to my home, and nothing really happened afterwards.
This was in early August. I attend a uni in Washington DC and since then, I haven’t been anywhere near that Walmart. When my Mom asked me to go to Walmart last (near the end of summer), I went to one that was an almost extra 20 minute drive, and I just couldn’t see that being the norm with the one I got banned from being not even 10 minutes away. I’m going back home for Thanksgiving soon, and I’m just thinking about saying fuck it, popping a Covid mask on, and going only when it’s necessary. I couldn’t imagine that after so much time they remembered my face or the scenario, or that the same people still work there. I don’t have any idea how far they’re willing to go or how serious this is compared to their usual situations (such as shoplifting). I could avoid it until 2025, but that just sounds so ridiculous to me. How should I move forward?
Criminal trespass is a big risk, it’s not worth having to be arrested over. Take your loss, be smarter next time. Hopefully your situation can be a learning lesson to everyone.
Retail stores are becoming wise to creep shots. Most of the guys shooting them follow women for too long, get too close, make too many mistakes. Walmart is private property, they can ban you from their stores for any reason they want to, and can have the police remove you by force.
I mean, if you have to shop there you have to shop there. But, you made your bed - no other way around it.
If you go, you run the risk of being found out, and they can exercise their right to get authorities involved. Like your first time, it will likely be discreet and you won’t know it until it’s too late. However, there is also the chance they could give two shits and as long as you don’t do anything stupid you should be OK. When you’re doing risky shit, you’re basically yelling out for authorities to catch you - especially in a big box store.
Advice, if you have to, go there to shop. That’s it - hard lesson learned. Lay low, live to see another day. This site, nor your collection, is worth the embarrassment.
Just be glad the chick wasnt tiktok famous. ive seen too many vagina-lantes posting “creep followed me at ___, creep took pictures of my ___” its not worth the risk, especially if your live in the Burbs and people know eachother well…
I’m done creeping in stores altogether after this experience, so I definitely won’t be doing anything silly moving forward. I think if I wear a mask I’ll be fine, I couldn’t imagine that with my face partially covered and months after the incident that they’d catch me, but I’ll still avoid it as long as I possibly can. Not the end of the world though
#1 rule: only shoot in public. I prefer ext train/subway station with good light and targets waiting, not moving #2 rule: always wear a cap and hide your ID cause some targets might take pictures of you #3 rule: never shoot when boyfriend is with target #4 rule: run, if you get busted. no one will follow you except some boyfriends, see rule 3
