A video posted by a woman named Douniya has gone viral after four Zara employees at the Alderwood Mall location chased her through an entire mall and into the parking lot, accusing her of stealing a pink dress. The footage, which has gathered millions of views, tells a very different story from the one the staff members presented to police.
Security camera footage and police body cam recordings shared by Douniya show her walking out of the store without incident. A staff member then ran up behind her, blocked her path, and confronted her over the alleged theft.
As the situation escalated, the employee grabbed Douniya while she attempted to move away. The pursuit continued throughout the entirety of the mall, ending in the parking lot where staff photographed her license plate before she drove off.
Douniya pulled over shortly after and called the police herself. Officers searched her car, her purse, and her person and found no Zara merchandise. The only pink item found was a hooded baby blanket, something the store does not sell.
Body cam footage captured the staff reviewing security footage in a back room while speaking with an officer. When told that police found nothing in Douniya’s vehicle, one employee suggested she must have gotten rid of the item. Another claimed the merchandise had been hidden under a jacket on Douniya’s arm, then admitted: “I didn’t see.”
The staff member who had physically confronted Douniya later denied making any intentional contact. The footage, however, clearly shows her grabbing Douniya mid-chase, causing Douniya to nearly fall after colliding with an object on the wall.
A responding officer made an observation about the store: “I don’t necessarily agree with how they handle things at all whatsoever and we deal with them all the time. Unfortunately, they do this quite often. Their employees act as their lost possession.”
Douniya has since filed assault charges against the employees, while the store has filed a theft charge that remains pending. Zara has issued no public statement.
Google reviews for the Alderwood Mall location reveal a pattern of similar complaints. One reviewer wrote: “Worst experience ever. No one greets you, but as soon as the alarm goes off, they chase people down, all to find they forgot to take off sensors.”
Another described being chased and searched while heavily pregnant after an item was accidentally missed at the register. A separate reviewer described being forced to empty her bag inside the store following a false accusation.
Comments across Douniya’s videos claim the employees involved have since been let go, though no official confirmation has surfaced.
