A Stranger Leaned In and Loudly Sniffed a Woman’s Back in Target’s Kitchen Aisle. Security Later Told Her, ‘He’s in Custody’
Disgusting to say the least.
A casual afternoon errand to pick up basic home goods is about the most mundane task imaginable. But California creator Cari’s (@cari.izaguirre) routine trip down the kitchenware aisle at her local Target allegedly turned unsettling. According to her, a complete stranger walked up and sniffed her.
In a TikTok recap, Cari detailed an alarming incident that escalated from awkward loitering to an invasive physical violation. “I just kept on looking at my stuff, and next thing you know, he walks over and he sniffs me,” Cari said. Her search for storage bowls ended with store security telling her the man had been detained.
It’s not the first time a Target aisle has turned tense because of a stranger. In another viral clip, a mom said a shopper knocked her toddler down with a cart and then lectured her instead of apologizing.
A Lingering Shopper Audibly Sniffed Cari’s Back in the Cookware Aisle
Cari explained that she entered the store with a straightforward goal: finding a set of glass food-prep bowls with matching lids. Heading straight to the kitchen section, she noticed a man idling in the aisle. He was reportedly clutching an empty orange juice carafe and repeatedly checking his mobile screen.
Meanwhile, Cari said that a Target employee was actively stocking shelves nearby. And the man’s persistent hovering began setting off subtle alarm bells. Despite feeling the strange tension, Cari continued browsing the shelves. But the man began closing the distance without warning.
Stepping up directly behind her, the stranger allegedly leaned in and took a loud, deep inhale against her spine. “It was the middle of my back. So like, here’s my back, right? And he was just like [inhales loudly] like that. And I’m just like, ‘Excuse me?’ And he’s like, ‘Oh, oh, sorry.'”
Disoriented and trying to rationalize the bizarre contact, Cari briefly wondered if the man had somehow mistaken her for an acquaintance. But she soon realized the absurdity of an unprompted inhale from a total stranger.
Store Security Intervened After the Man Allegedly Sniffed Multiple Shoppers
Unfortunately, Cari was not the only one who witnessed the violation. The Target employee stocking shelves saw the interaction occur in real time, and the two immediately exchanged stunned looks before heading straight to loss prevention.
Cari reported the encounter to store security, who thanked her for flagging the behavior and began monitoring the premises. While Cari continued browsing, security officers located and detained the suspect shortly thereafter.
Upon returning to update her, security revealed a disturbing pattern: Cari was far from an isolated case. “Just wanted to let you know he’s in custody,” security told her. According to them, several other female shoppers had approached them with identical complaints about the same man targeting them in the aisles within a narrow 45-minute window.
After she posted the video, Cari’s comment section reportedly filled with users asking if the individual was connected to a similar, widely circulated case in Burbank. Cari promptly clarified that this was an entirely different person, providing a specific description to dispel rumors and keep local shoppers alert.
She said she was relieved he was taken into custody before he could approach anyone else.
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