One of my first jobs was with a convenience store and we were told the cops were entitled to free coffee, pastries and whatever else they wanted because police hanging out were considered theft deterence. I would have told the customer that, if it would help, I would be glad to poke that customer’s eye out so he didn’t have to look at the mean police people but they are doing us a service being in the store.
As a security guard with a blue police style shirt and a big brass badge looking thing I was welcome in the 7-11 I hung out in before work and my presence for half an hour or so did noticeably cut down on shoplifting. When some scrounge would walk in with an oversize field jacket on I would follow him around the store and he would give me a look and leave.If I saw someone at the gas pump keep looking up at the window I went out there and stood behind his car writing on my pad. He would put the handle back to the pump and go inside to pay the 50 cents he had got. Etc. I had fun and the store had a little bit less loss.