[JustMtnB44]

http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2011/05/03/best-buy-employee-loses-job-after-thwarting-shoplifter/?ncid=txtlnkuscare00000002

Roger Kline, 51, lost his job last week after he tried to stop a thief from stealing about $1,600 in merchandise at the electronics retailer's store in Billings, Mont.

Kline's instincts took over, he told the Billings Gazette in detailing the March 28 incident, and instead of letting the man dash away, Kline grabbed the thief and threw him to the ground. The alleged shoplifter was arrested, charged with felony theft and awaits trial.

Kline, meanwhile, was called into his manager's office last week and handed a notice of involuntary separation. He had been fired.

Litigation in the US is out of control.



Meanwhile, in China...

Suspected shoplifter 'beaten to death by staff' at China Wal-Mart

 

[Pesqueeb]

I believe this is actually common practice amongst most retailers. Cost of merchandise typically < cost of lawsuits, wild gunfire, bad press, medical bills, etc.

 

[clarkenstein]

http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2011/05/03/best-buy-employee-loses-job-after-thwarting-shoplifter/?ncid=txtlnkuscare00000002

pansies

Suspected shoplifter 'beaten to death by staff' at China Wal-Mart

animals

 

[stoney]

The reason for the policy is, simply, employee safety, Miller says, and that extends to even store security personnel, who are often instructed not to go after shoplifters and other criminals and instead call police to deal with the matter.

I love this part the best. What is the point of even having security if they cannot do anything that their job requires?

 

[MMike]

Still better than this

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43233984/ns/us_news-life/?GT1=43001

 

[jimmydean]

I love this part the best. What is the point of even having security if they cannot do anything that their job requires?

My wife and I love this topic. She has worked in security and is about to start working in the jail. She did a ride along a few weeks ago and one of the calls was a shoplifter at the grocery store. She got to meet all the store security staff while the officer was arresting the thief.

WinCo has a similar policy of not chasing thieves, they are to ID the person and call police. Seems like a waste, but they catch damn near everybody. She said that would be an awesome job because you get to check everyone out with no physical risk of injury.

What was funny about her call is the perp has stolen from other WinCo stores, but in Beaverton they arrest and prosecute rather than site and release. The perp was NOT happy to hear this news.

 

[profro]

If I was in the position I'd hire Mr. Kline. Thanks for standing up.

 

[sanjuro]

I'm not surprised about the Chinese Walmart:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/22/nyregion/22shoplift.html

First, suspected shoplifters caught by the store&#8217;s security guards or staff members have their identification seized. Then, they are photographed holding up the items they are accused of trying to steal. Finally, workers at the store threaten to display the photographs to embarrass them, and to call the police &#8212; unless the accused thieves hand over money.

&#8220;We usually fine them $400,&#8221; said Tem Shieh, 60, the manager, who keeps track of customers on 30 video monitors in the store&#8217;s surveillance system. &#8220;If they don&#8217;t have the money, then we usually hold their identification and give them a chance to go get it.&#8221;

The practice of catching suspected shoplifters and demanding payment is an import from China, several experts in retail loss prevention said, where there is a traditional slogan that some storekeepers post: &#8220;Steal one, fine 10.&#8221; Whether this practice is legal in the United States is open to interpretation.

 

[jimmydean]

...putting up pictures in public, calling someone a thief who has never even been formally charged, that&#8217;s a violation of their civil rights.

Sucks to get caught, I guess.

 

[DaveW]

And what's the legality of the store removing and refusing to return the ID's?
Which in the case of drivers licenses and passports is the property of the state.
Pretty sure it's illegal..... I know it is waaay illegal under NZ Law.

 

[pnj]

just keep it simple.....

KILL ALL THIEVES.

 

[IH8Rice]

just keep it simple.....

KILL ALL THIEVES.

i agree....but some places dont
http://www.newsok.com/article/3572107

 

[rockofullr]

This thread is proof that not following company policy can lead to loosing your job.

I'm not surprised about the Chinese Walmart:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/22/nyregion/22shoplift.html

First, suspected shoplifters caught by the store&#8217;s security guards or staff members have their identification seized. Then, they are photographed holding up the items they are accused of trying to steal. Finally, workers at the store threaten to display the photographs to embarrass them, and to call the police &#8212; unless the accused thieves hand over money.

&#8220;We usually fine them $400,&#8221; said Tem Shieh, 60, the manager, who keeps track of customers on 30 video monitors in the store&#8217;s surveillance system. &#8220;If they don&#8217;t have the money, then we usually hold their identification and give them a chance to go get it.&#8221;

The practice of catching suspected shoplifters and demanding payment is an import from China, several experts in retail loss prevention said, where there is a traditional slogan that some storekeepers post: &#8220;Steal one, fine 10.&#8221; Whether this practice is legal in the United States is open to interpretation.

Sounds a lot like blackmail/extortion to me.

In common usage, blackmail is a crime involving threats to reveal substantially true and/or false information about a person to the public, a family member, or associates unless a demand is met.[1][2] It may be defined as coercion involving threats of physical harm, threat of criminal prosecution, or threats for the purposes of taking the person's money or property.

Sorry, one crime does not justify another and I'm willing to bet that Tem Shieh will soon discover that NY=/=China.

 

[berkshire_rider]

Best Buy's employment policies prevent employees from "pursuing shoplifters under any circumstance or using physical force to detain them" and can be fired for doing so, the Gazette reported.

I wonder if the greeter at the front door of BB is supposed to also say "have a nice day" and hold the door for the shoplifters on their way out?

 

[IH8Rice]

I wonder if the greeter at the front door of BB is supposed to also say "have a nice day" and hold the door for the shoplifters on their way out?

that rule makes perfect sense for mega corporations like BB. if that thief gets hurts in the tussle, he could very well sue BB who would possibly settle and lose a lot of money. its just not worth it for a huge company like that.

edit: big box stores have a varying amount of theft built into their monthly sales