Kaze Uta Budo Kai Forum Archive

This is sheer insanity!


MIDWEST CITY, Okla. -- A former Home Depot employee said the company fired him and three other workers because they helped police catch several suspected shoplifters in May.

Midwest City Police said the men helped officers catch suspected shoplifters as they tried to run from a store with lawn equipment.

An internal memo from Home Depot outlines that associates cannot accuse, detain, chase or call the police on any customer for shoplifting. However, one of the fired employees said the company is selective in enforcing that policy.

"The loss-prevention guy at our Shields (Boulevard) store turned around and told me all we need to do is tell the shoplifter to have a good day as they leave the store. I said that just doesn't make sense," former employee Bob Stewart said.

Stewart said what really doesn't make sense is a termination letter Home Depot gave him and three other employees after they helped police catch the shoplifters.

"We saw them with the merchandise. We saw them run out of the store. I never kept my eyes off of them," Stewart said. "Then when we asked them for a receipt, and that's when they dropped the merchandise and they kept running. One guy still had a chainsaw while he was running, and that's when the cops tackled him."

The letter said Stewart and the others were fired because they "pursued and assisted in the apprehension of suspected shoplifters."

Stewart said all he did was call police, something he's done before. Less than eight months ago, he said that he received a letter -- a commendation letter -- for helping police catch a thief trying to steal $2,500 worth of wire.

On the top of the letter, written in bold letters was "Great job, Bob."

Home Depot officials said in an e-mail to Oklahoma City TV station KOCO that they have "standard operating procedures in place for situations like this," and that "from time to time, we find inconsistent execution in our stores."

However, they added that they do not discuss personnel matters and will not comment on this specific case.

Midwest City Police Chief Brandon Clabes said he won't comment on the store policy, but said they would probably not have caught the suspects or recovered the property or the stolen car they drove if it had not been for the help of these four employees.

Clabes said he is considering giving the four men letters of appreciation for helping catch the suspects.

That sucks. I'm sure they have these rules to limit liability and avoid offending customers. Still, stopping a crime should be rewarded, especially if these guys approached it a level-headed manner by contacting poilce and not going Die Hard on the alleged shoplifters.

I'm amazed the store employees aren't even supposed to call the police. I guess I shouldn't worry about paying for stuff on my next visit.

I know Wal-Mart has a no-pursue policy on shoplifters.

It's sad when companies are so afraid of possible legal liability they refuse to do anything to stop people stealing from them.

Target was the same way. Even our asset protection team wasn't allowed to physically stop shop lifters. They could only verbally confront them.

its all down to bottom line corporate asset protection-- if it exposes the corp to a real potential for large scale liability (even if its in the right) then its far cheaper to take the small losses--
it seem counterintuitive, but its really not so different from advice like -- "if an armed mugger just wants your wallet, then the safer bet is just to give it to him."

It behooves us all to take stock in an ethical question Pat Parker posed earlier that is basically -- what is your personal cost/benefit analysis for determining when you should take a stand physically ? Have you assesed the risk/reward ratio for the less obvious senarios, the more murky provocations that might confront you? Where do you draw your own self defense line in the sand? and finally What's worth going on the offense over? more than "what are you willing to die for?" what are you willing to kill for? Where is that line and Do you recognize the different risks involved with such?
Under stress and duress of conflict or precieved threat, judgment may become impaired, so it is wise to consider such questions clearly, methodically in advance.

I'm amazed shops have policies like this, especially when cost cutting is rife at the moment. I know we have some daft law stories here in blighty (like being arrested for assaulting an armed assailant who breaks in to your home), but last I knew we still chase and apprehend shoplifters. Letting them go without even having to run really gives out the wrong message.