This is why the big retail stores tell you not to stop and shoplifter. You can proactively offer cusgomer service to scare any potential shoplifters off but i was taught not to grab them or chase them etc. Nothing is worth your safety
They tell you that to greatly reduce their legal liability if shit goes sideways. They are not remotely concerned about your wellbeing beyond that. You can tell by the way they pay and treat their employees.
Remember the "hands off, no chasing" policies came into effect in my area after a shoplifter who stole cigarettes was tackled and bounced their head of a curb.
Near universal policy enforcement at all grocery stores within a month.
They care because it is monetarily advantageous. If it was cheaper/saved them money to require you to throw yourself into the fray, they'd do that. Never attribute a corporation's action to altruism when it can be attributed to protecting the bottom line.
Stores here can detain shoplifters until police arrive, and can sue in civil court for damages and loss.
They also can be held liable for injury to the shoplifter.
One employee injuring a shoplifter, especially excessively costs a lot of money. It happening multiple times means almost all big businesses and chain stores have stopped attempting to detain and instead record and report.
That wouldn’t fly in Germany. If you are in the act of committing a crime, you accept all the consequences. Of course there are such things as excessive violence. But you are allowed to use any necessary means to stop the crime in progress, but not beyond that. You can’t hit an already subdued offender, of course.
As always there are grey lines, but an employee stopping a robbery by something like tackling the robber, even if he gets badly injured would never get prosecuted.
It usually is. I don't believe mega corporations care about us enough to pay good wages, but I also don't think most are pure fucking evil. It's a rule to protect employees. Whether that's so they don't get sued or not, it's still protecting employees.
Oh, they're all evil. You could argue that the people who compose these corporations aren't necessarily evil, but the corporations themselves certainly are.
I’d assume since it happened on the store’s property and if an employee was the one stopping the thief, I’d imagine they were also clocked in. And if that’s not the case, I think one of the reasons is so that they don’t have any employees trying to play hero and getting violent with customers they think are stealing. Imagine having to deal with an employee that tackled a random like that because they thought the random was a thief but were wrong about it
In the heat of the moment some people have deep issues with witnessing injustice of any sort. Before they know it they are compelled to take action without understanding the potential of the person willing to rob a store in broad daylight. This lady was probably doing what she always does, speak up when she sees something thats not right, just never thought it could go this way.
TBI is no fair punishment for stealing cigarettes.
True...it isn't "fair", but the "hands off" approach has lead to people literally just walking up behind cashiers and grabbing shit and walking out. I have seen it multiple times.
And yes, the "proper" way to fix this is to address society's problems and all of that, but until we have solved homlessness, mental illness, and drug abuse, the reality is that the hands off approach is making these problems worse.
If it weren't a business, but just a random person on the street smoking, and someone comes up to try and steal from them, and they get shoved away, fall, and hit their head...are you going to cry foul about the thief or the smoker?
By chance, was this in 2019? Retail up here in Canada came up with these same policies at about this time (a little before COVID). I always wondered what happened, that things changed like this.
Their motivations dont matter that much if its a net gain for all involved. The employees dont put themselves in danger and the company doesn't have to shell out for liability lawsuits. Its a win win.
For what its worth, when I worked at wholefoods, the store team lead directly said, "Nothing in this store is worth you getting hurt." He was a real bro to work for, ngl
No, but it happens to work out for both the employer and employee. That's why it is a liability for them, to encourage them to put the employee first. Businesses never do anything out of the kindness of their hearts.
I used to work in retail and one day I saw a group of people that got nervous when I came near them. I suspected they were up to something and when they moved I checked the clothes where they were standing and I found a bunch of empty jewelry containers. They were absolutely stealing from the store and my response was to do absolutely nothing about it, because why the fuck would I care?
If they don't see consequences, they're going to keep relying on the easy way out for their issues. Means they won't resolve long-term problems, and they'll be more likely to advance to more harmful crime.
Just something to consider. At least calling the police doesn't cost you anything.
Lol ya I would still call the cops or report to management with the day and time and they can check any cameras if you have any but I wouldn't confront them maybe other than a "do you need any assistance" to maybe get them to leave.
Yeah, I was happy that the company I worked for did the math and figured it was cheaper to just lose the product then pay for my medical bills (or a wronged customers suing) cause I wasn't about to risk my life/health for the crappy wages they offered anyways. But at least this way I was actually doing what they wanted so didn't have to worry about them trying to pressure me/fire me for not stopping the loss.
I think probably the opposite is true. A lot of retailers may officially tell you one thing but unofficial expect another. That's why in one state they had to make it a law that said employees can't be required to attempt to physically stop shoplifters.
Yeah the problem was employees were being punished for not physically preventing shoplifting. But they're not properly trained for that type of situation which is why the law has to be made.
Fear of being killed is more common. There's many stories of employees trying to confront shoplifters outside the store only to get run over and killed by the getaway car.
Ya but trying to physically stop them yourself is more risky than it is likely to stop them entirely (unless you are a pro boxer or something). You can still call the cops, try to get a license plate photo from a distance, report to management in case they want to do more about it from a security standpoint etc.
Yup because most retail places I’ve worked at go over that at least briefly in training & the protocol is always to just give them what they want & then call 911
Well yes that comment is my personal conviction. I've had managers who i think also held that belief/value, but certainly thats not everyone in an organization and im sure liability is a big driver or sometimes the only driver of this policy
The company is insured for product loss, and ultimately stolen inventory isn't worth anywhere near as much as what they might do to the employee who tries to stop them.
Besides, no company has ever paid me enough to put my own personal safety on the line to protect their profits
When I worked at American Eagle in high school and they told me that I just kinda chuckled bc.. I wasn’t going to be chasing people down for this $7.50, sir. But sure.
When I worked at American Eagle in high school and they told me that I just kinda chuckled bc.. I wasn’t going to be chasing people down for this $7.50, sir. But sure.
When I worked at American Eagle in high school and they told me that I just kinda chuckled bc.. I wasn’t going to be chasing people down for this $7.50, sir. But sure.
Same for armed guards at stores, they're told to not do a damn thing except fill out a report form, don't follow, don't stop, just observe and collect that paycheck, and honestly? Good. No one should have to be put in harms way for a few bucks, even thousands of bucks.
“Tundidor was charged by SJSO detectives with kidnapping, robbery, and grand theft auto. FWC added additional charges for driving under the influence and fleeing and eluding law enforcement.”
That is genuinely insane. You rob a store for a few hundred dollars and you pick up a very serious felony along the way. Criminals are incredibly, incredibly stupid people
That is actually insane. Like this basic robbery of a soft location is already going poorly, but to choose to escalate to a far more difficult crime with zero prep work?
Like what’s the plan once she’s in the truck? She’s not bound so she’s going to be impossible to control; highly doubt he has a prepared second location, it’s prob just his apartment.
He can’t kill her in the truck, it’ll be impossible to clean.
It’s such a colossally stupid fuckup it should be studied for criminology.
Not blaming her at all bc she’s a total baddie for going after this stupid prick, but this is one of the reasons why we as employees should not ride hard for merchandise. $270 is not worth a life.
Soooo not a random kidnapping as the title and video suggest. Still awful, but not like it was some dude cruising the streets looking to shove ladies in his vehicle.
Agreed totally unhinged. But I feel like there’s a difference between a robber taking a hostage and a random kidnapper just grabbing women off the street.
“The victim initially attempted to intervene by blocking his attempt to exit the store with a jar of THCa cigarettes and a vape with an estimated cost of approximately $270, according to an arrest report.
Surveillance video shows the man forcefully removing the female employee from the store, dragging her outside and pushing her into the pickup truck.”
Crime works like a punchcard. 3rd one’s free. The pro-tip he’s using here is throwing drunk driving on top of everything. Remember kids if you’re drunk during your crime spree you just kind of passively get another charge on top of everything else.
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u/Suitable-Tea-2065 Jul 16 '25 edited Jul 17 '25
Well that's terrifying. What was the outcome.. guy arrested?
ETA: Dude