Why I will never shop at a Home Depot again.

[jamesrage]

I would think something like this would have only happened in a really liberal place.I do not think stopping shoplifters should be a firing offense at any place.I guess I will only shop at other hardware and home improvement stores from now on.

http://www.koco.com/news/13441545/detail.html
Man Says Home Depot Fired Workers For Catching Thieves

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.

[cannon_fodder]

I saw that.  Most stores have loss policies that are a joke.  Employees know many of the shoplifters by name (if not their real name, they at least have nicknames for them and recognize them).  They know who they are, they know what they are doing, and they know how they are doing it.  Yet they are not allowed to stop them.

This problem grows when a store has two or more locations in a metro.  Steal from one and return at the other store.  Get a gift card if you must - and then ebay the gift card for near face value.

Store employees have a shopkeepers privilege to detain someone they suspect of theft for a reasonable period of time.  In a mall or at a home depot it would not take long for security to come and help out and quickly get the police involved.  Instead, they let jackasses steal and make up the loss by charging the rest of us more.

[tim huntzinger]

THE Home Depot, y'mean.  Well, THE Home Depot has rules, and if employees break the rules . . . But why the rule to begin with? Because some vicious SOB is bound to choke a shoplifter to death and place the Co. in far worse financial condition than if'n the cracklehead and been able to git away.

[Conan71]

Tim, I think that's exactly the point.  They'd rather take the merchandise loss instead of an employee being hurt, or a shoplifter suing them for being beat-up by an employee jacked-up on adrenaline.

Anyone remember the young store clerk shot and killed at the Albertson's at 41st & Peoria when he chased a guy out who'd pinched a 12 pack of beer?  When was that, about 5-7 years ago?  His life was worth more than $8 worth of beer.

[bugo]

quote:Originally posted by Conan71

Anyone remember the young store clerk shot and killed at the Albertson's at 41st & Peoria when he chased a guy out who'd pinched a 12 pack of beer?  When was that, about 5-7 years ago?  His life was worth more than $8 worth of beer.

Someone stole a 12 pack of 3.2 beer?  That is sad.

[Ibanez]

quote:Originally posted by Conan71

Tim, I think that's exactly the point.  They'd rather take the merchandise loss instead of an employee being hurt, or a shoplifter suing them for being beat-up by an employee jacked-up on adrenaline.

Anyone remember the young store clerk shot and killed at the Albertson's at 41st & Peoria when he chased a guy out who'd pinched a 12 pack of beer?  When was that, about 5-7 years ago?  His life was worth more than $8 worth of beer.

Not really. A thief is a thief is a thief no matter the amount of $ or merchandise they steal. To me the life of a thief is worthless.

[Conan71]

quote:Originally posted by wavoka

quote:Originally posted by Conan71

Tim, I think that's exactly the point.  They'd rather take the merchandise loss instead of an employee being hurt, or a shoplifter suing them for being beat-up by an employee jacked-up on adrenaline.

Anyone remember the young store clerk shot and killed at the Albertson's at 41st & Peoria when he chased a guy out who'd pinched a 12 pack of beer?  When was that, about 5-7 years ago?  His life was worth more than $8 worth of beer.

Not really. A thief is a thief is a thief no matter the amount of $ or merchandise they steal. To me the life of a thief is worthless.

Unfortunately, it wasn't the thief that was killed, it was the clerk.

[cannon_fodder]

You're right Tim, that is why the policy is in place.  I suppose the company made the financial decision to avoid the situation you described.  I do not know what policy could avoid the danger, but its too bad we have to pay for the crimes committed by there idiots.

The more widespread this knowledge becomes, the more the problem will grow.  Without fear of getting caught can you imagine? [!]

[jamesrage]

quote:Originally posted by Conan71

Tim, I think that's exactly the point.  They'd rather take the merchandise loss instead of an employee being hurt, or a shoplifter suing them for being beat-up by an employee jacked-up on adrenaline.

Anyone remember the young store clerk shot and killed at the Albertson's at 41st & Peoria when he chased a guy out who'd pinched a 12 pack of beer?  When was that, about 5-7 years ago?  His life was worth more than $8 worth of beer.

One could argue that it is a safety issue and lawsuit issue but, how do they explain the employees can not accuse shoplifters of stealing nor can they call the cops on shoplifters?

[sgrizzle]

You can't accuse them of shoplifting for the lawsuit angle as well. Calling the police on someone is the same as accusing them.

It's better to let people run off with stuff than to face a lawsuit.

[MichaelC]

Only really big companies can get away with that.  Try stealing something from Midtown Hardware, see if they let you run away with it.  It's not just a lawsuit issue, it's also a publicity issue.  

On the other hand, Walmart wants it's employees to kill shoplifters.  Might say something about the clientel.  Go figure.

[Conan71]

quote:Originally posted by MichaelC

Only really big companies can get away with that.  Try stealing something from Midtown Hardware, see if they let you run away with it.  It's not just a lawsuit issue, it's also a publicity issue.  

On the other hand, Walmart wants it's employees to kill shoplifters.  Might say something about the clientel.  Go figure.

Trying to say you might get a free demo of a sledge hammer if you try to rip-off Midtown?