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Manager prevents gun theft, gets fired.

Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2018 7:46 am
by tmq40
A sporting goods store employee, who last month helped catch a suspect allegedly trying to swipe a weapon, was suspended and later lost his job at the Florida business following the incident, his lawyer said. Dean Crouch, 32, was working at the Academy Sports store in Tallahassee on June 29 when robbery suspect Jason White allegedly tried to steal a gun, the Tallahassee Democrat reported.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/07/11/ac ... -says.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This is insane. I'd imagine the stores policy of employees not "placing their hands on customers" is driven by fear of lawsuits. First of all, this was no customer, he is a thief plain and simple. More importantly, Academy Sports should be MORE concerned about a law suit from someone who's family member is murdered by the stolen handgun because they did not do enough to prevent the theft in the first place.

Re: Manager prevents gun theft, gets fired.

Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2018 8:22 am
by catfish86
There is a theory that resisting might result in injury to the employee and/or uninvolved customers. However I think this guy losing his job is way over the top. He definitely has an interesting claim for wrongful termination.

Re: Manager prevents gun theft, gets fired.

Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2018 8:39 am
by qmti
Oh, have times have changed. The criminals have more rights than the businesses do thanks to the liberal courts. When I worked in security back in the 80's/90's at a large retail store we had knock down, drag out fights at the exits and parking lots. Who got charged? The thieves did. I never lost a case, although a few were not taken up by the prosecutor. The store considered that we were doing our job. Now the policy is to let them go if they don't stop when we ASK them to. The cost of the merchandise is cheaper to mark out than a lawsuit. Of course it's better for the associate not to get injured than for the store to pay for their time off also. Society has changed.

Re: Manager prevents gun theft, gets fired.

Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2018 11:03 am
by Chuck
qmti wrote:Oh, have times have changed. The criminals have more rights than the businesses do thanks to the liberal courts. When I worked in security back in the 80's/90's at a large retail store we had knock down, drag out fights at the exits and parking lots. Who got charged? The thieves did. I never lost a case, although a few were not taken up by the prosecutor. The store considered that we were doing our job. Now the policy is to let them go if they don't stop when we ASK them to. The cost of the merchandise is cheaper to mark out than a lawsuit. Of course it's better for the associate not to get injured than for the store to pay for their time off also. Society has changed.
That all ended when that loss prevention officer body slammed that old man at Meijer's
The old man wasnt stealing

Re: Manager prevents gun theft, gets fired.

Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2018 4:13 pm
by Brian D.
Don't the big retail places now refer to theft as "shrinkage"? That in and of itself strongly suggests political correctness (at the exclusion of clarity) run amok.

Re: Manager prevents gun theft, gets fired.

Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2018 5:26 pm
by Mr. Glock
Brian D. wrote:Don't the big retail places now refer to theft as "shrinkage"? That in and of itself strongly suggests political correctness (at the exclusion of clarity) run amok.
They always have, so not a new term. It can be more than just theft.

Re: Manager prevents gun theft, gets fired.

Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2018 6:12 pm
by qmti
Chuck wrote:
qmti wrote:Oh, have times have changed. The criminals have more rights than the businesses do thanks to the liberal courts. When I worked in security back in the 80's/90's at a large retail store we had knock down, drag out fights at the exits and parking lots. Who got charged? The thieves did. I never lost a case, although a few were not taken up by the prosecutor. The store considered that we were doing our job. Now the policy is to let them go if they don't stop when we ASK them to. The cost of the merchandise is cheaper to mark out than a lawsuit. Of course it's better for the associate not to get injured than for the store to pay for their time off also. Society has changed.
That all ended when that loss prevention officer body slammed that old man at Meijer's
The old man wasnt stealing
There were three steps to follow before making a apprehension. 1. Must see item picked up and concealed/hidden/placed with other merchandise 2. Must have eye/camera contact at all times throughout the moment of individual (at anytime individual is lost sight of, ie. goes behind tandem/display/restroom etc. no stop can be made) 3. Must stop individual outside of exit doors (this is where things can go south in a hurry) to prove intent of thief. We followed these steps for a good apprehension. Evidently the Meijer's LP personnel did not follow their procedures. Shrinkage is customer theft, internal theft, receiving (dock) shortages, register shortages, invoice mistakes, and on and on.

Re: Manager prevents gun theft, gets fired.

Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2018 9:06 am
by MyWifeSaidYes
I work in retail. Customer says, "That guy just stole xxxxx!"

And I said, "Thanks."

The look I got...

It may not be the thief's property, but it's not mine, either.

Be a good witness. Note the time for checking surveillance video. File a report if your company has them. If it's really valuable and you actually see them take it, call the cops.

Re: Manager prevents gun theft, gets re-hired.

Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2018 9:00 pm
by Bruenor
After backlash - Employee rehired by Academy

https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/ ... 782368002/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Dean Crouch has been rehired as a manager at the Tallahassee location of Academy Sports + Outdoors after being fired earlier this week.

Crouch spoke to the head of the Texas-based outdoors store Friday and has been reemployed, according to his attorney.