Posted on 07/08/2005 10:32:59 AM PDT by flashbunny
THE HOME DEPOT STORY
Here's the email about the shoplifting arrest at Home Depot:
Charlie,
My local Home Depot store had arrested my son for shoplifting. They claim he stole a $9.90 skill saw blade. Let me give you a little more background. My son is 29 yrs old, he had just purchased my house for his family, and I told him to go to Home Depot and buy whatever he needed to make changes to the house and charge it to my Home Depot credit account. We figured two to five thousand dollars should be enough to get it ready for his wife and kids. This was his third major purchase. This purchase totaled $868.00.
While shopping at this Home Depot store, he was using a large push cart, not the kind with the basket but the kind with the flat bottom, because he was planning on buying kitchen cabinets and related items. When he arrived at the checkout line a clerk came over, and said he could help him at a different register. My son assumed it was because he had such a large order, it would speed up other shoppers checking out. As the clerk began scanning the items he notices a crack in one of the crown moldings and suggested my son get a different crown molding, which my son did. When my son got back the clerk scanned the molding and gave my son the receipt to sign.
As my son was leaving the store, he went through the detectors and the alarm sounded. My son stopped, asked the clerk if everything was checked out. To which the clerk nodded yes and motioned for my son to leave. My son left the store, unloaded the items into a truck, and was returning the push cart to the cart corral when he was grabbed by the shoulder and told he was being arrested for shoplifting. He replied that there must be some mistake, and was told that since he didn't know how to pay for the saw blade he sure knew how to unload it. My son still didn't understand but figured he go back in and get this straightened out. The West Allis police were called and he was arrested for shoplifting a $9.90 saw blade after spending $868.00 on other items. Remember this was all going on my charge account and he wasn't paying for anything, so why would he care about another ten bucks. He would have spent another hundred if he could have fit it on the cart.
What's the big deal about a shoplifting ticket? You pay the $262.00 and forget about. Right? Not in this case. You see my son was medically discharged from the Air Force. He qualifies as a service-disabled veteran and as such also qualifies for certain small business government set-asides. He has started a small business, as a distributor and prime contractor, and had started servicing his first government contract as of 1 July 05. He has at least two dozen current proposals for other contracts in the works. Future contracts will require a Top Secret clearance, which will be impossible to get if his record contains a shoplifting arrest. He is currently negotiating the installation of a video surveillance system for a military installation. What if they check his record and find a shoplifting arrest?
So we decide we have to hire a lawyer to initially try to clear this up. We're a thousand buck into it and we really can't afford more, but it will cost more. If we decide to sue for false arrest our legal bill will be over $20,000(A rough figure given by an attorney). Those hours add up at over $300/Hr. This will not be a high judgement case so it's not very attractive to most attorneys. Any suggestions?
John Gaidosh
I don't like Home Depot because they treat even the honest customer like a criminal. When I check out, I want to leave. But at Home Depot I have to keep my reciept out and wait for the rent-a-cop at the door to check my order to make sure I'm not stealing anything.
I know that there are a lot of stores that do the same thing, but my local building supply store is happy to have my business, and treats me with respect.
And, you know what? The service is better, the products of higher quality, and the prices are just as good. "Home Depot, Low Prices Just At the Beginning" is how the jingle should go. After they drove all the other home centers out of the market, the prices went right back up.
Next time I need someone to guess for me, I'll keep you in mind.
It was quicker and easier to get the EXACT location from someone who knew the answer, and didn't have to guess. I didn't even know which State West Allis is in.
No you are not done with Home Depot. After you have sued them for 'entrapment', then you will be done with Home Depot.
Since Home Depot sided with the real a criminal (the clerk) in this mess, then they should be made to pay.
Absolutely right. $300 dollar per hour is for top lawyers in top markets. this is to defend against a minor crime, basically, and to negotiate a way out of it to preserve this vet's potential benefits.
What would I do? I hope I don't have to put it to the test.
I THINK I'd have first calmly asked to speak with the manager, and reasoned - just as you have - and tried to get the charges dropped. Has the discussion escalated to "harsh words" between the management and your son? Innocent or not, being a bad-@$$ isn't too smart especially when you're caught with your pants down. SOME would say they'd have the upper hand and your prosecution will "learn ya."
Barring that's success and the continuance of charges being drawn, I'd demand my attorney view the video tape - especially if it were to be used as evidence against me.
Last, if I were reasonably sure of my innocence, I would put the case before twelve jurors with the stipulation that Home Depot would be countersued for all associated damages in treble should I prevail.
Remember, being charged with a crime doesn't ever automatically invoke guilt, unless it's there to begin with.
She was only two and when I went back in to pay, the lady said she saw her carry it out and just decided to let her have it. She knew what had happened.
HD = Homely & Dumber
It gets hokier and hokier...
If you read the whole thread, there's a radio station that's covering the story, and they have a copy of the police report in addition to the e-mail. And it's hard to call an e-mail "anonymous" when it includes a person's full name and city.
I'm with you, I don't think we're getting the whole story here.
Hey, you leave Virginia Tech out of this! This is more like the M.O. of the FSU Seminoles.
Sorry! I forget we are a diverse society here.
I think someone is looking to sue an evil corporation rather than resolve this. Just my opinion.
We have a new Home Depot less than one mile away. Whether this story is true or not, I would like to know how it turns out. These chain stores are all built the same, and I don't like going in stores anyway unless I have to.
I always shop at a local home-owned hardware store which is at least 2 miles away. For everything. If they don't have it, so far I've ordered on the net.
My last purchase a couple of months ago was a nice, self-propelled Toro lawn mower which was under $400. I love it. Maybe I could have saved a few bucks over at the new Home Depot. I don't care.
If my lawn mower needs service, my local hardware store has a wonderful service department; they'll honor the warranty, and if it goes beyond the warranty, they will fix it at a very reasonable charge.
And my little hardware store probably sells some Chinese stuff, too. Can't be helped. They come up with some of the neatest little things and gift items the big box stores probably don't have at reasonable prices.
Shopping there is much easier for me, and you can always get help. I've fixed plumbing and other things they taught me how to do, free.
If the police did not make the arrest and the store rent-a cops tried it, after the ass-whipping they would take from me I'd be arrested on assault charges not accidental theft.
I hope something like this doesn't happen to me or mine, but I had a friend who took on the city and acted on her own behalf against the city lawyer and won over a landfill dispute. She was tenacious. I admire her for that.
no, as has been posted on the thread by me, it's also based on the police report, which the radio station has a copy of.
I'm guessing the story is not as simple as is being portrayed.
1. no, not my son. I don't know why people get that impression - maybe they just don't have good reading comprehension skills. This is an email sent to a very popular radio talk show host.
2. It is verifiable,it has been verified by the radio station - the hosts and the news department - by obtaining a copy of the police report.
Someone from Cow Tech gettin an attitude. LOL
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