Posted on 06/06/2007 10:53:36 AM PDT by Cagey
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.
Trial lawyer have castrated companies with lawsuits so much that the companies are afraid to defend themselves and instead forbid employee to fight back and fire them if they do
What can you shoplift from Dennys, the greasy plates?
Fork yes
ZIG for great justice ping.
WalMart ping to absolute utter IDIOCY.............SHEESH.
EXACTLY...........to cover their *ss on liability, the customers or supposed to foot the bill for their losses.........no thanks, the local Menards is just as handy, and they do stop shoplifters............
I wonder if the policy changes if this story is all over all news sources for 5 days.
Robbery son, robbery.
My favorite story is from my brother. He worked for a major pharmacy chain and they had a policy that you could return items without a receipt. The store he worked in was in a less than desirable area and he said people would come in, take items off the shelf and bring them to the register and "return" them.
They did away with that policy.
“What I don’t understand is not notifying the police.”
I’m going to steal one of their rental trucks and load the sucker up!
More proof that we are becoming a wussy country.
There has to be more to this story. I mean it is so absurd. However they are HUGE military supporters so before you send the letter try and find out more information. I mean at least wait a few days until we find out more information....thanks.
What do you expect from a store that welcomes illegal aliens to line up in front of their store each morning as day laborers for Home Depot customers.
>>The customer service has gone to crap
Actually, the customer service is coming back, post-Naradelli. He was really a huge board of directors screw up. It will take a while to repair, though. Especially the perceptions. And stories like this don’t help their image any, with honest people who want to see crooks dealt with.
If this is their policy for employees, I wonder what it is for looters? Go ahead, take everything, you can do it! We can help! HOME DEPOT where shoplifters are welcome!
‘Which is why banks have the same policy, btw.
‘Wrong. Banks specifically train their branches to call the police, either through call buttons, money clip-triggers, or immediately phoning once the perp is leaving.’
Actually, banks FIRE EMPLOYEES that try to stop robbers.
And I’m 100% correct, perhaps you misunderstood.
I’m talking about the putative Home Depot policy that instructs employees not to notify police for shoplifting.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.