Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

AutoZone employee fired after taking action against “Fake Beard Bandit”
WTKR-TV ^ | 11/20/2012 | Darragh Frye

Posted on 11/30/2012 6:31:11 AM PST by B Knotts

York County, Va. – The man dubbed the “fake-beard bandit” has hit more than 30 businesses on the Peninsula. Each time, the MO is the same: He walks in, flashes a gun and takes off with the cash. But this time, an AutoZone employee decided he was going to take action! “I was in fear of my life as soon as he walked through the door and I see the gun. Your heart just starts pounding,” says Devin McClean, a former Auto Zone employee. Devin McClean decided to take action after recognizing the Fake Beard Bandit. “I waited for him to go up toward the front, I ran out of the restroom, ran out to my truck where I keep my own personal weapon, grabbed my weapon, came back into the store and confronted the guy,” says McClean. “When I yelled “freeze” and I said “Stop, drop the weapon,” he threw his hands up with his gun still in his hand he started running,” says McClean. “I felt like it was my responsibility to step in.” Devin’s manager is grateful. “He was like “Thank you Devin, you really saved my life,” says McClean. Two days later, he was fired. “It’s pretty much getting slapped in the face doing something that you feel was right everybody else around you feels you were right,” says McClean. NewsChannel 3 spoke to a representative at AutoZone’s corporate office, and he says that the company has a zero tolerance policy for employees having weapons inside the store. “If I can save somebody’s life, I put that way above a store policy,” says McClean.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; US: Virginia
KEYWORDS: autozone; banglist; beard; fired; workplace
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-43 next last
Another one of these cases. Don't think I'll be doing business with Autozone.
1 posted on 11/30/2012 6:31:19 AM PST by B Knotts
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: B Knotts

No business and I wouldn’t work for anyone who didn’t back me up
in any situation.


2 posted on 11/30/2012 6:33:35 AM PST by TribalPrincess2U (0bama's agenda—Divide and conquer. FREEDOM OR FREE STUFF- YOU GET ONE CHOICE, CHOOSE WISELY)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: B Knotts

Boycote AutoZone stores!


3 posted on 11/30/2012 6:35:36 AM PST by DaveA37
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: B Knotts

Whatever happened to “if it saves just one life.....”?????


4 posted on 11/30/2012 6:35:36 AM PST by NRA1995 (CNN should be PNN (Propaganda, Never News))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: B Knotts
"Fake Beard Bandit"

Michelle Obama tried to rob an autozone?

CC

5 posted on 11/30/2012 6:41:24 AM PST by Celtic Conservative
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: B Knotts
NewsChannel 3 spoke to a representative at AutoZone’s corporate office, and he says that the company has a zero tolerance policy for employees having weapons inside the store.

'Zero tolerances' always means 'zero thinking.'

But since legislatures have yet to see fit to actually extend self defense shield laws to cover companies, I can understand why Autozone would set such a policy. The root problem isn't the company's policy, but the out of control courts where this robber could turn around and sue the store for scaring him by an employee drawing a weapon while he's robbing the store with a firearm.

6 posted on 11/30/2012 6:46:43 AM PST by kingu (Everything starts with slashing the size and scope of the federal government.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Celtic Conservative

” “Fake Beard Bandit”

Michelle Obama tried to rob an autozone? “

LMAO!


7 posted on 11/30/2012 6:48:45 AM PST by stephenjohnbanker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Celtic Conservative

Why would you assume Michelle’s beard is fake?


8 posted on 11/30/2012 6:53:46 AM PST by nevergore ("It could be that the purpose of my life is simply to serve as a warning to others.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: B Knotts
The guys name is Mr. McClean?

+ ?

9 posted on 11/30/2012 6:54:00 AM PST by Boogieman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: B Knotts

God bless this young man for taking a stand! Hopefully he’ll get a job offer from a competitor.

I know exactly where that Autozone store is located. For fellow FReepers in Hampton Roads, it’s the one on the west side of Hampton Highway (Rt 134) near the intersection of Big Bethel Road. I strongly recommend avoiding patronizing this and all other Autozone stores.


10 posted on 11/30/2012 6:55:12 AM PST by ScottinVA (I've never been more disgusted with American voters.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: B Knotts

Autozone just lost this customer.


11 posted on 11/30/2012 7:01:09 AM PST by bgill (We've passed the point of no return. Welcome to Al Amerika.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nevergore
No, Michelle's beard is real, but she is also Obamas "beard"

grin grin, wink wink, nudge nudge, SAY NO MORE!

CC

12 posted on 11/30/2012 7:02:07 AM PST by Celtic Conservative
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: B Knotts
As an aside, can anyone remember the last time they heard of an armed robbery at an auto parts store?

This is just a taste of what is to come, I'm afraid.

13 posted on 11/30/2012 7:02:39 AM PST by Charles Martel (Endeavor to persevere...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bgill

They lost this one too, and hopefully many more.


14 posted on 11/30/2012 7:03:39 AM PST by ScottinVA (I've never been more disgusted with American voters.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: kingu

‘Zero tolerances’ always means ‘zero thinking.’

********************

Agreed. It leads to appalling injustices and inanities. Exceptions to rules are necessary in exceptional circumstances.


15 posted on 11/30/2012 7:05:14 AM PST by Psalm 144 ("I didn't the Democratic Party. The party left me." Ronald Wilson Reagan)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: bgill
Lost me too and I just told them why!

https://www.autozone.com/autozone/contactus/generalComments.jsp?landingPageCategory=inOurStores&title=generalcomments

16 posted on 11/30/2012 7:06:44 AM PST by Errant
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Boogieman
The guys name is Mr. McClean?

No, it was McLean - one leg is shorter than the other one.

17 posted on 11/30/2012 7:08:05 AM PST by Quality_Not_Quantity (Liars use facts when the truth doesn't suit their purposes.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: B Knotts

“If I can save somebody’s life, I put that way above a store policy,” says McClean.

**************************

Something tells me he is going to get a better job real soon.


18 posted on 11/30/2012 7:09:56 AM PST by Psalm 144 ("I didn't the Democratic Party. The party left me." Ronald Wilson Reagan)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Progov

Get outta the zone... Autozone..

kinda has a nice ring to it.


19 posted on 11/30/2012 7:10:55 AM PST by cableguymn (The founding fathers would be shooting by now..)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Psalm 144

I hope he does get a better job from this.

A friend of mine runs an Advance Auto Parts store, as well as the store being an I.T. client of mine. The store is located in a decent yet lower-class town, and is on the wrong side of the tracks for sure.

This place has scary situations _daily_. I don’t know what it is about a parts store that gets people so boiled. Be it a wrong part, or just that the clerk can’t understand what their problem is. Either way, I’ve witnessed things get out of hand (reaching over the counter to grab a clerk, knocking over displays, loud threats and breaking things).

His employees, as well as himself, are not allowed to have any weapon. Between them all, they have decided that the policy isn’t worth their lives.


20 posted on 11/30/2012 7:15:56 AM PST by Celerity
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-43 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson