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Supermarket Chain To Use Armed Security Teams
NewsMax ^ | 12-31-2021 | Sandy Fitzgerald

Posted on 12/31/2021 5:47:47 AM PST by blam

The Midwest grocery chain Hy-Vee is planning to place armed security guards in its stores across eight states in response to the climb of retail thefts during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The company, based in Iowa, released its plans earlier this week, and while it hasn't said there was any specific incident that led to the decision, a company official said in an interview that a growing number of retail thefts across the country led Hy-Vee to bring in armed security, reports the New York Post.

"I think across the country, we’re seeing an increase in thefts and different crimes in retail locations," Hy-Vee Vice President of Security Jamie Sipes told KYTV in Springfield, Missouri. "[We] made the decision to move forward with a forward-facing security program that includes the tools that an officer would need to keep employees and customers safe."

According to Hy-Vee, the security officers, many of whom will already have law enforcement backgrounds, are to be trained in de-escalation techniques while being "equipped to protect the safety" of both customers and employees.

"Hy-Vee has a strong history of doing anything for our customers, and these officers will be held to that same standard," said Jeremy Gosch, Hy-Vee’s president and chief operating officer, in the company's press release. "These officers will help provide another layer of safety and security for our customers, and will work alongside our store employees to deliver the same helpful smiles and outstanding service everyone expects at their local store."

The company has long worked for some time with third-party security contractors or off-duty law enforcement, but the new security team is being created so that there will be a "consistent look for the security team and consistent approach customer service and security across all of [our] stores," the company said.

(snip)

(Excerpt) Read more at newsmax.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Front Page News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: crime; gangs; hyvee; retail; smashgrab; theft
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1 posted on 12/31/2021 5:47:47 AM PST by blam
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To: blam

Hy-Vee’s buffet is wonderful.


2 posted on 12/31/2021 5:49:08 AM PST by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
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To: blam

Wonder how much they are paying these team members? Is it enough to go to prison if they dare to detain a suspect?


3 posted on 12/31/2021 5:51:39 AM PST by rbg81
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To: blam

And when it’s all said and done, the consumer will end up paying for this added cost.


4 posted on 12/31/2021 5:54:19 AM PST by CodeJockey (Think for yourself. (While it's still legal))
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To: blam

That should help reduce the cost of food. /s

Another example of the ripple effect that Democrat lawlessness has on the cost of things for poor people.


5 posted on 12/31/2021 5:58:15 AM PST by PTBAA
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Better off using German shepherds.


6 posted on 12/31/2021 5:58:45 AM PST by JonPreston (Q: Never have so many, been so wrong, so often)
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To: blam

So this article says the increase in thefts is due to covid and not bail reform, etc.
And it also fails to mention which 8 states.


7 posted on 12/31/2021 6:00:38 AM PST by axxmann (If McCain is conservative then I'm a freakin' anarchist.)
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To: blam

There is a small family owned grocery store I loved to shop at - their meats are so fresh and incredibly reasonably priced. Recently, I drove there - it is about 15 miles away - to pick up some filet mignons and was told they stopped selling them.

The ‘amish’ are stealing the fresh meats and have special clothes so that the meats are hidden through their jackets and all the way down their pant legs. They are leaving with hundreds of dollars of meat each trip and the store is helpless as if they stop them, they risk injury to themselves or to the criminals - who will most certainly sue.


8 posted on 12/31/2021 6:07:04 AM PST by Cowgirl of Justice
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To: blam

My Kroger has one every time I walk in.
I don’t know about when I walk out.


9 posted on 12/31/2021 6:07:10 AM PST by GranTorino (Bloody Lips Save Ships.)
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To: JonPreston
The criminal element tend to be overly frightened and wary of canines. So I think having German shepherds stationed at the exits in the stores is an excellent idea as they would help discourage potential burglars. Almost nobody with a couple of T-bone steaks shoved up their shirt is going to dare to get past a menacing looking German shepherd.

Also, any dog owner will tell you that canines have a knack for identifying bad people. If my dog does not like a particular person, then I become suspicious of that person as well.


10 posted on 12/31/2021 6:07:19 AM PST by SamAdams76 (I am 54 days away from outliving John Hughes)
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To: rbg81

I’d imagine they can use citizens arrest to detain (and be covered by the law).

This is an absolute indication of “Thirdworldism”...


11 posted on 12/31/2021 6:07:34 AM PST by kearnyirish2 (Affirmative action is economic warfare against white males (and therefore white families).)
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To: Cowgirl of Justice

Even when we give them “free food” via public assistance they steal more...

The permanent unassimilated underclass guarantees segregation forever - as well as “food deserts”, “IQ deserts”, etc....


12 posted on 12/31/2021 6:09:17 AM PST by kearnyirish2 (Affirmative action is economic warfare against white males (and therefore white families).)
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To: CodeJockey

Judging by the prices at their stores, customers have already been paying for the extra overhead.


13 posted on 12/31/2021 6:10:18 AM PST by jjotto ( Blessed are You LORD, who crushes enemies and subdues the wicked.)
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To: axxmann

more than 280 locations in Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and soon Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama

They have stores across eight states. Doesn’t mean guards in all eight. Pretty much any big city locations in certain states would be my guess. MN, WI &IL would be the hot spots.


14 posted on 12/31/2021 6:10:59 AM PST by Pollard (PureBlood -- youtube.com/watch?v=VXm0fkDituE)
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To: SamAdams76

Bingo.


15 posted on 12/31/2021 6:11:20 AM PST by JonPreston (Q: Never have so many, been so wrong, so often)
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To: Cowgirl of Justice

The ‘amish’ are stealing the fresh meats and have special clothes so that the meats are hidden through their jackets and all the way down their pant legs.

Gives new meaning to “rump roast”.


16 posted on 12/31/2021 6:16:59 AM PST by Flick Lives
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To: JonPreston

You are correct, German Shepherds would deter most theft in the areas in question.

BTW, increase in theft has nothing to do with the “pandemic,” as stated in the article, unless they refer to the pandemic of lawlessness.


17 posted on 12/31/2021 6:19:32 AM PST by OldCountryBoy (You can't make this stuff up!)
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To: blam
Armed security isn't going to help in California where shoplifting less than $950 of merchandise is a misdemeanor.

These stores will need to go to the Costco model where only members are allowed in. If a member gets caught stealing, their account is billed and their membership is revoked. If they show up again, they're trespassing.

18 posted on 12/31/2021 6:20:38 AM PST by T.B. Yoits
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To: blam

Thanks BLM and Democrats - you’ve officially turned us into Venezuela.


19 posted on 12/31/2021 6:23:19 AM PST by Skywise
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To: Cowgirl of Justice

Put theft protective labels on the meat in the store, then if someone leaves with the product not paid for the doors lock and law enforcement is summoned.


20 posted on 12/31/2021 6:25:27 AM PST by Shady (The #JihadJunta is now a Dictatorship, there are no more “laws..”)
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