Walmart Manager Fired for Trying to Stop Theft

[Abraham]

What's to stop thieves from backing an 18 wheeler up to any Walmart and loading up with that they've not paid for and drive away - cuz hey, Walmart actually encourages theft by policy?

[steveincowtown]

What's to stop thieves from backing an 18 wheeler up to any Walmart and loading up with that they've not paid for and drive away - cuz hey, Walmart actually encourages theft by policy?

(Just wasting bandwith)

Abraham I don't think they are encouraging it by actively promoting theft form Walmart. They do however discourage theft through the use of loss prevention personnel, security tagging, security cameras, prosecuting to the fullest extent allowed by law, etc.

Before a customer exited the store our policy was (this was YEARS ago) ,if we knew what they had taken, would be to approach them and ask them if they would like an "X" to go with the "X" the just picked up. For instance I had a customer take a fishing reel. He didn't know it, but I saw it on our CC cameras. I simply walked up to him with a fishing rod in my hand and asked him if he would like a rod to go with the reel he had. This typically diffused the situation, as you weren't accusing the person of a crime...you were merely providing excellent customer service.

[Keith B]

Let me give you a good example of the old Walmart theft prevention policy. Back in about 1980 I received a call to respond to a Walmart on a shoplifter that had been detained by the theft managers. They were actually encouraged to run down shoplifters by the corporate policy.

I arrived and went into the office and a young guy was sitting there calmly. I stepped into the side room to get the story from one of the managers. They advised the individual was seen taking several packs of gum and candy from a cashier lane that was closed. When spotted he ran from the store and was pursued by the managers. They caught up with him in a wooded area behind the store. When confronted he pulled a small pocket knife on them. The managers were able to talk him into surrendering the knife and coming back to the store with them. When I found out they had done this I about flipped my lid. They should have just backed off and let the guy go. Luckily they were unharmed.

I went back in the other room and arrested the guy. He told me the managers had said they got their items back and were not going to press charges for shoplifting. I told him he was correct. He then asked what he was being arrested for? I advised he was being arrested for assault with a deadly weapon. He was then like

So, in the heat of thinking you are doing your job, a lot of times you can get a lot more than you bargained for and end up wishing you had just let them go for petty theft.

[Jaguar]

I can relate to the man's frustrations, a few years ago I got a second job at the local Walmart. Theft was so rampant it was crazy. I worked toys and sporting goods and every shift I would put at least 20 open and empty packages in the loss bin. I interrupted at least ten thefts in progress during my two months there, kids, men and women of all ages, but mostly teenagers. I walked around an isle where two teen girls were opening a CD and told them, "you can't open that" and they threw it on the floor and stomped off. We had one kid of nine years old grabbing stuff off the shelves then going to the lawn & garden area and throwing it over the fence to his mom. Working there wa making me physically sick so I decided I would work as hard at my primary job as I was at two jobs and hope to be rewarded for it. Six months after leaving Walmart I got the promotion I wanted and haven't looked back.

Yeah, I've felt like chasing some of these thieves down and beating the stuffing out of them.

[CHLLady]

Dumb move on the managers part. If he was my husband, he'd wish the driver kept going. Losing your life or getting paralyzed in an accident flying out of the bed of the truck is SO not worth a case of beer! Especially not to add to the Walton Billionaires profit. They would fire you for breaking their rules, just to get rid of you as a liability in a heartbeat, and who would care for you bedridden or wheelchair bound?

[03Lightningrocks]

Dumb move on the managers part. If he was my husband, he'd wish the driver kept going. Losing your life or getting paralyzed in an accident flying out of the bed of the truck is SO not worth a case of beer! Especially not to add to the Walton Billionaires profit. They would fire you for breaking their rules, just to get rid of you as a liability in a heartbeat, and who would care for you bedridden or wheelchair bound?

Absolutely agree. I would add another good reason they would have to fire a person. They are afraid if they don't fire you, it may encourage other employees to perform similarly.

P.S. I like the part about "If he was my husband, he'd wish the driver kept going".

[RKirkwood]

Jumping in the truck was a bad idea but he did it to keep from being run over, definitely jumping to the side would have been better.

I had a buddy who work as a manager for Circle K many years ago. He was frustrated with the company's policy of not stopping a shoplifter. If you wanted some cold beer just walk in, take it and go. It seems that we have the attitude now not to interfere anymore which to me create an environment that accepts theft, its a big company they can afford it just let them go. I lived in a country awhile ago in which the locals felt it was ok to steal from me or other expats because we made more money than them. Is this really what we want? The court system hasn't helped with just letting them off or allowing them to sue you and/or the company because you violated their rights. Since when is theft a right?

Yea insurance will cover the loss but the company has to pay for the premium which they add to the cost of the product which we end up paying in the end. Where does it stop?

God bless America

God bless Texas

Edit- Spelling

[txglock21]

I understand what everyone is saying about the liabilty issue and I agree it was a stupid thing to do. My only gripe is that firing him was a little harsh in my opinion. They could have reprimanded him or demoted him, but fired? I don't know what kind of employee he was, but it just seems overboard for someone who thought he was doing the right thing. That's all I'm saying....but this is Walmart we are talking about.

[Abraham]

RKirkwood perfectly stated what my tongue in cheek post failed to.

Because of "liability" concerns corporate America is promoting shoplifting.

Disgusting!

[texanjoker]

Walmart is still very much a hands and proactive against theft. This guy did get carried away though. I've actually seen various stores fire their employees for going after theft subjects. This one just made the paper.

[cb1000rider]

I understand what everyone is saying about the liabilty issue and I agree it was a stupid thing to do. My only gripe is that firing him was a little harsh in my opinion. They could have reprimanded him or demoted him, but fired? I don't know what kind of employee he was, but it just seems overboard for someone who thought he was doing the right thing. That's all I'm saying....but this is Walmart we are talking about.

It could have been a multi-million dollar settlement and obviously illustrates a lack of good judgement as well as a willingness to directly ignore policy. Walmart isn't exactly a star employer either. They have a lot of turn over and there are probably another 30 people who are qualified to fill that "manager" spot. In my experience, employers get more flexible with employees when they're not so easy to replace.

[CHLLady]

Dumb move on the managers part. If he was my husband, he'd wish the driver kept going. Losing your life or getting paralyzed in an accident flying out of the bed of the truck is SO not worth a case of beer! Especially not to add to the Walton Billionaires profit. They would fire you for breaking their rules, just to get rid of you as a liability in a heartbeat, and who would care for you bedridden or wheelchair bound?

Absolutely agree. I would add another good reason they would have to fire a person. They are afraid if they don't fire you, it may encourage other employees to perform similarly.

P.S. I like the part about "If he was my husband, he'd wish the driver kept going".

I'm a military wife, I supported my hubby on all missions for Our country. For Walmart? No, I draw the line.
We need him more than Walmart.