Wal-Mart shoplifter death

[Hawkins]

A shoplifter died 24-hours after being subdued in the parking lot of the Wal-mart Supercenter on Admiral this week.

I believe this needs to be discussed and put out there so that Wal-Mart takes some action to correct this situation.

I wouldn't have taken so close a look at this story but for the fact that I have seen first-hand just how poor Wal-mart security is.

I was entering the 81st & Lewis Supercenter one night, just as security was stopping someone from leaving with a stolen 30" LCD TV.

At first I just kept walking into the store, but had to turn around and watch when I heard the arguing turn into a full-out fight.

A large, metal magazine rack got slammed to the ground inside the entry-way, right in the middle of the mini-arcade. Luckily, there were no kids playing there at the time.

The security guard failed to cuff the shoplifter, succeeding only in pinning him up against a metal parking stump just outside the door, and back-up security arrived to keep him pinned there.

A large crowd began to form to see what was happening, and many more verbal exchanges insued. Then an elderly greeter lady employee approached the crowd and said, "Ya'll go and shop now, there ain't nothin' to see here."

That only drew a few laughs.

It was pretty crazy, and at anytime the crowd could have been put in serious danger if this shoplifter had been armed.

The LCD TV sat safely inside the entry-way as this went on for several more minutes before the suspect's wife appeared and talked him into surrendering to the security guards.

Now I have no sympathy for shoplifters, but there comes a point where a business has to weigh the pros and cons of extended pursuit of a shoplifter, particularly when the merchandise has already been recovered.

That's how I see it, and for the wages the average Wal-Mart employee makes, I can't understand why any of them would put themselves in danger over store products.

But... I've also seen those store meetings they have at Sam's Club, so my theory on that is that they do a good job of actually semi-brainwashing their employees into feeling as though they are a major part of the corporation.

They need to restructure their security policies, or preferrably hire off-duty uniformed police if they are that worried about shoplifting losses, IMO.

[rwarn17588]

Wal-Mart hire additional security personnel? Ha! They're too cheap to do that.

[BKDotCom]

Actually, I've read that walmart has a very lenient policy..  If the value of what the shoplifter's lifting is under $25 (it might be $50, anyhow, somewhere in there), the store will just let the suspect go, no charges filed.  It's just not worth their time/money to pursue.

[si_uk_lon_ok]

I used to work in a supermarket when I was a student and I always thought the policy was never to run after or confront shop lifters due to the risks involved.

Can't say I'm surprised by that story though, I didn't work for Walmart.

[sgrizzle]

I think there is lenient and then their is stupid. Wal-mart obviously has picked where there line is. If every shoplifter is set free after they release the merchandise, then why wouldn't you steal? That would mean everytime the guy picks up a TV, he either gets away with it, or leaves the TV. No consequences.

In this particular story, what proof do you have he only took a TV? Were his pockets full of DVD's? Was security 100% sure he had dropped everything?

[Ibanez]

So a criminal died....no big loss.

[mdunn]

first of all if I was a shoplifter,I would have to set my sights a little higher than shoplifting at a store that you can buy a television for 99 cents!I can imagine the embarrassment of stealing from the cheapest store in world(Well maybe dollar store has them beat!)But then again thats the type of customers wally world attracts anyway!

[Hawkins]

What proof do I have that he only took a TV?? That's what the security guard stopped him for, I heard the exchange.

What happened next was dangerous, the guard should have been better trained to handle the guy or should have had back-up when he made contact with the guy.

A similiar incident went down at Super Target over some DVDs, and an employee and a shopper who tried to help were stabbed. Since then, that store--I can tell you from being there several times--has certainly upgraded its security personnel and policies.

Walmart needs to do the same. Their $7 an hour security guards are terrible and use poor judgement. In this latest incident at the Admiral Supercenter a shoplifter died.

Shoplifters deserve jail time, but not execution. What if this happened to one of your teenage children, or worse yet happened to someone over a case of mistaken identity?

[sgrizzle]

Every Wal-Mart guard I've seen has been a uniformed Tulsa police officer (not counting the plainclothes people).

[BKDotCom]

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle
That would mean everytime the guy picks up a TV, he either gets away with it, or leaves the TV. No consequences.

Most TVs are worth more than $50.  Keep it under the limit, and yes, no consequences.   Well, they do "ban" you from the store.

[cannon_fodder]

I too find it hard to drum up sympathy for a criminal that dies as a consequence of the act.  

If it is found that the Wal-Mart security guards set out to kill the poor bastard, then I will have issue.  But if in the struggle he had a heart attack, or fell and hit his head, or in some other way was injured unintentionally by security the hell with him.  Security guards get shot and killed trying to stop shoplifters, they are entitled to protect themselves if someone puts up a struggle and Wal-Mart is entitled to protect its property from theft.

My wife works in retail and they basically cannot do anything to stop shoplifters.  They KNOW who is taking stuff and when they are taking it.  They see them walk in and watch them ... item on rack, crowd of friends, item gone.  Hundreds of dollars worth of merchandise.  But policy wont let them do anything about it 90% of the time.  

Bastards.

[AMP]

At some public facilities, fees of up to $25 per hour are charged for security personnel that only earn $8 per hour.

The Security Company may be charging a higher rate than they are paying the employees.  

Not sure exactly where the hour amount of payment to security comes into play here. If the Security people are licensed and hold the proper CLEET Certificate, that is all that is required in Oklahoma.  The rate of pay, other than the Federal Minimum Wage wich is currently $5.15 per hour, is not be a factor in the requirements of licensed professions in Oklahoma.  Remember: Right to Work and Employment at Will.      

Either way the autopsy should determine the cause of death.  Most deaths involving a health issue like a heart attack and such are ruled accidental.  Person could of been under the influence of a drug or drugs also, which could of led to their demise.  

[mdunn]

I could have a little sympathy if the man was stealing food to feed his kids,but a tv?Hes gonna sell it for crack!One less piece of crap on earth to deal with!

[tim huntzinger]

I do not believe the death penalty is appropriate for shoplifting.  His family should have a wrongful death suit initiated.

[tulsa_fan]

"I do not believe the death penalty is appropriate for shoplifting. His family should have a wrongful death suit initiated."


URGH, I'm going to totally disagree with that one.  If he hadn't stolen the TV, he wouldn't be dead.  I'm sure he didn't intend to die when he chose to steal, but regardless, that's the consequences for his actions.  OH, but I forget, we live in a society of no personal responsiblity.