security guards at stores......

**Italianangel** · November 1st, 2007, 12:28 PM

So what exactly is their job?
I was just at shoppers drug mart to get some eyelashes for a photo shoot I am off to do and this kid was trying to run out with some stuff, stealing...........the women at the make up counter and cashier had to be the ones who chased him down and got the stuff back and his jacket to seek ID, then he had the balls to come back after his jacket the little shit........I was oblivious to it by the time I knew it was too late or I would have tripped him or punched him out.........although dangerous incase he splats blood and has aids.............but anyway, the guard was this big indian guy who did nothing.................??????
Why was it no men jumped in and why did the security guard, who was pre warned they were watching this kid, not do nothing????

Is this in their pay, the cashiers I mean? do the get hazzard pay? Its a bad location, right at a sky train station so you get bums hangin' out there, dealers and druggies as in most central bus or train stations.

Linda

**mooshue** · November 1st, 2007, 12:43 PM

You ever seen the movie Armed and Dangerous. I think that the guards in that movie are pretty close the the guards you see in real life. Also, they cant really do anything without getting in trouble and they get nothing but a radio to defend themselves.
Thugs now a days carry pretty much any weapon they want and its not worth a persons life to go chasing down thugs for $10/hr.
The ladies shouldnt have done it either.

**varbo** · November 1st, 2007, 12:50 PM

They are there to as an illusion of security. You see a security guard and you'll be less likely to rob the place. Kind of like when peple have the car alarm stickers on the car. It says, "I'll more of a pin to steal than the next car do just pass over me."

**Weeble29** · November 1st, 2007, 12:57 PM

Typically security guards don't do a bad job at all , but I think because of the poor location of this store and the fact that some bums or rather lower society individuals could come in with weapons or like you said "aids" they probably just hired anyone who would take the job in this crap location. Think about it, if you were the security guard and had to make a risk assesment of (A) do I try and stop this person with the chance of getting injured, killed, or infected (B) do I let him escape with whatever meaningless item or items he took. Call me crazy but I don't think risking your life over some department store sh** is worth it and I bet this guy felt the same. IMO I think you should start shopping at a new store for you belongings. On the other hand, if the shop-lifter threatened to hurt or kill someone in the store then its another story, but I don't remember reading anything like that in your post. Be careful next time Linda, you never know what crazy's are out there.

**gunshowbabe** · November 1st, 2007, 01:49 PM

Kudos to the cashiers!! Woo hoo! Once again... women stepping in the do a man's job ... lol, just kidding guys!

**JarheadRI** · November 1st, 2007, 01:52 PM

Just let him have it! More than likely it is something made in China and he is just going to get lead poisioning anyway!

**bigpurp** · November 1st, 2007, 02:08 PM

I can't blame the other people for not doing anything, I wouldn't have either, in no way will anything good come of it. If someone was physically getting hurt then thats different.

Really, if I trip the kid or run him down and he gets hurt. His parents sue me, the store, etc. For what, to nab some little bastard trying to run off with $10 worth of crap?

Not my problem.

Let the store write it off as a loss and be done with it. If it were my store I wouldn't have the cashers running them down either.

**gunshowbabe** · November 1st, 2007, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigpurp

I can't blame the other people for not doing anything, I wouldn't have either, in no way will anything good come of it. If someone was physically getting hurt then thats different.

Really, if I trip the kid or run him down and he gets hurt. His parents sue me, the store, etc. For what, to nab some little bastard trying to run off with $10 worth of crap?

Not my problem.

Let the store write it off as a loss and be done with it. If it were my store I wouldn't have the cashers running them down either.

Agreed. It is too much liability, problem is some people do things out of reaction and don't think about things like that. Intead of chasing the person down and getting hurt I would suggest maybe getting a description and calling the cops. Like many people have said before it's too dangerous to fight over, especially when you consider a person so desperate to go as far as stealing something so worthless... As far as the guards, some are just there for decoration.

**JimmymonFreddy** · November 1st, 2007, 02:34 PM

as long as it wasn't a beer run, I'm sure there wasn't anything to be chasing the kid for

he's not gonna be running very far with them flip flops on

**angelfaces** · November 1st, 2007, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Italianangel

So what exactly is their job?
I was just at shoppers drug mart to get some eyelashes for a photo shoot I am off to do and this kid was trying to run out with some stuff, stealing...........the women at the make up counter and cashier had to be the ones who chased him down and got the stuff back and his jacket to seek ID, then he had the balls to come back after his jacket the little shit........I was oblivious to it by the time I knew it was too late or I would have tripped him or punched him out.........although dangerous incase he splats blood and has aids.............but anyway, the guard was this big indian guy who did nothing.................??????
Why was it no men jumped in and why did the security guard, who was pre warned they were watching this kid, not do nothing????

Is this in their pay, the cashiers I mean? do the get hazzard pay? Its a bad location, right at a sky train station so you get bums hangin' out there, dealers and druggies as in most central bus or train stations.

Linda

You didn't say what age the kid was about, either way first thing could b that he's poor and couldn't pay for it which I think is fine at least he was stealing form a store and not a person directly. Most likely tho it was probably just some hooligan punk doing it to impress his mates or cash it in for drugs etc either way if I see someone stealing not my problem unless I saw them beating up someone like an old lady or somethin then i'd have to step in and make it my problem hehe

!
As for the security guard if he didn't intervene again I don't blame him, if he's indian then probably an immigrant just over to make a better life for his family and probably needs every cent he can get to just send it to his country to put food in their stomach, I don't blame him at all for not risking everything for some punkass kid who probably has a gun or knife etc, if the kid was beating on someone or holding people hostage or whatever then yes i'd expect him to step in an do his job or he's just a chickenass coward!
It's frustrating I know when you go in for a service and people don't do their jobs, like going into a store with a guard but no security! But I also don't get the guards that risk their lives for a shop or bank etc, likewise I don't get the guards who don't risk their lives for people either, cos I would. again if the kid just grabbed something and ran for it without attempting to hurt anyone if it were my shop i'd chase his ass but if I were just the guard i'd pretend to give a damn jus to keep my job

hehehe

!
Either way good thing for the kid you were oblivious till he'd gotton away

cos i'm guessing you'd have kicked his ass

! hehe

!

**angelfaces** · November 1st, 2007, 08:31 PM

In Britain today also the anti-social behaviour and gun culture is growing

, if I see a kid of about 8+ in the street I watch my back, just what is the world coming to today...

vik · November 1st, 2007, 09:15 PM

My take on this is that if someone is actually employed as a Security Guard, then they should have certain responsibilities.. with good judgement of course.

Sure if someone came into a store w/ a gun out, you probably aren't going to jump the guy, but if someone is trying to steal something and they don't look very dangerous, then the security guard should have some sort of responsibility to at least ATTEMPT to prevent the theft.

Lots of people are saying just to let the kid run off w/ the $10 item.. what if this happens 2-3 times a day? And the kids get comfortable stealing stuff because the people there don't bother with such low priced items.. then the issue can grow when all you had to do was a little extra work to prevent it from the start. Sure insurance may cover part of it, but don't you think premiums will rise if it is common? Or you may get cancelled?

Anyways, ya, risking your life for $10/hr isn't worth it, but if that's the case, don't get into that line of work. Similar can be said for cops or military personelle. Is $35-40/hr worth risking your life? Hardly, but that is what is entailed in those professions. That's like hiring a janitor that doesn't want to clean up because it is unsanitary and he could catch something.. well then, get a better job, til then, start a cleanin!

As for China and the lead issue, it was actually Mattel's fault due to a flawed design which China manufacturer's followed. Mattel issued an apology to China for slandering their manufacturing reputation and trying to use them as a scapegoat. Unfortunately, the damage has already been done and half the story told.
nytimes.com/2007/09/21/business/worldbusiness/21cnd-toys.html
(add www to the front)

**angelfaces** · November 1st, 2007, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vik

My take on this is that if someone is actually employed as a Security Guard, then they should have certain responsibilities.. with good judgement of course.

Sure if someone came into a store w/ a gun out, you probably aren't going to jump the guy, but if someone is trying to steal something and they don't look very dangerous, then the security guard should have some sort of responsibility to at least ATTEMPT to prevent the theft.

Lots of people are saying just to let the kid run off w/ the $10 item.. what if this happens 2-3 times a day? And the kids get comfortable stealing stuff because the people there don't bother with such low priced items.. then the issue can grow when all you had to do was a little extra work to prevent it from the start. Sure insurance may cover part of it, but don't you think premiums will rise if it is common? Or you may get cancelled?

Anyways, ya, risking your life for $10/hr isn't worth it, but if that's the case, don't get into that line of work. Similar can be said for cops or military personelle. Is $35-40/hr worth risking your life? Hardly, but that is what is entailed in those professions. That's like hiring a janitor that doesn't want to clean up because it is unsanitary and he could catch something.. well then, get a better job, til then, start a cleanin!

As for China and the lead issue, it was actually Mattel's fault due to a flawed design which China manufacturer's followed. Mattel issued an apology to China for slandering their manufacturing reputation and trying to use them as a scapegoat. Unfortunately, the damage has already been done and half the story told.
nytimes.com/2007/09/21/business/worldbusiness/21cnd-toys.html
(add www to the front)

If they could get better jobs i'm sure they would, but if theyre poor and didnt get much opportunity in life for an education etc usually the case for most immigrants who take on that type of work. the peope with qualification do get better jobs because they can. as for the military they usually have choices and choose to go into the army, people don't always work for the salary it's also just because its what they want to do. most immigrants doing those jobs unfortunately dont have that choice or education and just take the first job they can to pay their bills and take care of their family.
As for caring for the economy, most of these people have fled warzones or economically deprived countries so I don't think they really give a damn, for them just to be alive and get by everyday is a miracle which i'm sure theyre grateful for and try an do their job as best they can under the circumstances.

**gunshowbabe** · November 2nd, 2007, 12:11 PM

No sense in arguing... I can see both sides of it... but it's too late now.. I'm sure the kid is already at home and has already ate the candy he stole...or whatever it was... People are different and do things for different reasons... no sense in trying to explain each person individually.

Angel you bring some awesome points to the table about immigration but you never know... just because he looked indian doesn't mean he was an immigrant, he very-well could have just been lazy or scared. I am hispanic and don't look hispanic to some people... It's kind of funny because I've caught hispanic guys talking about me not having any idea that I understood every word they said in spanish... Goes to show you how we react on appearance. Not getting into that subject but I'm just trying to say you never know... but who knows you could be right... you just never know... I can agree with your views though.

**Italianangel** · November 2nd, 2007, 12:35 PM

actually his ethnicity does not matter, I am just used to being descriptive, he could have been native, east indian, hispanic........out here where I live we have a huge mix of ethnicitys and its just normal. Not to many of us are true natives of this country other than the original native indians who were here first but anyway, this kid was between 17-21 yrs old, about 6 ft tall, skinny, seemed to have crack face, and he was stealing hundred dollar items not candy.
He had some mechanical things, appliances or bathroom appliances........and other stuff but they got it from him and his jacket too and the funniest thing of all..............as I left, there was a cop car parked not 25 ft away from there, as it is a skytrain station, has coffee shop and small food places and big shoppers...............they could and should have been there promptly since 911 was called before the kid ever left, he came after the gals looking to get his jacket back..............ironic hey? He is trying to steal yet is concerned about someone else taking something of his...................lil terd.
I personally would have disabled him with a kick to the groin as that always work, he would have dropped and not been able to do much for a few mins, including run.
I am sure there are reasons for people to steal and some are even justified in there reasons or for why they are in their situation but for many of us who work daily and get up early and go to bed early and scrimp and save to be constuctive citizens, it pisses me off to think someone feels he has a right to take what is not his..............earn it. Rather than wasting time stealing he should take that energy and find a job. I know people who are disabled or homeless, and out here if you are disabled you can fall into poverty depdending on how it happened and how it was handled, and he it out there every day sweeping and taking garbages for all the business's who support him, on our drive..............he was hit by a car as a kid and fell in the cracks, no money, no settlement so he is on welfare. I don't see him doing drugs or stealing. He takes pride in his work and does it well, daily in rain, snow or whatever. He is mentally disabled now too from it but anyway, the arrangement he has was not set up by the govt, it was set up between him and the local business's.
this kid could have applied at the A&W next door to the shoppers, or at the subway or mcdonalads, or quiznos..................then he has work and free or discounted food until he gets his crap together. People, or some of them, just put in no effort.
I won't even give them a penny.............I work for that penny, they can work too.
Linda

**Italianangel** · November 2nd, 2007, 12:44 PM

I agree with most of the posts here, I did not know there were 'rules' they have to follow, and it makes sense, the business is ultimatley responsible for their workers safety, so then I would seek out security with some ability to defend at least, not neccessarily a power tripper with a gun but at least to protect the workers. I agree with letting it go, even hundreds of dollars because in the end no money is worth a life even so I am not so fond of humanity........teeehee, but they store can write it off and loses very little when the income is spanned over all the locations, so you have one location which loses and the rest do okay but again, all very good points.................a bit of morning drama to share was my reason to post for the most part.......had to tell someone and was a bit frustrated that the security guard was not useful but maybe he was not allowed to step in - I just think, if it were me I would tend to react toward helping rather than watching......but that is just me, rules or no rules, danger or not, stupid or not............I don't know if that is my martial arts training or just the competitor right fighter in me.
Linda

katz7479 · November 2nd, 2007, 12:57 PM

Hey! Just let you know some info. I worked at a department store as an uniformed guard. Most uniformed guards at retail stores are not allowed to apprehend subjects. They are used to keep honest people honest. In most cases Lp undercovers and LP managers must do the apprehending. Thus making the guard useless. I know of guards who were fired over apprehending someone. So dont take it out on the guard but the system.

**gunshowbabe** · November 2nd, 2007, 01:47 PM

Interesting info Katz! That's nice to know : )

**Insex** · November 24th, 2007, 07:30 AM

I'm sorry to hear about what happened at that store. If I had been there, I would've ran after the thief. I'm stronger and faster than most people, so he would have to be pretty damn fast to get away from me.

Regarding security guards at stores, I was surprised that the security guard at your store didn't do a thing. I think they can actively do something if a thief is in the act of making a robbery, as long as the security guard doesn't use lethal force. That's why they're not armed with guns. I was never a security guard at a store, but I used to work as a security guard at concerts. I've worked at all kinds of concerts, from rock concerts with head bangers, to rap and hip-hop concerts with gang bangers. I did everything, from standing in front of the stage to keep spectators from jumping on stage, to guarding Usher's dressing room backstage. The rule we had to abide by is that we "had to use the minimal amount of force as possible" in order to "control the situation." That means we can basically defend ourselves to the least harmful degree. That does not mean we could go out, Rambo-style, and tear off heads left and right.

It think it's pathetic and amazing how laws and the legal system work nowadays. It's almost like you do not have the right to defend yourself anymore, because if you do harm to someone who is already doing harm to you, you can get sued and serve jail time. Although, that security guard at the store should have at least ran after the thief in order to get a good description of him, especially if he was wearing a uniform.

**wildstang** · November 25th, 2007, 08:05 PM

as being an ex law enforcement officer before latest serious injury i suffered i do have to say not all law enforcement officers have it easy. i worked for a county that was quite busy with crime and our response time was always criticized, people not realizing that the response time is dictated on wether if not your at a crime scene allready and have to finish with that victim before you can respond to another call. i know that sucks for the new victim while they wate for an officer to arrive, but sometimes a lower priority call will get replaced with a higher priority call (more serious) and the response time is even longer. now on the other hand i also seen plenty of just plain lazy officers also just there to pass time with as little confrontation as possible.
and as far as the security guard goes he should be replaced if he cant perform his dutys. at the very least make an effort to stop him and run after him even if he dosent really want a confrontation.