All evil needs to succeed are for good men to do nothing. These guys should be commended for doing something and trained for the possibility that this may happens again.

The fact is, ALL of us consumers suffer from this type criminal behavior. Stores has to recoup their losses by raising their price and the burden of paying a higher price for merchandise has to pass on to us, consumers. Unfortunately, as heroic as it may sound, the 2 BB employees should have taken the license plate of the gate-away vehicle and descriptions of the shoplifter along with its accomplice. I work security for a retail store, and we are NOT allowed to touch shoplifters. A shoplifter pulled and pointed a gun at one of their security people at a local WalMart store. At our store, I give a "complete" new hire training so employees know what their responsibilities are.It only shows how poorly the 2 BB employees were trained.

best buy needs to rehire those two employees, and give them reward for looking out for the company.

I have worked in retail and managed resterants. The policy for the regular employees not to confront the criminal makes sense from a business point of view. Most businesses such as Best Buy have security employees who are hired to confront and (depending on state laws) restrain the shop lifters. These employees usually have experience in this or law enforcement and are insured by the business to do such. Local law says how far a business can go to protect it's property and violating those laws can open up the business to law suits (filed by the criminal or any customers who get hurt by the employee's heroics) and even criminal charges against the business and those employees involved. Then there is the possibility that the employee was mistaken and the person was not a shop lifter - can you say $5 million for injuries, assault and illegal kidnapping? It is much cheaper and safer for a business to turn over the video tapes of the shop lifter who stole a five dollar item than to risk injuries to an employee, customer and the high amount of the cost of items damaged while trying to stop the thief. Businesses fire employees who violate these policies so as to prevent other employees from becoming heroes or corpses.

I used to work for Best buy as a Loss prevention Supv. The reason we checked receipts was for the benefit of the customer and for the store. If the price was wrong, we corrected for the customer and on the shelf as well. All stores practiced this, no one wants to loose profit margins.

The earlier poster "eality101" had it absolutely correct. Big business today is all about dollars & cents. Decisions are made on economics rather than right\wrong. Retail companies expect shoplifting loss. It's built into the retail price. If the manager had been killed or rendered disabled by the shoplifter, Best Buy would have to pay more in worker's comp, disability, & possibly legal fees than the cost of hundreds of items. That is why they are willing to let people walk out with stuff. Also, if an overzealous employee stopped someone who they thought was stealing, but in fact was not, Best Buy could be open to a huge lawsuit, not to mention all the bad publicity. The employees were fired because Best Buy wants to send a message to other employees that this behavior won't be tolerated. Like most of the posters, this leaves a really bad taste in my mouth, but as I said before, this is economic reality.

Since old Ted "I hate guns, but I love to kill with my car" died today, Neil Bortz brought up an old bill Ted proposed that would have made it a federal crime to not flee your home if you found someone breaking in. Similar laws have actually passed in some localities. Now that protecting yourself can get you sued and we're brainwashing our kids to be pansies, we're living in this kind of world. It's not about store policy. It's not about protecting store assets. WRONG IS WRONG! You see it, you stop it! Or you're no better than the filth taking over this country. That's why these piles of dog squeeze rape, murder and steal. The average american is a COWARD who won't fight back. The only reason this nation hasn't descended into total anarchy is because of the very few the thugs fear are lurking out there, actually willing to do something. The police aren't keeping you safe, guys like this are keeping you safe. CC permit holders are keeping you safe. Parents who don't take crap off bad kids are the ones keeping you safe. We're your last line of defense and Teddy's kind are hacking at us everyday. "Don't grab the bad guy!" "Don't own a gun!" "Don't spank your kids!"

Some times a company does something so dumb, it defies common sense. This is one of those times and Best Buy has hurt their image.

Although it was not the right thing to do for safety reasons, No one likes someone stealing something right under their noses. If it's pretty obvious something was taken it's natural to want to stop it right then. A pretty honest mistake that could have had a better ending. A pat on the back for caring enough to take action, and also a scolding of some sort so they won't make the mistake again. Shame on you Best Buy for treating your employees so poorly. You will wind up with employees that don't care what happens toyou.

While in Texas last month, I was present when a young brat purse snatcher grabbed an elderly lady's purse and ran out the door, followed by the manager. The elderly lady was so overwrought that she collapsed and we had to call for medical help. The brat ran down a nearby alley, throwing the purse away (to be retrieved later). The manager who caught him later pleaded with all of us in the store to not tell the owner of the store what she did to try and help the victim, because she was sure she would be fired. The brat could have caused the elderly woman's death...isn't that enough cause to try and stop him? What a schizo country we have become !!

What no one seems to be considering is: what if nothing is found on the "shoplifter"? The store will soon have a new owner

I am a retired police Sgt who ran security for a Best Buy. We could not put hands on anyone and handcuffs were not allowed. No contact outside the store. I tried to explain that handcuffs prevent injury to both employees and those being detained and still they said no. I left after a year and a half

As employees, they should open the doors when the thieves try to get out carrying a refrigerator, for example. It's difficult to open the doors when your arms are busy.
Instead of giving them a reward for risking so much to protect their company's property, they are fired. If I had a company I would have hired them right away. I used to work for a security company. The policy was the same: "we do NOT touch people". It's clear: we want to be robbed.
The employee violated the store policy - I agree. A verbal warning would have been more than enough.
Anyone wants to join me? I need a new LCD and I'm afraid I can't carry it by myself. We go at Best Buy, we take it from the shelf and we go out. They are not allowed to touch us.
Laws for idiots.

Best Buy should hired licensed security guards to stop shop-lifters. Creates a job for one or more people, and keeps the merchandise in the store until legally purchased by a customer. don't fire someone for doing what they thought was right; especially without very frequent training sessions concerning what to do in that situation. Of course no one wants anyone to get hurt, but as brazen as the thief was, he/she may hurt someone without provocation, and is now more emboldened to do so. I don't want to pay Best Buy's higher prices because THEY don't want to do the right thing.

If everyone gets fired for doing the right thing, regardless of Company Policy, where does that lead us too. What does it say to the young people that will be leading us tomorrow ?

I work in retail and know there's not enough of the facts in this story to consider who is guilty of wrong-doing (besides the thief of course). If the detectives knew the thief was armed, would they still have confronted him? Did they have reason to think he/she was armed? Did the detectives have previous write-ups for policy violations? Would they have been dismissed if the manager hadn't been injured? Too much speculation but I seriously doubt the facts are all out. Depending on these and other questions, I could see how I'd side with either the company or the fired employees.

There was a much publicized local incident identical in nature to this matter in Austin the last few weeks. A well-meaning employee of a large regional grocery chain was dismissed for chasing down and apprehending a purse snatcher. Regretable as it is, company policy is company policy and violaters must pay consequences for their actions. In this case, it makes perfect sense to leave dealing w/ criminals to armed, law enforcement or security personnel.

It seems like the lawyers had the ultimate decision here...cut & run.

I work for Home Depot and that it is exactly what would happen to me if I did that to a shoplifter!! It is very sad, because all the crooks know that they will get away with stealing what ever they want!!

...then we'll all become victims. Most criminals act as they do because they know the risk is so low. Word will spread that employees at Best Buy are to stand pat, and their walk-out loss will continue to go sky high. Bad for their stockholders and customers.

Those two guys are loyal employees . The problem is we live in a world of stupid people who are allowed to sue when they stupidly spill HOT COFFEE on their lap.

With that kind of company policy, I will rethink my loyalty to Best Buy... Not a good company for a future.
Life is full of risks - choose which ones are important to you - right/wrong, honesty/stealing, integrity/undependable....

If this security policy is a management rule for non-security employees then it should be seriously followed.There's serious liability implications for management.

Best buys should have mandatory meetings instructing all employees on what to do when this type of activity happens. Watch, Identify Get license,description etc.

If you have the employees names, I've got high paying jobs for them. That's why I started my own business because when I was assaulted by a customer, the company didn't bother to even call me when I spent the night in the hospital defending my restaurant and employees.

While it is important to consider ones' own safety, these employees were also protecting, or trying to, their employers' assets. Just shows what some companies think about thier employees; more liability than asset.

I am fed up with thugs and I am glad that people are fighting back - I would have done the same thing.

Kim, Grabbing back ones stolen wallet does not rise to the level of vigilantism which implies a measure of punishment administered for the unlawful deed. Had Clark carved his initials in the thief's forehead after retrieval of the wallet then we would be in the realm you describe.

Eality has it correct if one adds in the family members who believe that the 'company' owes them money due to the action of the family member who acts without regard for the possible consequences. The mentality is I am owed money by deep pockets regardles of my actions. Think about this the next time you are a jury member in a civil suit both in terms of a verdict and an award for damages.

Heck! Forget waiting to save up for that new flat screen I wanted. I'm just gonna walk into my local Best Buy and walk out with it! No point in fearing arrest. Besides, if they stop me I'll just sue them and end up with more than the TV! NICE!

Lawyers and their desire to make money and have power are responsible for this climate..
Lawsuits are the chief reason for this kind of policy. Companies fire their employees to "distance" themselves or try and reduce liability from their employee's actions.
In reality,A certrain amount of 'theft" is acceptable to the corporation.
There is a point where that boss or employer will bail on you and that is where his self interest is concerned.
Employers will not support you if its going to cost them any 'significant amount of money
For an individual to try and protect his employer in this manner is foolhearty.
People react emotionally to many situations and without pre thought or training is asking for severe consequences.

Some of you use phrases like "thats not fair or right"

That is what was mistakenly practiced when most of us lived with mommy and daddy. All that served was to make whiners,idealist and victims of their children. me too,but i learned my first couple yeas out of the nest by finally connecting the dots.
Look around,right or wrong has little to do with anything once you leave the nest.
Lawyers and politicians control what is fair and right. Always have and always will.


Many (NOT ALL) of the coments indicate complete suprise that the employer would do this to their employee.
Many employees fall for the companies internal hype that "youre family" and we care etc.This is what is called propaganda ...brainwashing ..lying..the gullible employee,and so many fall for it. All goverments ,corporations etc.
Your boss,the government,the law, is not your friend despite what they say.

I dont like it either. Remember what every person in power says. He who doesnt bend with the wind will surley break.

Aren't we sending a message to the criminals ... "Take what you want, no one will stop you!" ???

I see that someone is a Grossman fan.

if treat your employees like that. you will not make any money off this old boy.

A sporting store fired a manager for chasing a shoplifter. The Mgr. caught him in the parking lot and brought him back in the store.Called police, Filed charges. Fired from the store that next morning. He was not allowed to leave the store to pursue shoplifters, The police were to handle it.

I am an employee of a leading national and international restaurant chain and it is company policy that if a guest/customer leaves without paying his/her bill we as employees are not allowed to accost/ask the guest/customer for that payment. If we do, we can and will be fired....To me, stealing is stealing. Enabling one to steal is as unhealthy to the complacent party as the notion of stealing from another is to one who contemplates the action. I have seen a dummying down of the population over the past few decades. No one is willing to take responsiblity and it is the younger people who are suffering for this unhealthy mentality. I live in an 'at will' state where an individual can be fired because the employer doesn't like his/her face, dress, you name it. Even with the EEOC and federal standards one generally doesn't have a leg to stand on if trying to hold on to one's job. This sends a message to the public that this it is 'alright' to behave or act in this manner. Hoorah for Clark! For every action there is a re-action. Complaceny is always a choice and a re-action. We are all ultimately accountable for our actions.

Too many people in this world are sheep. Sheep have 2 speeds (graze and stampede), These are the ones who follow along and allow the wolves in the world prey upon them...willingly marching to the slaughter. Sheepdogs on the other hand run toward the danger, seeking to do what they can to protect the flock. What would the world be without our Sheepdogs? Sheepdogs are the ones who somewhere down deep in the quiet of their hearts wish they were on the planes on 9/11; in the halls at Columbine; in the classrooms at VA Tech; at the Murrah Federal Building and such....those who put their life on the line to act in a crisis and/or react after a crisis to save lives.

The firings are a message to the rest of the staff to follow company policy. If they don't get fired, it will encourage more of the same behavior.

The employees were wrong to attempt to stop a customer from shoplifting at the store. It was dangerous, and could have gone real sour-guns shots killing innocent shoppers both inside and/or outside the store.

Security is trained and licensed to deal with this type of situation; it is because of lawsuits that have been filed against stores for jumping on an innocent person who exits the store. Store employees (including security) jumping on and attacking people departing from the store is a crime.

I just wrote a scathing letter to the head CEO of Wal-Mart last month, when the store I was shopping in decided to pick me as their “shoplifting target”. I was followed from department to department by really bad under-cover security (I am a trained Private Investigator) and when I checked out all of my purchases were scanned by the cashier, I kept a sharp eye on her. When I exited through the doors, I had a doorman, get a radio call to hit the alarm button, and stop me. Before he even knew what was in my bags, he side what happened to “that item from electronics” I had. He hadn’t even opened my shopping bags yet.

My point is they tried to make me out to be a shoplifter when I wasn’t. His product scanner didn’t work on anything in my bag because it had all been scanned by the cashier. Then he insisted on seeing my receipt for the electronic item, it was there $9.99 for an ink jet replacement cartridge. Soon, people started to notice what is going on, and one lady asked me, “What was that all about?”

And I told her, “why, I look like a Gypsie; I have a long skirt on!”


Stores use fake beepers to make it appear that the cashier didn’t scan all of your items. This allows them to break the law, and attempt to detain you with the fake beeper stunt.

The fact is: after you have purchased your stuff, you are free to walk out the doors, beeper or not, and can not be detained by any employee or security from the store. If they attempt to stop you from leaving that is kidnapping, if the jump on you, that is assault, never comply with a doorman at a store, never go back into the store, and just keep walking to your car. If they block your car, call 911 from your cell phone, and tell them you have some nut in the parking lot of store blocking your vehicle from leaving. I will guarantee the cops will side with you.


Because 3 bad security guards decided to follow me around, and then play games with me, two things happened: One real shoplifters got away with shoplifting, and I now have cause for a lawsuit—for the next time they pull this stunt of theirs.

I hope these thugs do not come back and rob the customers. Best buy fired the whole customer department. COMPANY POLICY

I totally agree with Best Buy's freedom to decide to fire these employees for the following reasons: 1) They violated stared company policy, 2) The article sounds like the employees, by their actions, set up the situation in which a manager was injured, and 3) The consequences could have been much more dire.
Face it, these employees were obviously not capable of handling the situation, since the shoplifter stabbed someone and escaped. What did they think they were doing? This wasn't a video game, there were lives at stake - those of staff and customers.

It's their policy, simple as that. When you're hired you are told this more than once I'm sure. This is just a case of hero complex on the part of the employee's and the employer is just worried about being sued by either the shoplifter, the employee or a bystander who may get hurt. Why endanger your life for a company who craps more money than you could ever count?

Have have worked in retail for 20 years. Ever company I have worked for has trained employees NOT to attack or hold shoplifters. Part of the reason is fear of lawsuit. The biggest part of the reason NOT to tackle shoplifters is because who knows what they will do. What if a bystander is hurt? The company pays me to manage the store not to be the police.

Finally, I can tell you my job does not pay me enough to risk my life and tackle a shoplifter. ANY RETAIL COMPANY will just fire you for not following policy and hire someone else.

More people need to take a stand to stop wrong-doers. What would have happened on 9/11 had Todd Beamer and others not taken action on Flight 93? The significance of that and the Best Buy incident are worlds apart; yet the principle is the same. There are too many ostriches allowing crooked people have their way. Are we mice or men?

Fired, I don't think so, but they should follow company policy, just wave goodbye to the theives. Use what information they have for the police, discription, car tags number, what ever. And why put themselves in a dangerous postion for what they get paid. Maybe suspended for a week without pay, thats all.