Article

2007-06-07 -Lurid Crime Tales-

Home Depot Fires Men Who Stopped Thieves

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Posted by Atomic Conspiracy 2007-06-07 01:48|| || Front Page|| [11123 views ] Top

#1 The letter said Stewart and the others were fired because they "pursued and assisted in the apprehension of suspected shoplifters."

I'd use that termination letter as a point of pride in my resume when looking for a new job. Orchard Supply Hardware or Lowe's must surely be looking for some good people.

Here's Home Depot's Custome Care phone line: 1-800-553-3199

Here's their "contact us" directory.

Also try customercare@homedepot.com or by phone at 1-800-430-3376.

Here's their internal email link if you don't want to use your own.

Here is the text of the email I am sending them. Feel free to use it if you like.

To Home Depot Corporate Headquarters:

This email regards your termination of Bob Stewart and other employees who intervened in an attempted shoplifting. (Refer to this article: http://www.local6.com/money/13452152/detail.html ) Their actions were intended to protect my personal safety by discouraging the presence of criminal elements when I am in your store. By punishing Mr. Stewart and his colleagues, your policies and actions not only increase the cost of goods I purchase at Home depot by inadequate prosecution of shoplifting, but also show lax security which increases the likelihood that my car will be broken into while parked in your store's lot.

Please rest assured that I will NEVER shop at a Home Depot EVER again unless you immediately reinstate these employees with compensation for time lost. Providing price reductions and superior quality goods will not alter this decision one whit. You have shown sufficient disrespect for law enforcement and employee vigilance whereby I will never feel safe in one of your stores anymore. If you choose to reverse your termination of these valiant employees, be sure to publicize it widely. Otherwise I might not see the announcement. Until I hear of a reversal, consider me a CUSTOMER THAT HAS BEEN LOST FOREVER.

Sincerely,

Zenster

Posted by Zenster">Zenster 2007-06-07 02:48|| 2007-06-07 02:48|| Front Page Top

#2 I am sure there are some lawyers out there who are just licking their chops contemplating the wrongful termination of employment lawsuit they could bring for this.

Posted by Vortigern Snolutch7163 2007-06-07 04:22|| 2007-06-07 04:22|| Front Page Top

#3 My wife was told by one of their employees that they are specifically told not to intervene due to an employee getting shot in Florida.

Posted by BrerRabbit 2007-06-07 07:03|| 2007-06-07 07:03|| Front Page Top

#4 Their embedded survey on the firings shows 2% agree with them. Either there are only 2% criminals in Midwest City or else only a fraction take internet polls.

Posted by Glenmore">Glenmore 2007-06-07 07:45|| 2007-06-07 07:45|| Front Page Top

#5 The company figures it'll cost less in the long run to simply pass the loss on to customers than face lawsuits run by the usual suspects to cover 'pain and suffering' on either party's behalf.

What the company ignores in its rationalization is that by doing nothing it will encourage even more criminal activity with escalating consequences. Purse snatching, carjacking, armed robbery [with big juicy targets carrying cash, you know them "less than legal supervisors", to pick up site supplies]. This usually results in making the location someplace most reasonable people will in the end avoid. Welcome to the hood.

Posted by Procopius2k 2007-06-07 08:02|| 2007-06-07 08:02|| Front Page Top

#6 Does this mean I can sue for profiling if they attempt to stop me from just walking out of the store with that nice lawn tractor I was looking at?

Cool! Free stuff!

Posted by CrazyFool 2007-06-07 08:11|| 2007-06-07 08:11|| Front Page Top

#7 Hell, given this information, why NOT steal at Home Depot? If someone tries to stop you, you can always threaten him with his job.

Posted by Uluting Speaking for Boskone9541 2007-06-07 10:01|| 2007-06-07 10:01|| Front Page Top

#8 I think Daddy's getting a NEW BIG BBQ this weekend. Just going to back up my truck, load it up, and head for home. Why didn't I hear about this BEFORE I bought my plasma screen there. Can I give it back and simply steal it?

Posted by Cyber Sarge 2007-06-07 10:55|| 2007-06-07 10:55|| Front Page Top

#9 I know where I'll be doing my Christmas shoplifting.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2007-06-07 11:02|| 2007-06-07 11:02|| Front Page Top

#10 Thanks for the info. Gotta go. Headin for Home Depot. They are giving away free stuff. I need a lawn tractor and new barbecue grill. Wow, what a concept legal stealing!

Posted by JohnQC 2007-06-07 11:20|| 2007-06-07 11:20|| Front Page Top

#11 Thanks for the info. Gotta go. Headin for Home Depot. They are giving away free stuff. I need a lawn tractor and new barbecue grill. Wow, what a concept legal stealing! Better than being elected to public office.

Posted by JohnQC 2007-06-07 11:20|| 2007-06-07 11:20|| Front Page Top

#12 You know, as much maligned as Wal-Mart is, and as many issues as they have with morons as management, they don't have this policy. They are very much for catching shoplifters and encourage all their employees to watch for them. Legal issues means stops are typically made by the Loss Prevention Associates, however, there are times...

I personally saw what happened one summer when I was working there and a shoplifter decided to go out the lawn and garden gate at a run. He made the mistake of shoving the door girl out of his way, in full view of the associates outside who were loading up bags of mulch and other garden items. I think he realized his mistake when two of the burly high school football team members working there for the summer tackled him face down onto concrete. I'm not sure they'd of chased him so hard if he hadn't shoved the girl, but this being Tennessee, most of us don't hold with that kind of behavior.

Posted by Silentbrick">Silentbrick 2007-06-07 11:49|| 2007-06-07 11:49|| Front Page Top

#13 Silentbrick, I didn't know you lived in Tennessee. Come on over this weekend.

Posted by Deacon Blues">Deacon Blues 2007-06-07 12:18|| 2007-06-07 12:18|| Front Page Top

#14 On the flip side of this: many chain convenience stores have company policies that tell employees to cooperate with a robber who demands money. Money can be replaced, lives cannot. Though it may grate on us law-abiding citizens, when a young store clerk is looking down the barrel of a 9 mm, it's better to do as told.

I suspect (don't know for sure) the Home Depot policy was made along these lines -- let the cops handle it, don't create a situation in which an employee or another innocent customer could be harmed. The lawn tractor can be replaced, lives cannot.

Again, the policy grates on our sensibilities, as we don't want and don't like to reward law-breaking behavior. But I think I see where this is coming from.

Posted by Steve White">Steve White 2007-06-07 14:46|| 2007-06-07 14:46|| Front Page Top

#15 I can see where it is coming from, but no gun was involved and they caught the employees without incident. Why not just quietly repremand the employees? I'm angered that he was told that he could not even call the police. No wonder their prices are so high. I'm off to ~~Home Depot~~ D&B to buy a ladder.

Posted by Angaiger Tojo1904 2007-06-07 15:01|| 2007-06-07 15:01|| Front Page Top

#16 #15 - I agree. I can understand a policy that says employees should not attack customers they think are shoplifiting - somebody (employee or customer) could get hurt. I cannot understand a policy that prevents employees from noting the shoplifter, including license plate number, description, etc. and then calling police. The police should handle any arrest, but employees should also be able to gather information and give it to the police.

Posted by Rambler">Rambler 2007-06-07 15:50|| 2007-06-07 15:50|| Front Page Top

#17 #15 is essentially what my e-mail to HD said. Remind them the rule is there for their safety, and tell 'em next time they get a week off.

But firing? I wonder what Lowe's policy is? Do they make their customers pay for so much stolen stuff?

But mostly, I blame the media.

Posted by Bobby 2007-06-07 17:31|| 2007-06-07 17:31|| Front Page Top

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