Crazy night at work.

[Root beer]

I'm 17 and I have a part-time job at k-mart. Last night I was called to the service desk, because the security caught someone on camera attempting to shop-lift. So I stood by the exit of the store waiting to kick some shop-lifters arse. . Then the security guy finds the suspect and found CDs under his jacket. So I go back assuming my regular duties only to see 3 of my co-workers freaking out, then manager gets on the loud speaker and tells all customer to evacuate the store. I'm like this cant be good. After all customer has left the store me and 2 other guys was told to do a search in store make sure everyone was out, that when I learn someone just called a bomb threat to k-mart.

After I walked out the store I find bomb squad, Cops, firefighters, Paramedics, etc all over the parking lot.

Crazy night. I feel like they are out to get me. I should be packing heats.

[Guest muddy]

Sorry KW we just sent him out for some popcorn

[Glenn]

Sounds like a fun night!  NOT!  Glad to hear everything turned out ok though.

Reminds me of when I was working at J.C. Penny YEARS ago when I was working maintenance, paying my way through college.  We were doing our annual "all-nighters" we do for a week when they're doing inventory.  We purposefully worked well away from the inventory crew, as we were stripping and waxing the floors.

One night, we were working on the first floor when the inventory folks were on the 2nd.  I had gone to the back room to get supplies.  When I came back, I heard glass breaking.  I thought my clumsy partner had tripped over something and broke a fixture.  So I started to razz him - loudly.  I couldn't see him yet.

But then the glass kept breaking.

I went over to where all the noise was coming from, and saw 3 guys smashing all the jewlery cases and stuffing everything into bags!!  They had literally smashed the glass doors to get in!

First thing that came to my mind was that these guys would kill me if they saw me.  And I figured they had to have heard me, so I was dead meat.  So I high-tailed it out of there like a jaguar!  No gem is worth my life. I got into a back room office, locked the door, and called 911, as our security system was turned off because the building was occupied (we later found out they had insider help).

They were gone by time the cops arrived, leaving mass destruction behind, and one terrified 18-year old!

Turns out these guys hit multiple stores across several states before being caught in California.

[skillet]

 Man! Those are the kind of nights you just don't need ...

                                            As Ever,

                                             skillet

[Big T]

Hey your store sounds like the Walmart my wife works at. This past week management was chasing a shop lifter in the parking lot, when the guy pulls out knife a precides to stab him in the leg and shoulder. Poor guy had to have 21 stiches. Then the shoplifter jumps in to a cop car, slams the door on the cop's hand, drags him through parking lot and speeds away. Wilmington PD caught him later that day, he is now facing attempted murder on police officer, assault and battery with a deadly weapon for stabbing the manager and on top that shoplifting charges. I do not work retail anymore, I am considering returning to Walmart while returniing to college. But if I do I will never chase a shoplifter again. A $15 CD or Dvd is not worth loosing you life over.

[Olebiker]

I spent about 20 years working in retail and catching shoplifters was the only time the job was fun.  

[Dean]

congrats k dubs ;D ;D ;D

[Root beer]

Glenn, that sure is scary.

Retail can be a crappy job! I guess if it saves me up a little bit of money for college then I just got to grind it out.

Although, working retail has allowed me to work on my communication skills. I use to be a shy guy, but working in retail I'm constanlty talking to customers all the time so I've learned to listen and talk better. It does has it benefits and it negatives.

[Fisher of Men]

Hey kw,

I did some time at K-mart as well. . . about 20 years ago.  I worked three years in the Sporting Goods and Automotive departments (and really enjoyed that job).  We pretty well got to hang back in our part of the store and do our own thing, although we did get to assist in a few shoplifting apprehensions.  We used to just tackle them and hold them down until the cops got there.  People are alot more violent now and would probably sue you for bodily injury if you held them down.  I remember one time we lost about 20 VCR's.   A man and a women came in one night real close to closing time.  We only had one cashier and a service desk operator (right next to one another) working up front.  The man's wife distracted the two while he carried the VCR's out in a shopping cart (this was before we had those security tag alarms).  The guy made two trips.  The two were later arrested as they tried selling the VCR's at a pawn shop.  Glad to hear you are OK, though!!

-Fisher