She meant well but her actions were unwise

[rp_photo]

A woman Walmart customer attempts to stop beer thieves:

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?secti ... id=8203778" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I say the responsible thing to do would have been nothing but be a good witness, and having a concealed weapon is even more reason to stay back.

Would she have started shooting at them if she had been armed?

This could have easily ended in tragedy and multiple orphaned children.

Her heart was in the right place, but the risk to reward ratio is very poor.

[AEA]

They were stealing BEER......not beef!

[rp_photo]

This would actually be a great example of what NOT to do for CHL classes.

In other words, fools rush in where angels fear to tread.

[WickedOwl]

I'll take being able to come home tonight over saving a multi-billion dollar corporation the price of three cases of beers any day.

[speedsix]

...the girl needs to pray for wisdom...that stupid stunt could have easily cost her her life...

[rp_photo]

IMHO, she would a poor candidate for a CHL.

[rp_photo]

I'll take being able to come home tonight over saving a multi-billion dollar corporation the price of three cases of beers any day.

I wonder if Walmart security would have been anywhere nearly as heroic to stop a customer car break-in?

[baldeagle]

She has a point.

[speedsix]

I'll take being able to come home tonight over saving a multi-billion dollar corporation the price of three cases of beers any day.

I wonder if Walmart security would have been anywhere nearly as heroic to stop a customer car break-in?

...of course not...they're trained not to take aggressive action...BECAUSE it's not worth someone dying...theft is NOTHING compared to robbery or another crime that threatens the life or safety of a person...

[KRM45]

She does have a good point about punk thieves doing what they want, knowing most people will not intervene. She's got guts.

[gigag04]

Good point. Poor implementation. Interestingly though, had she not been injured (making the even a robbery), the cops probably couldn't initiate a pursuit (unless of course TxDPS who will hawk you down for a minor traffic infraction if you don't pull over).

[rp_photo]

I do take it as a good sign that people are beginning to be fed up.

[Purplehood]

I don't blame her.

This is also a good example of the need to game-out ahead of time those 'what-if" situations that we are so fond of.

What would you do?

[Teamless]

I completely understand being frustrated that the kids or whomever are stealing, and "someone needs to stop it",
But seriously....
Is my life, my safety worth some other entities belongings?
No.
If I attempted to do what she did and got hurt, went to the hospital, or the morgue, is Wal-Mart or any other business going to pay my (or my families if I am dead) bills? NO.

Is it my job to protect that store from theft? Nope, its the golf cart drivers in the parking lot, and they are only there to be a witness and a deterrent, and not to get involved.

[WickedOwl]

I'll take being able to come home tonight over saving a multi-billion dollar corporation the price of three cases of beers any day.

I wonder if Walmart security would have been anywhere nearly as heroic to stop a customer car break-in?

...of course not...they're trained not to take aggressive action...BECAUSE it's not worth someone dying...theft is NOTHING compared to robbery or another crime that threatens the life or safety of a person...

When I worked in retail, we were explicitly told to do absolutely nothing about shoplifting save calling the police, but only after the perp left the store. Management essentially said "I don't care if they are shoving things down their shirt while talking to you face-to-face, act like nothing's happening, tell them to have a great day, and let them walk out the door."

It was never stated explicitly, but I imagine the cost to replace the items is much more acceptable than a lawsuit from the hero employee's family if anything went south.