Bedhog

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My BIL worked at Lowes for a while and told me they were told not to pursue thieves outside the store, and to just let them go.

They said it wasn't worth the potential liabilities.

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I had a friend who was an assistant at the HD in Lafayette. We had worked together an another do it yourself type store when I was in college. They definitely do not want their employees (other than security personnel in some areas) trying to apprehend shoplifters. The risk to the average employee is too great and exposes the company to liability. They do (or at least did then) at least prosecute when possible.

Every retail outlet accounts for some shrinkage. In the vast majority of the stores, that was mostly the result of employee related theft back when I was in retail.

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I was a retail store manager when I was in college, so I can chime in on this.

It’s all about Liability.

Guys steals something.

Store worker runs after them, gets into a confrontation, slips and falls, etc etc and gets hurt....

The store is now liable for his/her injury. (For not providing a safe working environment)

Guy that stole something, gets into a confrontation, slips and falls (while running away) and gets hurt, on the store property.....

The store is now liable for his/her injury.


1000’s of dollars in lawsuits, attorneys fees, etc etc

All over a $20 power drill.

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The only way to change this is to have 100s of people walk into every Home Depot, fill up carts, and walk out without paying all at once.

Bet they change that policy quick af

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It’s not hard to understand that a company risks far more than the cost of a Dewalt saw if any employee is hurt. Better to just let the thief go than to risk litigation.

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I’m so pissed off at HOME DEPOT in Denham Springs. I park and am walking toward the store when I notice this dude running out the store, into the parking lot, toward a car. Dude is holding a big box containing a DeWalt Miter Saw. Quick on his tail is an older dude wearing a Vietnam Veteran cap. VIETNAM is yelling to dude, “It ain’t worth going to jail, son !” But DUDE is hustling to his car. So, my dumb-arse joins VIETNAM in chasing DUDE.

DUDE is able to open his hatchback and throw the stolen saw in and get to his driver’s seat before VIETNAM could get to him. DUDE had a towel over his license plate, so I pull my phone out and yell to VIETNAM TO “... pull the towel...”. VIETNAM yanks it away and I get a clear pic of the license plate before DUDE speeds off.

VIETNAM and I go back into the store and he is looking for the manager that tried to stop DUDE. However, another manager comes up. We explain we clearly saw him, can identify him, and have license plate. Now, remember the other Mgr saw him leave without paying and surveillance captured the event.

HOME DEPOT manager says they DON’T call the police, make reports or prosecute these things. He said they were not even going to call the police. I then stand there and listen to the absolute worst made up bullshite about the law I’ve ever heard. Now, granted, it is Saturday and I look nothing of the part, but after the HOME DEPOT manager finished instructing VIETNAM and I on his in-depth knowledge of criminal law, constitutional law, I introduced myself as an attorney and tell him that everything he just said was WRONG.

Hey, HOME DEPOT...When you choose to not prosecute criminals you let it be known you are willing to be a victim. I know you do not take a loss. You absorb the loss by making people like me pay for it.

Evidently, people like VIETNAM and I still refuse to accept criminal conduct in our community. Shame on you for allowing this and sending the message that our community is an easy target.

For whatever good it may do, here is the thief’s license plate.

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I think the welder can do 170 amps, not the supply amperage the welder requires to run. From the specs posted above it looks like it only has a 20 amp nameplate amperage.

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