I watched a robbery and did nothing

[ilikegunspdx]

IMO it's the store's responsibility to police their own wares. If they can't be bothered enough to prevent theft I would suggest it's not worth your personal risk to try to do it for them.

 

[stevo123]

The only times I go to Target in Bonney Lake are for when I need to pick up medication or to look at their cookware.

Thus I'm standing in the check out line with my bags of pills and a new non stick frying pan, idly trying to determine the gender and potential species of the blue haired whale like cashier. I've determined it is most likely a female, perhaps a species of white orca that had been conscripted to this life of cashiering.

To our left a lot of yelling is going on, an anorexic appearing teenager starts jumping around a second large creature (this one resembles a black walrus with low quality weave work.) The poor clerks arms are flailing about like Kermit the frog, saying she cant leave yet and has to pay. She pushes her cart past him and out the door. I instinctively grip my Luger and get ready to confront her when I had a vision of the future. I saw myself being handcuffed and sitting in the back of a squad car.

The poster child for anorexia didn't follow her outside, why should I risk my safety and freedom?

This wasn't my battle, not worth the risks involved to "do the right thing". I'd have liked to have done something but I believe I made the right choice to not go after the walrus, it's not as if I packed my harpoon gun for such an occasion anyhow.

Do the right thing is to do nothing at all. Target and other wokester companies would be the first to throw you under the bus if something bad went down. Next time wear a good pair of running sneakers to run the other way…….

That's only after you pick up your prescriptions……. Lol

 

[bradsteen]

But if you're morally flexible enough to stand by when some lowlife engages in criminal activity, that's on you. Next time I shop at a Target, I'll thank all the little people that make the high prices possible.

So if someone doesn't intervene to stop a crackhead from walking off with a bunch of crap the store doesn't want to protect itself, that makes them "morally flexible"? They should interject themselves into a situation against the wishes of the store management and take on risks injury and liability when there is no imminent threat of harm to others? That's an interesting worldview.

Personally, I value my freedom, health, and financial well-being more than playing hero for an unappreciative victim. My daughter growing up without a father, or shamed by her father being in prison, or being penniless from lawsuits is a steep cost to pay for stopping someone from walking away with a $99 piece of consumer electronics. So if having the capacity to gauge risk and be selective at what you're willing to throw your life away over is being morally flexible, then I guess I'll be morally flexible.

 

[ilikegunspdx]

The target near me generally has 3 fully kitted and very visible security staff near the entrances because they have so much theft. If they chose not to put that in that store that's for them to deal with.

 

[Tlock]

Why would anyone still shop at target?? Years ago my dad's cousin tried stopping a shop lifter in winco off of lancaster.....for his "good deed" he was awarded a bullet in his upper thigh that broke him femur. No way in hell I'm getting involved

 

[nwslopoke]

To the OP. As a kid I learned from riding the city buses in LA. Just keep reading your comic book until 5th street. Ring the bell and go home.

 

[TTSX]

I watched a crackhead do the crackhead jig on the sidewalk by a seven eleven and did nothing. Probably should have just shot him /s

 

[VinnieBoomBah]

I will never witness theft inside a target store.

Back during The Late Great Unpleasantness our oldest (early 20's at the time) was living on the east side of PDX and developed quite the reputation as a master shoplifter, all of his friends had been caught several times, banned from a bunch of stores and were very lucky to not have been arrested. He was finally able to get a job and when he got his first paycheck he went to one of the stores and actually bought his groceries. As he was checking out the cashier started chatting with him and when he told her he had found a job she got very excited for him and said, with no malice, how they were looking forward to him coming through the lines and not sneaking out the door
Que face

Turns out he wasn't all that masterfull, he just went for things like sweet potatoes, swiss chard, mushrooms and things like that. His friends on the other hand got busted with steak, expensive shampoos and wine. Everyone in the store knew and figured as long as he was just going for root vegetables and actual food they could spend their energy on the other ones.

 

[RVTECH]

That's an interesting worldview.

Well, it is a 'view' that is supported by a certain demographic of our society who apply certain 'moral' concepts to it, along with the words from a certain 'good book' to support their beliefs.

A while back on another forum there was an essential 'carbon copy' of this thread - except in that one the OP described how he DID intervene in a shoplifting at a Home Depot.

Long story short the guy who intervened got mildly injured, accomplished nothing and it was others who ultimately followed the shoplifter out and got the vehicle info.

While the majority (like here) agreed intervention in something like this is wrong there were a few that expressed belief jumping in IS the right thing to do for a variety of reasons. Here are a couple of the more comedic responses:

I tip my hat to any and all who do that. I'm glad there are people like you setting an example that we all should follow if we are able.

Someone said we need to show restraint and think before jumping in to be a hero. He will never understand that hero's don't jump in to be a hero - they are heroes because they jump in.

In conclusion I AM with the majority both here and there who agree intervention in a shoplifting is the wrong thing to do for all the reasons already expressed.

 

[Alexx1401]

The target near me generally has 3 fully kitted and very visible security staff near the entrances because they have so much theft. If they chose not to put that in that store that's for them to deal with.

I have for a while now started to see a few stores doing that. Having armed security at the door. I have to "hope" the idea is the store is hoping the scum will just go elsewhere. No idea what rules the guards are given. It makes me leery of the place when I see them as I know its only a matter of time till this leads to a disaster. Assuming they allow them to actually have bullets in their guns there is going to be a shooting where someone other than the scum is shot. So many of the drug zombies now are armed that one is going to take on one of these guards. I have little faith it will end well when the rounds start flying in a store like that. Just hope I am not there when it happens.

 

[VinnieBoomBah]

I have for a while now started to see a few stores doing that. Having armed security at the door. I have to "hope" the idea is the store is hoping the scum will just go elsewhere. No idea what rules the guards are given. It makes me leery of the place when I see them as I know its only a matter of time till this leads to a disaster. Assuming they allow them to actually have bullets in their guns there is going to be a shooting where someone other than the scum is shot. So many of the drug zombies now are armed that one is going to take on one of these guards. I have little faith it will end well when the rounds start flying in a store like that. Just hope I am not there when it happens.

 

[ktgee]

Whipping out your gun can have consequences. Don't get involve that has nothing to do with you or family.

Self defense shooting is anotther matter but could face some of the same consequences.

Many of us law abiding gun packing fellows live a peaceful life. Getting involve can destroy your peace and get yourself in trouble with a crimnal charges, possibly death or wounding of you and or the subject, jail time, losing your money to hire lawyers, getting lawsuits against you, get yourself mugshot exposed on social media, lose your job and possibly destroy your famliy and finances. You may even lose all your guns if you are criminally charged. Finally, Target might come after you for being a danger and press charges instead of thanking you.

You see the news and videos how blazen criminals are resisting the police. If you confront a subject, he might resist/fight you even if you had a gun pointed at him. He may even pull out his own gun. Nobody want to go to jail. That may lead you to open fire.

That's something you have to be aware and prepare for if you whip out your gun in any situation.

 

[Nosferatu]

how blazen criminals

They're setting themselves on fire now too?

 

[bradsteen]

They're setting themselves on fire now too?

If only!

 

[Hawaiian]

I would have at least yelled at her.................... "Hey, you forgot to get beer".

 

[Certaindeaf]

I will never witness theft inside a target store.

That's because your high horse is actually autistic.

 

[wired]

My wife works at a Lowes. That store has 1.2 million in shoplifting thefts per year. Its rolled into their bottom line. The last thing they want is some jackass getting into a shootout in the store over a box of made in China Craftsman tools .

 

[RedRover]

The only times I go to Target in Bonney Lake are for when I need to pick up medication or to look at their cookware.

Thus I'm standing in the check out line with my bags of pills and a new non stick frying pan, idly trying to determine the gender and potential species of the blue haired whale like cashier. I've determined it is most likely a female, perhaps a species of white orca that had been conscripted to this life of cashiering.

To our left a lot of yelling is going on, an anorexic appearing teenager starts jumping around a second large creature (this one resembles a black walrus with low quality weave work.) The poor clerks arms are flailing about like Kermit the frog, saying she cant leave yet and has to pay. She pushes her cart past him and out the door. I instinctively grip my Luger and get ready to confront her when I had a vision of the future. I saw myself being handcuffed and sitting in the back of a squad car.

The poster child for anorexia didn't follow her outside, why should I risk my safety and freedom?

This wasn't my battle, not worth the risks involved to "do the right thing". I'd have liked to have done something but I believe I made the right choice to not go after the walrus, it's not as if I packed my harpoon gun for such an occasion anyhow.

Pick your battles wisely.
Are you a loss-prevention officer? Off-duty cop?

No reason to draw if there's no immediate threat of violent harm.
You also never know if the person in question may have back-up lurking and watching in the wings, out of your peripheral frame of view.

You owe Target nothing.

That stated...
Carrying a firearm may make one feel like they've got an extra 'edge'. It's a natural emotion, but one that ought to be curbed when it comes to the importance of making rational decisions when carrying. You won't find me mouthing off extra when someone pisses me off in public, or interjecting myself into the business of others where I'm not directly involved.
In fact, carrying tends to find me reminding myself to be even more conscious about keeping my cool.

Looks like your inner-voice did its job.

 

[wired]

Even worse is joining in on a domestic violence in public . People beating each other up do it all the time. Theyre used to it , they lead that life on purpose. You go drawing on the guy to save the woman and that lady is just as likely to shoot you.

None Ya Mind Ya

 

[Alexx1401]

Even worse is joining in on a domestic violence in public . People beating each other up do it all the time. Theyre used to it , they lead that life on purpose. You go drawing on the guy to save the woman and that lady is just as likely to shoot you.

None Ya Mind Ya

There is a good reason Cops HATE domestic calls more than any other call. It is by far the most volatile. It is common for a woman to call because she is getting pounded. Then when Police arrest her baby daddy she will try to attack them. Also too many times they get called, most often by the woman, then here comes the man with a gun to start trying to shoot them from ambush.