I saw this again today. Some scum-wad white anus in a black hoodie. Walked away from the Fred Meyer self-pay stations with the attendant running along behind him. The scummer got to the door minder, determinedly looked straight ahead and easily got by him. The minder at the door said "stop" a couple of times, the scummer replied, "You're harassing me." Nobody lays hands on these people. I've read about the plague of store thieves in Seattle. This is the second time I've seen it at this particular store in the north end. Later, I talked to the door minder about it. He said it is store policy to let them go. He also allowed that management has informed him that it is cause for dismissal if a regular store employee attempts to block or restrain any such thief trying to leave. Including latching onto a cart should they be using one.
The stores fear lawsuit. By scummers who later claim injury of some sort, including "harassment." And, they fear for the safety of their employees, who might get injured in a fracas. And then they might sue the store. Imagine the ethics of a low-down shyster who would represent a scummer thief with a claim of harassment.
We don't have to wonder how the perpetually, professionally homeless get their supplies. This is a main method. They KNOW store policy; they KNOW they aren't at much risk of apprehension or detention.
Fred Meyer does have "loss prevention" agents working in their stores, I think maybe two or three per big store. They can detain. But they are up in the attic watching monitor screens most of the time, not able to get out to the door to catch one with a big haul going out the door. The Fred Meyer in Everett used to have an off-duty EPD officer on duty 24 hours a day. I don't shop there much these days, and the times I have been there lately I haven't seen an officer around. Maybe they discontinued that presence, possibly due to the Covid virus thing. Meaning, the potential exposure of an officer to a scummer with Covid wasn't worth the merch. recovery factor.
You can't legitimately call such acts, "shoplifting." I've always thought that word was defined as covert or sneaky theft. What's going on with these scummers now is just out-right, brazen theft.
The stores fear lawsuit. By scummers who later claim injury of some sort, including "harassment." And, they fear for the safety of their employees, who might get injured in a fracas. And then they might sue the store. Imagine the ethics of a low-down shyster who would represent a scummer thief with a claim of harassment.
We don't have to wonder how the perpetually, professionally homeless get their supplies. This is a main method. They KNOW store policy; they KNOW they aren't at much risk of apprehension or detention.
Fred Meyer does have "loss prevention" agents working in their stores, I think maybe two or three per big store. They can detain. But they are up in the attic watching monitor screens most of the time, not able to get out to the door to catch one with a big haul going out the door. The Fred Meyer in Everett used to have an off-duty EPD officer on duty 24 hours a day. I don't shop there much these days, and the times I have been there lately I haven't seen an officer around. Maybe they discontinued that presence, possibly due to the Covid virus thing. Meaning, the potential exposure of an officer to a scummer with Covid wasn't worth the merch. recovery factor.
You can't legitimately call such acts, "shoplifting." I've always thought that word was defined as covert or sneaky theft. What's going on with these scummers now is just out-right, brazen theft.