Real Life Training

On January 15 I posted a blog in reference to an LP employee killed while trying to stop a shoplifter. Let's revisit this for a moment.

Of course the first thing that pops into everyone's mind is....

"There is nothing in that store worth risking your life for."

And this statement is true. Can't argue that point.

On the other side of this coin is the fact that when those of us who agree to take this position, complete with all the associated risks, we have a level of expectation that someday you may be faced with some sort of danger. And yet, we still sign on for it. The key, in my mind, is how we will respond at that particular moment.

One day I was attempting to stop a shoplifter in the vestibule of the store and in return I was bathed in mace. Exactly one week later, in the same vestibule, a shoplifter decided he wanted to shove me and run...and well I don't take kindly to anyone shoving me, so we ended up wrestling through the vestibule until he broke free. (Both later arrested...again, win/win.)

Now fast forward to the news of this LP in Michigan getting killed. Does it cause me to pause and think about the how's, why's and what I am doing? Absolutely. I have heard in my circles, people putting this guy down for doing what he was doing. Honestly, I don't think he was too far out of line, and can almost see how it happened, and what he was thinking.

First, as stated, it's our job to go after the guy stealing merchandise. That should be a given for those in this position. To some outsiders, that alone is too much. So this guy sees a man loading up $400.00 worth of CD's. Think about that for a moment. That IS alot of merchandise to take. That alone gets the adrenaline in any LP flowing. I know when a guy pockets a wristwatch at my store, my heart starts racing and I start planning how I am grabbing him when we hit the front door.

This LP in Michigan, for whatever reason, made a call to 9-1-1 before the thief ever hit the front door. Sometimes you just know when to get the PD moving, some times they can wait. After the call is made, this thief heads out the door. If this is my store, I am either right behind him, or if I got a jump on him, I am in front of him blocking his exit. As the story goes in Michigan, a getaway SUV is parked in the fire lane, within ten or fifteen feet of the front door. Alot can happen within that space. And more importantly, alot can happen in that space, in a matter of seconds. His adrenaline is pumping, and he's intent on stopping the thief or atleast recovering merchandise, because that is what we do. That is our purpose for being there. Seconds later he is being drug across the lot into several poles until he drops and dies.

Looking back at my wrestling match, I can absolutely see if someone made it out the door as I approached them, then they decide to shove me, well, that puts me right at the fire lane where this tragedy occurred. What really occurred we may never know. Was there a struggle from the door to the vehicle, again, just ten feet or so? Was he grabbing the merchandise from him? Was he really grabbing the vehicle or did he get caught on the mirror or door somehow? The questions could go on. But one thing is clear to me, it is not for me to judge this LP or his actions. I would rather try to learn from this tragedy and hope if presented with the same scenario, the experience will help me react appropriately.

I have had guys do an end run around me, and break for their cars. Am I chasing him across the lot, hell no. I do however, casually walk into the lot just close enough to read the license plate as the bad guy speeds away. Once the license plate is read, I turn and go back to the store. And in many cases, I can position myself so the car is being either backed up toward me, or they have to drive by me. Either way I can safely read the tags.

There have been guys who got out of the store without knowing I was even watching. In this case, I go into my customer mode, take out my cell phone and casually walk into the lot "talking to someone" as I walk to ...."my car." Many times I can get to the car right behind the thief's car, and act like I am having trouble getting the keys in the lock. Meanwhile, they get in their car and back up toward me. From there, I have the guy's description, the car description, the tags, and the direction of travel when they leave the lot. This has worked for me on more than a few occassions. All the while...I am safe and sound. The last time I did this was when two homeless guys teamed up and I really didn't trust their reactions had I approached them alone. I called for the PD and let them know which way they went and in what car. Minutes later they were face down on the pavement while the PD was emptying their trunk filled with stolen merchandise from several stores in the area.

So, looking back to Michigan, it's not plain and simple. The man was there to stop shoplifters. He was doing his job, something went horribly wrong, and he lost his life. Fortunatley the two shoplifters involved were followed and caught, and charged.

I will try to chalk this up to an unfortunate form of training, and hope that this is exactly what I will fall back on should I find myself in similar conditions.