MONEY MORAL DILEMMA. Should Vinnie chase the robbers?

Hey_Dude

Interesting.

When I was in 6th Form I worked Saturdays in BHS selling shoes.

I spotted a shoplifter - watched him pocket some clothing and wander upstairs - so I followed him.

He saw me and ran - so I chased (The Dude was much leaner back then :rolleyes: )

Anyhow I chased this numpty through the store, a restaurant, an entire shopping mall, an over head tunnel and eventually caught up with him in another big store - tackled him and sat on him.

Security Dudes took him away.

Looking back now - not one Dude stepped in to help me throughout the chase.

And I can't recall getting any special thanks back at the shop - certainly no bonus or slap on the back from management.

But it did feel good to nab the wally.

Duder

Johan

I'm afraid not, I would leave that for the police or the store detective. To dangerous to tackle the thief as he may be armed!

It would not be in the shop assistant's job description to catch thieves and the Store's liabilty insurance would not cover him anyway unless he is the store detective!

So sod it I say!!

Johan

wombraider1 wrote: »

I HATE MY JOB.Security firms charge the retailers up to £32 per hour per guard,in turn they pay that guard the minimum wage or a few pence over it.Dave.:mad:

Time to pack it in!!

n3phi1im

whosforachat wrote: »

Remember, Emily Pankhurst and Nelson Mandela were criminals, having broken the law, and so is the girl who read out the names of the Iraq-war-dead at the cenotaph last year.

Really?? Why is that?

harryhound

The function of the Police is to maintain the Queen's peace (ie maintain a veneer of respectability).
The function of the law is to protect the interests of the law makers (which might include getting re-elected).

It is fairly obvious why we have the highest prison population in Europe:
Even amongst the MSE community 2 people out of 3 would-walk-on-by muttering "must not get involved". Cowed into inaction by fears of physical violence but more so by political correctness, lack of mutual support and fear of the system.

For the 1/3rd minority who are prepared to support honest standards; keep going I'll support you. The only real crime deterrent is the risk of getting caught, anything else is just sociological flannel.

How about next week's conundrum: "You are walking in the park alone and see a youth appear to grab an elderly woman's hand bag and run towards you, as she screams at him". What do you do?

Answer:
"Mutter I'm not trained/paid for this job - and walk on by".

Harry.

PS Emily Pankhurst and Nelson Mandela knew they were breaking an unjust law and chose to do so and accept the consequences. Maya Evans may not have understood she was in the same situation? More information in Google or in this left wing rag:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2006/09/17/do1709.xml&sSheet=/opinion/2006/09/17/ixopinion.html

I wonder if the "credit crunch" that will reduce several MSE members to poverty in the next few years, is just a symptom of fighting a war using deficit financing? Perhaps Mr Darling will explain at lunch time today.

immortaljaz

This robber sounds like an amateur, but nevertheless - when I worked in retail we were told to report it, but don't stop it.

The fact is a shoplifter is likely to have some form of weapon on them, and the shop's insurance won't cover Vinnie's injuries, but it will likely cover replacement of goods.

If he was suited up and equipped to deal with it - then fine, but he's a lowly sales assistant, on minimum wage (and yes - that is a factor. He might do his job to the best of his abilities, but he shouldn't be expected to do someone else's), just there to put people off - then that is exactly what he should be doing; putting people off.
Vinnie's manager saw the crime - it's his call if he wants to pursue the shoplifter or not. Not Vinnie's.

All you on your moral high horses should consider that it's not as simple as being a 'good' citizen. Your life isn't worth a bundle of t-shirts. End of.

harryhound

immortaljaz wrote: »

This robber sounds like an amateur, but nevertheless - when I worked in retail we were told to report it, but don't stop it.

The fact is a shoplifter is likely to have some form of weapon on them, and the shop's insurance won't cover Vinnie's injuries, but it will likely cover replacement of goods.

If he was suited up and equipped to deal with it - then fine, but he's a lowly sales assistant, on minimum wage (and yes - that is a factor. He might do his job to the best of his abilities, but he shouldn't be expected to do someone else's), just there to put people off - then that is exactly what he should be doing; putting people off.
Vinnie's manager saw the crime - it's his call if he wants to pursue the shoplifter or not. Not Vinnie's.

All you on your moral high horses should consider that it's not as simple as being a 'good' citizen. Your life isn't worth a bundle of t-shirts. End of.

This posting is completely rational and demonstrates my point.

Why do people think there is a big mutual money pot called "insurance".
Insurance companies probably only pay out half of their premiums as net claims, the rest goes in administration. Just like any other business they are trying to maximise profit out of the insured. Like credit when you really need it you cannot get it.

If the criminals keep on winning, the insurance goes on up until the honest shoppers cannot afford the prices and eventually the shop cannot get insurance and goes bust; putting Vinney and all the rest of the staff out of a job.
There are still places in this fair land of ours where the criminals are winning - you know the sort of place, because you would not want to live there. Litter, broken fences, old furniture in the garden & lobby, the burnt out car on Monday morning and the real give away the shop next to the empty one that does not bother to take down its security screen during the day time. Living in an area like that is not really like an episode of "Shameless".

Every time you walk on by , your area gets closer to a slum and more and more you have to compromise with your conscience.
When you hear a screaming noise at night, what do you do? Pull the bedclothes over your head?

Me? I know it is a mating fox - do you?

swiftlx

Throughout every job i have had, all training and bosses have always told me to never refuse or chase after a robber.

If there is a slient alarm located near to the door/till then press that especially if being thretened.

Shops are insured against this sort of thing so there is no point in risking any sort of injury for the sake of something which is replaceable.

The same goes for threat of fire - just get the hell away from there. We might as well get some pay back from those bl**dy insurance companies that we all pay premiums for!!

123snowy

Maybe I am being naive but in this instance, I don't really see Vinnie as being in much danger at all.[/quote]

Yes you are right you are naive:T

A_little_stressed!!

As another sales assistant at Britains high street DEpartment store, a minimum wage job. I was shocked that in my training,we were told if there was a bomb scare we are supposed to look for the bomb!! Checking clothes pockets etc. Obviously doing that would set it off!! MADNESS! NO WAY!