Man Says Best Buy Fired Him for Stopping Suspected Shoplifter 

Only in America where criminals have more rights than the law abiding citizens. What a shame!

Stores won’t close down due to theft, prices will increase and the people who follow the law will end up paying the consequences. This is ridiculous

Somebody please find the former bestbuy employee and give him a better paying job. Trust me, you WANT guys like that working for you.

This is just ridiculous. He tries to save merchandise, and he gets punished.

Truthfully, jobs don’t pay enough to put your life in danger over a store’s INSURED merchandise. I worked for a company that fired a manager after he was drug by a car down an 8 lane road in a attempt to stop a thief from getting away. People value your life more then a store’s merchandise that doesn’t belong to you. They will fire you then hire the next person to take you place the very next day.

Basically letting criminals get away with everything, but when good people do something ooohh noooo fire them. Bruh

This is absolutely sick. The criminal shouldn’t have more rights than the employee who stops him. The employee is a hero for getting involved and stopping the thief unlike the other employees. He should be promoted, not fired.

Best Buy: No Shoplifting!! Employee: Stops shoplifter Best Buy: Wait that’s illegal

Protect this employee at all cost.

This is unacceptable. Thieves needs to go to jail. I guarantee this will never happen at Target?

Policy at most retail stores is to not confront criminals. Why would you risk your life to protect the property of a multi-million dollar corporation…especially when they tell you not to ?

How embarrassing is that to have security just for him/her to stand there n do nothing

Isn’t it insane how criminals have more rights than those of us who abide by the law?????

Its a shame that this happened to this man. The way I see it, its not ever worth risking your life for these easily replaceable store items.

When I worked in retail, we also weren't allowed to say or do anything to the shoplifters. Sometimes people would come in and literally rob huge bags worth of clothes and get away with it because they knew we couldn't do anything. Not even the security guards could do anything.

So bad people can rob Whoever Whenever, and if you try to stop them you'll be ostracized or fired. Hmm...crazy world we live in these days.

I can relate to the best buy guy! I was working as a supervisor at arc thrift stores when there was a theif. I went to get the car number and the woman attacked me. My job actually demoted me to cashier and said the only reason I wasn't fired was because they're short staffed! So don't worry dude, we know how it is

He shouldn’t of been fired, but educated that his life is worth more than what ever they stole. You don’t know if these people have guns, and perhaps if you still 3x then make it a felony or something

Imagine Stopping A Shoplifter And Then Getting Fired In Return.

I'm no felony expert. However, those bags certainly look like they're filled with $950.+, worth of items, to me. 🤔

I use to work in Loss Prevention and it was just ridicoulus how people could pretty much steal whatever they wanted. The company I worked for would terminate you if you tried to stop them and the people stealing KNEW that so they would just grab stuff and casually walk out. Smh

Happened to me too. Blockbuster Music fired me in the mid-90s when I saw someone shoplift and he lied saying I used a racial slur which I absolutely did not. I worked for them for 7 years and they fired me simply because he said that lie. Still cannot believe they fired a loyal, decent manager.

That's basically the one guy in the whole store who actually cares about where he works. He should've been given a raise or some paid vacation or something!

There needs to be a national crackdown on shoplifters. It’s become so bad that every company is afraid to do anything for legal or insurance reasons.

That Best Buy employee did a better job than the security guard🤦🏾‍♀️

Him getting fired makes perfect sense, the first thing they tell you in retail is don't mess with the thieves. This dude literally took it personally and it's 100% his fault.

This is a prime example of why you should never go above and beyond for any job

That best buy employee is a boss I'm sure private companies would love to have him

When I worked retail at a store we would come up with code words to team up and get the shoplifters. But the company actually encouraged us to do what we had to do. They lost so much in loss prevention.

I work at a grocery store and we're told we can't stop shoplifters for our safety since a thing that happened a year ago so now ppl still steal but we can't stop it and if we try to we will get fired but we do make them know that we know

I blame the people putting these ignorant politicians into office. Wait until all of their stores close down. Summer of Love is just getting started...

As someone that works in retail, unfortunately, we aren't allowed to stop shoplifters, we can only report them. However, since I work for a high end designer store, they always get caught because of our cameras and always get charged to the highest extent. But no, we aren't allowed to chase after them or tackle them.

Somebody please give the fired Best Buy guy a job.... This man is a Hero! God bless him... he put his life on the line.... I am boycotting Best Buys because of this incident!

This is why people have to pay the mark up price for people like this that just steal so boldly and make it hard for others who already trying to make ends meet have to pay the mark up price.

I’ve worked At 7/11 and Mobil and my boss always told me to not intervene with shop lifters and just notify the police. I always thought it was odd but it makes perfect sense now, If you try to stop them some one could get hurt or Just cause more damage then what was already stolen. A $2.00 bag of chips isn’t worth Someone medical bill.

It breaks my heart to see America falter like this! We must NOT let her fall!! 🇬🇧🇺🇲

Employee: *stops shoplifter* Best Buy: you weren’t supposed to do that.

I wouldn’t chase anybody for targets, Lowe’s, Kmart or any of these establishments... they can keep the merchandise. You’re literally jeopardizing your life nowadays.

I remember a similar incident that happened to my grandpa. Back then he was working at home depot and he loved his job there because he was assigned on the plant section and since my grandpa loves gardening it was not a problem for him working there. Then one night while closing there was a dude who tried to steal which i believe was a washing machine if i can even recall. He tried to stop the the person from stealing by literally chasing him and scaring him off which thankfully worked but the sad news is the next day when he came to work he was fired due to safety reasons. The manager and the staff were sad because grandpa really loved his job back then but it had to be done due to corporate policy and he did work there for almost 2 years. All sadness aside its been 11 years and my grandpa together with my grandma now takes care of their farm and he couldn’t be any more happier☺️

"Watch as this private security officer tries to grab the bag" Man he had such quick reactions and thinking wish I could have the ability to think like him.

Just witnessed this twice in one day! It’s truly sad and pathetic 😡😓

I can believe this. I used to work security for a mall. I was told strictly not to interfere with criminal activity to include theft. I fully understood that I was not a cop, but what's the point of having a security team that is not allowed to secure or prevent anything? I loved helping customers, but at the end of the day, it was one of the lest fulfilling and worst jobs I ever had.

All I can say is “That law is the most stupid thing, I’ve ever heard”

I worked at bestbuy a few years ago and they made it clear we could NEVER touch a shoplifter no matter what or we would loose our job, so I understand why the guy wanted to stop the shoplifter but they did make it clear as day to us not to stop touch them. That's why they have very good PTZ cameras to watch people and call the police if anyone is suspected of shop lifting.

This work policy has been going on for a long time for many companies. I worked for a grocery store in North Idaho in early 90's. Some employees beat up a shoplifter. After that lawsuit the handbook policy changed to not allow employees to touch or try stopping them. Back then the laws were more strict so not as many people were not willing to even try.

Good on that Best Buy employee for standing up for what's right and denouncing a crime being committed in front of him. Good people do not stand by with their arms crossed.

This is getting unbelievable even for them

I remember when I worked at a mall. First job. I was 15. They told me if people stole things on my shift that I could be fired. But we also weren't legally allowed to tackle or physically stop anyone from stealing. So me a 15 year old girl.... first job... just was expected to shout and guilt thieves into not costing me my job that was mind you minimum wage at the time and barely above 7 an hour... PART TIME. No. I quit that job after a few months LOL never worked retail again. Got me twisted.

“Why don’t retailers care??” *employee stops shoplifter and gets fired*

This is common in a lot of retail stores. You aren’t allowed to stop a thief until they have actually walked out the door.

As retail workers it is never worth getting in the way of a shoplifter. You could be putting yourself in harms way esp., if the shoplifter feels desperate enough to get away and decides to attack. In most retail stores we’re usually instructed to call it out over the radio and step out of the way. It’s also most likely in the employee handbook. The retailers have insurance for the stolen merchandise. I’m not surprised to hear that the one guy was fired.

The issue is that it can become more violent and put others at risk. Some people go in armed in case they need to use force when shoplifting. It’s sad but true.

It’s very hard for retail, you have policies that prevent you from preventing theft and with most can lead to dismissal, but somehow you’re also still responsible for the loss as an employee, which puts pressure on you. It’s a hard gig with confusing rules and laws.

When stores take thieves to court, the thieves only get a slap on the wrist for first offense. The stores waits until a thief has three thefts in their store. It's just unfortunate that this employee like other employees does not know the store's thief policies.

This is such a stupid law, who ever thought of it should lose their job

2:13 Buddy, standing up for what is right will lead you to more respectful careers in the future. Proud of you.

those first guys literal walked in and walked out. they ain’t have no trouble 💀

My brother was fired from a store for standing in front of the door not letting the thief leave. I didn't understand at first, but when I became a LPO, I understand that the company has insurance on the merchandise but not the employees. If an employee is hurt trying to save the merchandise it's much more costly.

Cameraman: "let's see how far you guys get..." Reporter: "the thieves got away!" Lmao

Imagine having security for them to do nothing while the employee actually does something to help and gets fired, if he got fired, shouldn't the security get fired as well for literally doing nothing 💀

This was one of the stupidest laws ever changed. Hell, now I’m kinda tempted to start shoplifting.

yes they will fire you because it’s a “cautionary lesson” for all employees to learn, the employers don’t want to be held liable for the employees injury.

Unbelievable being fired for saving your company from losses. He should use that on his resume. Who wouldn't want an honest, respectful great employee like him.

I've seen this type of situations where store employees protect the store and get fired. Basically their just saying, dont put your life on the line. You dont know if the person your stopping is carrying a weapon. It is not your store you stoping them wont do anything, just let them have the item the store is covered by insurance.Its a whole another story if your job is a security but if your just some janitor or cashier dont put life at risk.

I was told as an employee, you can't stop a shoplifter, even if you completely saw them, because it's safety reason "person might have a weapon on him" and only managers can stop them ONLY if they saw them taking stuff. And if a customer stole items that is less than a $100-150 worth of merchandise items, They let them go even though they will come back and shoplift again.

Unreal. If no one stops it will continue.

This is what happens when you make stupid laws and allow criminals do what they want!

I work for a TJX department store and they tell us not to intervene with shoplifters, but to rather monitor them, until they're out the door, and make a report so we can prosecute repeated offenders, because it's a risk to us to intervene. If we do, the consequence is termination of employment.

While it would be nice to stop thieves and give them a good kick in the face, It’s a policy at most if not all retail stores to not openly accuse or physically stop a customer from leaving the store with stolen goods because you don’t know whether that thief is insane and might have a weapon and turn around and use it. It’s for the safety of store associates, and well, also to protect the store from liability if an associate gets hurt from a customer.

Dude not only got away with stealing he also broke the world record for largest backpack

My dad worked retail loss prevention for Burdines and Mervins in SoFlo in the early 90’s. They were getting to full fledged fist fights and mile long foot pursuits and they were congratulated by customers and store leadership for all the work they did. That was the norm for all companies back then. I worked loss prevention for a few companies while in college and so many companies have hands off policies where they won’t touch you. They approach you and ask you to return but they can’t force you back. Luckily I worked for companies where we ran the same show as my dad back then but most of my friends didn’t have that luxury. It’s a sad world we’ve turned into. The few that were hands on have now gone off cause of COVID or the whole police racial situation going on. How we have strayed so far from how things should be.

I don't like how crooks can get away with everything but no employee should be risking their lives for these corporations.

$7.50 an hour is not worth the risk of stopping a shoplifter. Dont be a hero the corporation does not care about the employees.

I worked at Best Buy and the CO policies says no employee under the company can stop a theif saying it’s not their job and it really isn’t.

She’s definitely wrong in saying “they probably go in with their calculators and steal $850.00 worth of merchandise” …I’m pretty sure they calculate their stolen goods up to the penny .. more like $949.99

He should've not been let go.. He should've been promoted cause he showed how much he likes his job and the company he works for. That being said they should've also talked to him bout how it's not worth chasing them down and getting hurt or killed over a PS5..

"Though shalt not steal." Lord have mercy!

My boyfriend got fired from target two weeks ago stopping someone stealing. She filed a complaint that he was in the way of her and didn’t let her leave and they fired him 🙄🤦🏻‍♀️ I saw the footage too

This is just infuriating. Ordinaries like us pay for that stuff just for them to get away. Hope the policies change

Imagine black friday, stolen goods with discount deals of full rushed in people that possibly may lead to workers have no idea how much moneys worth of products will have been stolen or purchased

This is madness! I walk into a store ready to shop and buy, and I’m followed by mere *thought* of theft. I won’t even shop at my local Staples anymore because of the way I’ve been treated at the register! Preparing to pay. Also, BestBuy is trash. Not an insult. But a character description.

The video of them all running out of that store one after another reminds me of what it looks like when you lift an item that has been sitting around in a roach infested house and hundreds of roaches run out and scatter. Ashamed that there isn't a giant can of shoplifter spray that you can spray on them. Their actions make them as much of a pestilence as any infestation of roaches, rats or anything else that comes in and takes from you.

Yes. They do that. My son was threatened with getting fired if shoplifting continued in his store, then he got fired when he tried to stop another shoplifter. It's terrible. You're damned if you do and damned if you don't.

It’s funny how the police woman (I think she’s the Sargent) said thief’s be going in stores with calculators and adding up stuff to steal so it’s under $900. Bless he heart. 😂

I was at H&M the other day, and the cashier just mumbled to herself "he just stole something but I don't get paid enough for that"

That’s messed up on Best Buy for doing that. They need to hire him and make him a manager.

When I worked for Circle K (gas station/ convenience store), before working my first shift, I was told if I even reached out my arm, I can get fired. They said to follow every demand to the T. There is nothing materialistic in the world worth your life. Just let them be. I understand prices go up but people’s lives will not to be messed with.

This is where people should take the law into their own hands. If the system won’t do anything, just end these people.

Salute to the former Best Buy employee. Hope he finds a good job elsewhere where he'll be appreciated.

No one truly cares until it happens to them...then they either realize something is wrong or they blame someone else for the problem. I tell you this...if it happens to me, they aren't getting passed me. I don't care anymore. Just like anyone who breaks into a house. No one cares until it happens to them...

Shoplifter: I’d like to apply Best Buy: you’re hired

1:40 What an efficient and worthwhile security guard, filming the crime, and in a valiant attempt at actually doing their job, slapping the stolen goods.

Make them famous, put their faces on billboards. I'm sure they won't die of shame.

I worked at Best Buy and it was awful. Good for him!

I can’t believe this is happening!?! Since the pandemic America has turned into a twilight zone that’s never ending! It’s getting scary! I live in NY and I only go out once or twice a week because I’m scared of what might happen to me! 🙋🏼‍♀️🇺🇸🙏🏻

What’s wrong in our society ? No body owes you anything. Work for it.

As much as I am against shoplifting, I’m not going to stop one. Not my pay grade. Those big stores make billions each year. If they want to stop it, they can hire better security or bribe a politician to change the law.

That is so messed up! He’s a hero in my eyes!

God please bless that boy and give him a better job! This is insane! Prices sure to rise to cover their losses.

There is a danger… in most places you can not harm someone to protect property.