Home Depot Shoplifting Policy?

[Jims5543]

http://www.local6.com/money/13452152/detail.html


I am heading over there this afternoon, there is a lawn tractor I have had my eye one. I also want another Weber grill for my house in North Carolina. I did not know their stuff is free. Stupid me paying for it all this time.

Midwest City Police said the men helped officers catch suspected shoplifters as they tried to run from a store with lawn equipment.

An internal memo from Home Depot outlines that associates cannot accuse, detain, chase or call the police on any customer for shoplifting. However, one of the fired employees said the company is selective in enforcing that policy.

"The loss-prevention guy at our Shields (Boulevard) store turned around and told me all we need to do is tell the shoplifter to have a good day as they leave the store. I said that just doesn't make sense," former employee Bob Stewart said.

Stewart said what really doesn't make sense is a termination letter Home Depot gave him and three other employees after they helped police catch the shoplifters.

"We saw them with the merchandise. We saw them run out of the store. I never kept my eyes off of them," Stewart said. "Then when we asked them for a receipt, and that's when they dropped the merchandise and they kept running. One guy still had a chainsaw while he was running, and that's when the cops tackled him."

The letter said Stewart and the others were fired because they "pursued and assisted in the apprehension of suspected shoplifters."

Stewart said all he did was call police, something he's done before. Less than eight months ago, he said that he received a letter -- a commendation letter -- for helping police catch a thief trying to steal $2,500 worth of wire.

On the top of the letter, written in bold letters was "Great job, Bob."

Home Depot officials said in an e-mail to Oklahoma City TV station KOCO that they have "standard operating procedures in place for situations like this," and that "from time to time, we find inconsistent execution in our stores."

However, they added that they do not discuss personnel matters and will not comment on this specific case.

Midwest City Police Chief Brandon Clabes said he won't comment on the store policy, but said they would probably not have caught the suspects or recovered the property or the stolen car they drove if it had not been for the help of these four employees.

Clabes said he is considering giving the four men letters of appreciation for helping catch the suspects.

[MRM]

I suspect there's more to the story.

[The Gaijin]

They don't want their employees getting hurt. It is as simple as that. (With potential lawsuits and medical claims, the number crunchers realize it is just not worth it.)

[Rick Lee]

I may hve to unload my stock in HD and buy Lowe's now.

[RickM]

Now to find a Porsche dealership with the same policy.....

If Lowes were closer to my home I'd be there exclusively.

[Racerbvd]

They carry TVs now too!!!



Product Reviews Panasonic 50 In. Widescreen Plasma HDTV with Built-In ATSC/QAM/NTSC Tuners & SD Memory Card Slot

Model TH-50PX60U

$1,999.00/Each

[Jims5543]

Iam so there after work. I wish they carried beer too.

[URY914]

I just stole a new John Deere tractor. I told the manager to "Have a nice day, SUCKER!" as I drove off.

[911boost]

There is a lot more to it than this. Don't believe everything you hear.

Bill

PS I do a significant amount of business with HD on the security side.

[RickM]

I suspect the liability issue mentioned is the main driver.

Can a store/corp get sued by a person who is unjustly stopped?...or harrased, physically/illegally detained or roughed-up by a overzealous stock boy?

[911boost]

Realize as well, that certain states have laws on where / when a shoplifter / potential shoplifter can be stopped.

Before the Register
After the Register
Inside / Outside

Almost every retailer also has a much different approach as well. Some customers want them stopped inside, some outside. Once the shoplifter gets outside, the risk to the person making the stop is much greater obviously. We have stores that do not want us to pursue the potential shoplifter once they get out of the store.

Bill

[MRM]

Bill, I represent HD through one of their large manufacturers on product/sales issues. I am also a former Regional SIU counsel to a large insurer. If you ever need counsel in the upper midwest, feel free to give me a call. Former prosecutor, special investigations, insurance defense, product liability, I've done it all.

[911boost]

Thanks for the offer MRM. I worked in Edina and used to skate in Roseville all the time.

Bill

[Racerbvd]

In FL. they give a running start, just to be sporting, then BANG

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Shoot, I need a new compound miter saw. Outstanding.

[speeder]

On my way there now.

[turbo6bar]

Folks without a Lowe's don't know what they're missing. Aisles are not crammed with useless junk, employees are courteous and numerous, and prices are no more than any other place. I don't even bother checking prices b/t Lowes and Home Deep*****, because I know the prices are close. I'd even pay a slight premium at Lowe's.

Problem is I'm a Tony Stewart fan and not a Jimmy Johnson fan.

Anyway, get a clue, HD.

[Jims5543]

I use my local family owned Hardware store as much as possible, there is always someone standing at the door ready to help you find whatever you need, and they love it if you have a tricky one, maybe you need them to brainstorm with you to come up with a fix for something.

I hurt my back at lunchtime loading my "Free" gererator and 42" Plasma TV into my truck. I contacted my attorney and he feels we have a good case to sue them since one helped me with a team lift item. Papers being served Monday.

[Rick Lee]

Mom and pop hardware stores can be gold mines. But they aren't everywhere anymore. There's one called Fischer's in Springfield, VA and I swear, it was almost a deterrent to my move to Fairfax. That was the one place I couldn't stand to be without. Every single oddball metric bolt, wrench, whatever. They had it. I walked in there wearing a Ruf hat one day and this zit-faced 16 yr. old working there got all excited and was dying to help me. I LOVE those stores. But I can't drive 25 miles to pick up small stuff, when HD is almost walking distance from my house.

[74-911]

Originally posted by turbo6bar
Folks without a Lowe's don't know what they're missing. Aisles are not crammed with useless junk, employees are courteous and numerous, and prices are no more than any other place.
Anyway, get a clue, HD.

+1 on Lowes , the fact that I live less than 2 miles from a big new Lowes also helps.. :-)

Since HD paid nearly a quarter billion to get rid of the previous CEO who really ran the place into the ground, the new CEO is supposedly doing everything he can to turn HD around. As one pundit remarked, that $200+M they gave the CEO to leave would have hired a whole lot of good employees .
He' s definitely got his job cut out for him however. I was in a HD recently and it was still pretty cluttered but have to admit the employees were actually helpful and seemed to actually care which is a big improvement.