<![CDATA[Consumerist: security guards]]> http://cache.gawker.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/consumerist.com.png <![CDATA[Consumerist: security guards]]> http://consumerist.com/tag/security guards http://consumerist.com/tag/security guards <![CDATA[ Target Fires Security Guard For Stopping Shoplifter ]]> con_deanbabcock.jpg Usually our shoplifter stories focus on being detained illegally or held at knifepoint by a rabid senior greeter who demands receipts*, but Target in Milwaukee toes the line when it comes to dealing with suspected theft. That's why they fired a retired cop (warning: video) who stopped a teenager he saw stealing liquor for the second time in a month. He told her he'd seen her take rum a few weeks before and asked her what was in her bag this time. She showed him. He called her father. Target fired him because the store policy is that only certain managers can intercept shoplifters. We admire his attention to detail and desire to help, but we're glad to see a Big Box retailer following its own policy.

Babcock seems like a nice guy, and we hope he finds a more suitable job soon. We also hope that when Babcock was on the force, his partner's name was Goobcock, because that would make any reasonable criminal have a good laugh.

*Claim might be slightly exaggerated.

"Target Security Guard Fired After Stopping Shoplifter" [Fox 6 Milwaukee] (Video) (Thanks to Nicholas!)

]]> Consumerist-375952 Thu, 03 Apr 2008 20:52:50 EDT Chris Walters http://consumerist.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=375952&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[ Walmart Tries To Steal Shopper's Baby ]]> avaandstacy.jpgA Walmart security guard demanded a woman hand over her baby at checkout, thinking it might have been a baby that was reported missing in the store, according to a Myspace post by the mother, Stacy Arrington of Parkville, MD (pictured):

"They are trying to tell me that Ava is not my child. She started fussing so I began taking her out of the seat. The whole time this security guard is asking me to "give him the baby". FUCK YOU! There was no way I was handing her over! I tried to walk away, leaving her car seat, the diaper bag, even my wallet...they blocked me! I am screaming for them to get the fuck away from me. I start crying, sobbing, just holding Ava near me. Everytime the security guard put his hands near her I shifted away. Ava is screaming at the top of her lungs by this time. I am screaming to get a manager. I started telling them everything I could think of to prove she is mine. Her birthmark, hospital card in the diaper bag, my ID in my wallet...pictures of her in my wallet. I am screaming that I am going to sue the FUCK out of them and God help them when my husband and father hear about this!

Finally the manager realizes they have the wrong person..... he gives me everything for free... he puts the bags in my card and I basically run out of the store, still holding Ava. I couldnt get out of that parking lot fast enough."

We're getting really sick of these stories of unlawful detention by stores. Your rentacop badge doesn't make you God.

September 10, 2007 - Monday [Stacy Arrington] (Thanks to Amanda!)

]]> Consumerist-298694 Tue, 11 Sep 2007 13:56:46 EDT Ben Popken http://consumerist.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=298694&view=rss&microfeed=true