Kudos, Red Horse - bet the kid's two 'buddies' won't be in that store for a while, and might even think before egging someone on to try that someplace else, too.
Maybe after the trial's done, you could treat the LHS owner to dinner (if you're both single)...
Blessings,
Jim in Cape Girardeau
Medina 1128,
I did sue the juvenile's (age 17) mother for his actions. I won in civil court but due to a loop-hole in the law I was limited to the amount of settlement. Her insurance would pay if it was an "unintentional act". If it was an intentional act I would have a judgement against a 17 year old who would never pay it.
I chose the former and collected a four-figure settlement. My lawyer took a chunk out of that and with the rest my wife was able to buy some new curtains for the house.
Now the curtains, and the house are gone but I still have the pain in my neck from my injuries. "Justice prevails"!
Doc
WAY TO GO!!!
Years ago I had a similar experience at my LHS. I was browsing the aisles and noticed a kid, maybe 13 or 14, with a gym bag and a plastic bag from some convience store. He was taking stuff off the shelf, looking at it, putting it back and then standing there staring at it.
At first I didn't think much of it, I did the same thing. But when he passed me in another aisle I saw a box of Tamiya 1\350 scale a\c inside the plastic bag.....HMM, I thought, does 7\11 sell Tamiya models now? I went up and told the owner, who I'd known for years, that he should watch this kid and check both bags. When the kid finally came up he had one 79c. bottle of paint and paid for it nickles and pennies. As he was about to leave the owner said ''how about my other stuff you have there, are you going to pay for it?'' The kid got a scared look on his face and made a move toward the door, but with my considerable bulk in the way he couldn't make it out. The owner called the police and when they showed up the kid started crying and wanting mommy. In a search of his bags the police found three model kits, some paint and a tube of glue, and some other stuff that he couldn't provide reciepts for. He was cuffed and his bike put in the trunk of the cruiser and off he went crying for mommy and saying he wouldn't ever be bad again.
I also declined a ''reward'' and told the owner that I wanted to make sure he could make a living and not have to raise the prices on the rest of us HONEST folks because some moron wanted to steal. It's especially important for small business owners to keep theft to a minimum, there's precious few hobby shops these days and if we can prevent them from raising prices or worse, going out of business, we all benefit.
It is a comfort to know that people like Red Horse exist. One should recognize, however, that he had extensive training and experience to be aware of the propriety of his actions and have the ability to tackle the job with minimal risk to himself and others. Most of us are not. If there is no immediate threat to life, it is best for most of us to observe and report, rather than to physically involve ourselves, assuming we're even physically capable.
I am a supporter of the 2nd Amendment right for individual citizens to possess and carry firearms. I don't live in a state where one can carry firearms either openly or hidden in most public places (it is only permitted on public hunting grounds or with permission on private property), but even if I did I doubt I would carry a firearm in a state that allowed it. I don't want to accept the responsibility, inconvenience, and discomfort even my small snub-nosed S&W revolver would impose. Nevertheless, I would feel more secure knowing there were responsible armed citizens in the immediate vicinity. But ultimately, we as individuals, not the police or other citizens, are responsible for our safety and need to make a conscious and informed decision as to what lengths we are willing and able to take.
Mark
It seems like way too many kids think it's OK to lie, cheat, and steal. I think you're not only doing good for the merchant but also good for (some) of the kids. They need to learn that what they're doing is not OK, and sometimes they have to learn that from a stranger.
Ed
topcopdoc wrote: Be careful my friend, I received permenant injuries to my neck doing the same thing. The suspect was a juvenile and it took myself and 3 other men to finally subdue him. In addition the suspect signed counter complaints against me for assault. Then his mother filed a civil suit against me.When all was settled he was found guilty and the civil suit was dismissed. He got a slap on the wrist and I am typing this with a pain in my neck which has been there since 1983.Doc
Be careful my friend, I received permenant injuries to my neck doing the same thing. The suspect was a juvenile and it took myself and 3 other men to finally subdue him.
In addition the suspect signed counter complaints against me for assault. Then his mother filed a civil suit against me.
When all was settled he was found guilty and the civil suit was dismissed. He got a slap on the wrist and I am typing this with a pain in my neck which has been there since 1983.
I had something like this happen to me back in the early 80s while working at a small department store. Some kids came in one evening after school and tried stealing a bicycle innertube. I waited until the kid walked out the door with it then went out and confronted him. I told him if he tried to run that I'd be more than happy to chase and tackle him if I had to. He came back in the store, gave the tube back and was chewed out by the manager that then chewed me out after he left for creating a situation for a possible lawsuit. She said if I ever did anything like that again that she would fire me... Wasn't that real nice of her.
Tracklayer
Tracklayer wrote: topcopdoc wrote: Be careful my friend, I received permenant injuries to my neck doing the same thing. The suspect was a juvenile and it took myself and 3 other men to finally subdue him. In addition the suspect signed counter complaints against me for assault. Then his mother filed a civil suit against me.When all was settled he was found guilty and the civil suit was dismissed. He got a slap on the wrist and I am typing this with a pain in my neck which has been there since 1983.DocI had something like this happen to me back in the early 80s while working at a small department store. Some kids came in one evening after school and tried stealing a bicycle innertube. I waited until the kid walked out the door with it then went out and confronted him. I told him if he tried to run that I'd be more than happy to chase and tackle him if I had to. He came back in the store, gave the tube back and was chewed out by the manager that then chewed me out after he left for creating a situation for a possible lawsuit. She said if I ever did anything like that again that she would fire me... Wasn't that real nice of her. Tracklayer
Speaking of firing......http://kstp.com/article/stories/S437400.shtml?cat=1
Ugh.
Tracklayer wrote: Speaking of firing......http://kstp.com/article/stories/S437400.shtml?cat=1 Ugh.
If anyone would like to express their outrage at this corporate sponsorship of the criminal element you can do so at: http://www.speedway.com/ContactUs/RateOurStores.aspx
Roseville is in MN. I just entered Fairview ave for location and then made some polite but cogent comments.
The mind is like a parachute. It works better when it's open. www.stremy.net
larak wrote: Tracklayer wrote: Speaking of firing......http://kstp.com/article/stories/S437400.shtml?cat=1 Ugh.If anyone would like to express their outrage at this corporate sponsorship of the criminal element you can do so at: http://www.speedway.com/ContactUs/RateOurStores.aspxRoseville is in MN. I just entered Fairview ave for location and then made some polite but cogent comments.
I used to work night shift in a gas station in a remote area when I was younger. Boss told me not to carry any weapons or put up any fight if I got robbed. (Poop on the no weapon thing!) I kept a 38 in my pocket and a club under the counter. Never had to use them, but there were a few scary incidents. A year after I quit, the guy that replaced me was shot and killed in a robbery attempt.
Tracklayer wrote: pain in my neck which has been there since 1983. ...the manager that then chewed me out after he left for creating a situation for a possible lawsuit. She said if I ever did anything like that again that she would fire me... Tracklayer
...the manager that then chewed me out after he left for creating a situation for a possible lawsuit. She said if I ever did anything like that again that she would fire me...
I would have leaned across her desk so that our noses just about touched and said in a very quiet voice, "You just did."
Have fun with your trains
Not to condone what the "youngster" did, but considering the approach by which he attempted to spirit off the extra merchandise it appears he did so out to satisfy a personal "want" that was well beyond his means. This is in contrast to the OP's experience where the suspect appeared out "for a thrill" or to impress his peers. Certainly, no excuse but IMO the latter reasons are much darker.
Hopefully, the experience caused him to re-examine his approach to the law going forward - a genuine lesson from the school of hard knocks.
LD357 wrote: WAY TO GO!!! Years ago I had a similar experience at my LHS. I was browsing the aisles and noticed a kid, maybe 13 or 14, with a gym bag and a plastic bag from some convience store. He was taking stuff off the shelf, looking at it, putting it back and then standing there staring at it. At first I didn't think much of it, I did the same thing. But when he passed me in another aisle I saw a box of Tamiya 1\350 scale a\c inside the plastic bag.....HMM, I thought, does 7\11 sell Tamiya models now? I went up and told the owner, who I'd known for years, that he should watch this kid and check both bags. When the kid finally came up he had one 79c. bottle of paint and paid for it nickles and pennies. As he was about to leave the owner said ''how about my other stuff you have there, are you going to pay for it?'' The kid got a scared look on his face and made a move toward the door, but with my considerable bulk in the way he couldn't make it out. The owner called the police and when they showed up the kid started crying and wanting mommy. In a search of his bags the police found three model kits, some paint and a tube of glue, and some other stuff that he couldn't provide reciepts for. He was cuffed and his bike put in the trunk of the cruiser and off he went crying for mommy and saying he wouldn't ever be bad again. I also declined a ''reward'' and told the owner that I wanted to make sure he could make a living and not have to raise the prices on the rest of us HONEST folks because some moron wanted to steal. It's especially important for small business owners to keep theft to a minimum, there's precious few hobby shops these days and if we can prevent them from raising prices or worse, going out of business, we all benefit.