To catch a thief

Back in June I wrote a post on geeeek.com where I talked about watching a store clerk pocket some cash that should have gone in to the register at a place I frequent. After writing the post I called and spoke with the manager, told her what I saw and she said she’d make some changes. When it was obvious that she wasn’t going to, I did. I stopped giving exact change (forcing the clerk to ring the sale and give me change) and I also stopped handing him money and saying, “keep the change”, since he seemed to think that meant “keep all this money I’m handing you.”

Shortly after that incident, a new computerized ordering system was installed that basically FORCED the clerk in to ringing up the sales. I was pleased about that since I was only able to keep him from stealing money that I paid him directly. Who knows how much more he got away with during the day.

On Friday when I went in before work, the lady in front of me in line had pulled $7.00 out of her purse. She handed it to the clerk and said, “keep the change.” This immediately put me on alert. I watched for any signs that he may try and pocket her cash. Sure enough, he was back at it. He set the money on the counter between him and the register, out of view of the current customer. I’m standing back about 5 feet and have a clear view. He punches some keys on the touch screen, looks around for his manager, wads the bills up and slips them in to his pocket. I shake my head, get my food and leave.

This morning when I went in before work, one of the staff recognized me and started my order without entering it in to the computer. This means I also get to jump the line and go right to the register. This is a slice of happiness for me. It’s something I would do for regular customers back when I worked in the food industry and I appreciate when it happens to me. So, to reward her for her the nicety, I walk to the register and hand the clerk $3.00 and say, “keep the change.” I don’t even know why I was surprised when I walked away, turned around and saw him slip the cash in to his pocket.

As if this wasn’t enough, this evening we went to the mall to pick up a gift for the Secret Santa gift exchange I’m taking part in at work this week. As we were heading in to a store, 4 security guards were standing around 2 teenage girls. I immediately suspected that they were caught shoplifting. My suspicions were confirmed when I overheard one of the guards ask, “So, how many stores have you taken things from?”

I had planned to just ignore the clerk at my morning stop and just go back to making sure he has to ring up all of my sales. But, after the shoplifting episode at the mall, the more I thought about it, the more I realized I can not just let this go. Tomorrow I will go in and get a card for the corporate office. I’ll give them a call and let them know that they not only have an employee who is stealing, they have a store manager who is unable/unwilling to do anything about it.