I work in a retail environment run very much like a small business. Typically 1-2 personnel on the clock at any one time. Often you are out on the floor helping customers or performing some cleaning task, rather than standing behind the cash register. At another of our stores, recently, a gentleman sneaked behind the cash register and - while kneeling on the ground to avoid being seen from the sales floor - began to empty the drawer into his pockets.
An employee of that store walked around the corner, and from about 30 feet away saw the guy behind the register. Their instinctual reaction was a "What are you doing?" They report being incredulous and shocked. Somewhere between "I can't believe he's doing that!" and "Is everything okay or did this guy trip?" The thief boldly continued to empty the drawer and say something about "I'm sorry, I have to do this." At no point did the thief physically threaten the employee.. but the employee didn't approach the thief any more after the initial verbal contact.
The employee backed away from the situation a few more feet, let the thief load up the rest of the money and leave, and then called the cops.
My initial reaction is relief that no one was hurt. My second is playing the situation out in my mind and trying to decide what I would do in that situation. So I'm curious...
What would you do?
An employee of that store walked around the corner, and from about 30 feet away saw the guy behind the register. Their instinctual reaction was a "What are you doing?" They report being incredulous and shocked. Somewhere between "I can't believe he's doing that!" and "Is everything okay or did this guy trip?" The thief boldly continued to empty the drawer and say something about "I'm sorry, I have to do this." At no point did the thief physically threaten the employee.. but the employee didn't approach the thief any more after the initial verbal contact.
The employee backed away from the situation a few more feet, let the thief load up the rest of the money and leave, and then called the cops.
My initial reaction is relief that no one was hurt. My second is playing the situation out in my mind and trying to decide what I would do in that situation. So I'm curious...
What would you do?