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agony's avatar

Coincidentally, my son was just telling me shoplifting stories this morning. He works for a liquor store in a dicey neighbourhood, and they really do have to stop the shoplifters if they want to stay in business.

Usually this is done by some variation of "That'll be ten bucks for the mickey of vodka, and another twenty five for the bottle of whiskey in your pocket" in which case they put the booze on the counter and leave. Or locking the door with the remote and saying "Sir? I think you forgot to pay for the tequila in your backpack" to somebody trying to leave.

But often, the entire problem is solved by him making a point of standing in the right place at the right time. "Me? No, I'm just doing a little inventory right here beside that expensive brandy you were eyeing. " Plausible deniability all around.

He's been doing this for years now, and as I said, in a pretty bad neighbourhood, and has never had to be even a little bit violent, though it's true he is a big guy with an intimidating look in his eye. And never would be violent - even though it's a small business that can't afford to loose any money, it's still just money and not worth anybody getting hurt. Which the owner has explicitly said, as if he didn't already know.

This guy killed someone because he wanted to kill someone.

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Crystalclear12's avatar

I worked retail. They didn't pay enough for me bother calling loss prevention much less confront someone.

Not my job.

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