OT I'm Sooooo Ticked

I'm venting here.... Went to Walgreen's to pick up a prescription for the cold from hell. As I pull into the parking lot, a group of about 12 young men and a young woman walk into the store. They're rowdy and set off all the alarms in my head, but the drive through line was long so I go in anyway and figure I'll get the drugs and get out of there. As I'm walking to the back of the store, a bunch of them start chasing each other through the store, throwing stuff down the aisles at each other. Then I notice that the other ones are looking around and stuffing things in their pockets while the first group is causing a scene. I look around for a store employee and there's no one in sight. I head for the back of the store where the pharmacy is when one of the kids runs by and shoves me into a display. OK, now I'm pissed. I look up in time to see another kid mow over someone else. Now I'm really pissed and I yell, "Knock it off!" I finally find a store employee who runs back to get the manager. By this time, I'm surrounded by these punks. They're in my face and yelling at me and I'm pissed and not about to back down. OK, inside I'm freaking out, but on the outside I'm back in their faces. This poor store employee who is all of 16 or 17 is back and trying to fend off these kids along with me and there's no help in sight. They're not leaving and things are getting worse. I pull out my cell phone to call the police and one of the kids grabs for it. I put in back in my pocket and figure that by now, surely one of the store employees has called 911. I figure the best thing to keep me and this poor kid from getting killed is to walk away so I push through the kids and walk off. They let me go, but they're yelling that they're going to be outside waiting for me. I go back to the pharmacy and everyone back there is just standing and staring. I get my drugs and I'm expecting the police to pull up any minute. I ask for the store manager and she refuses to come out of the office. No police show up so I ask the poor kid who's been trying to save me to stand by the door and make sure I get to my car alive. The kid tells me that these kids come in once a week and pull the same crap. The manager is afraid of them and refuses to call the police. Luckily, I'm parked right outside the door and these kids don't know what I'm driving. The kids are gone and I get home in one piece. I'm furious at the store manager and call The Man to vent. I get a lecture from him about calling the police. He's right. I should have called the cops as soon as I could and not counted on the store to do it. I then called the manager and gave her a piece of my frazzled mind and then called the corporate office and left a nasty message. It wasn't until a few minutes ago that I realized that I really was in danger. I was so pissed that I didn't think about what these kids could have done to me. The Man told me that a couple of weeks ago a woman was abducted by a group of kids like the ones I ran into. I don't know if I'm more ticked at this group of hoodlums or this manager who allows her customers and staff to be bullied and intimidated. Connie (who's still shaking)

First and most importantly, I am so glad you're okay and that you got home safely. I worry about the young girl employed by Walgreen's who stood up to them with you; they know where she lives so to speak. Mostly, your story is a sad reminder about the state of our country and the blatant lack of decency and integrity that is so prevalent in our young people today--maybe it's more about a lack of direction but no matter what, it's appalling. And that store manager did what the whole country is doing -- stayed behind closed doors as if waiting for it all to simply go away. I'm just so grateful you're ok, Connie. Blessings to you and yours this Thursday -- and to all my beloved Marcher friends. Love, Maureen

Connie- I think you should still report the harassment and the shoplifting you witnessed formally to the police. Once it goes on record, the store will never again be able to say that they didn't realize what was happening or they didn't know what to do - and if they ever drop the ball again, and god forbid someone is harmed, they could be found legally negligent. The public has a reasonable expectation that a retail store is going to provide some minimum security measures - including, particularly in a DRUG store, surveillance and the ability to call 911. Also, once this is documented, it would potentially open the door for a lawsuit for any employee that is harmed by their lack of security.. Normally workers compensation is the sole option for injuries in the workplace - but once an employer is found to be NEGLIGENT, that restriction is lifted and the employee would be able to sue that store, and the corporation for that matter, for failing to take reasonable steps to ensure their safety. It applies just as much to hoodlum control as it does to electrical safety. And then I would follow up with a letter to the corporate office with a copy of the police report. See what THE MAN thinks. I don't think it could hurt at all and maybe it will force them to take some action with their store managers. For goodness sakes you WERE in danger - that kid ASSAULTED you when he went for your phone. Jen

Ticked girl, You got some great advise here. My full time job is a claims adjuster and my second job of course is a deputy sheriff. As I'm unaware of the laws in your state, I would refer you to The Man regarding what you can do on the criminal side. There should be video in the store. But you reached a point that is a hot button for me. You did the right thing in my mind. Yes, you should have called the cops, but not taking action is far worse. I don't advocate being stupid, but as a community, people need to let individuals know that their behavior will not be tolerated. The store manager is a coward and should be exposed as such. From the civil side, I suggest you contact the store again and inform them the you wish to present a claim. I know you have no intentions of making big bucks, but it will cause an investigation to take place and maybe some action to stop the behavior. That is my two cents worth. And don't for a minute think that anybody *****sponds to a situation like you did isn't doing a little bit of screaming on the inside. Your a brave person, and I tip my hat to you.

Connie, Glad you are O.K & can still tell us about this. I agree with Ken, this manager needs to be hel accountable for what goes on in his/her store, not only does this put the employees in dange it also could hurt customers (you were lucky not to be one of them) & this should not be tolerated one little bit. Even in a group that large it can still be stopped. even if they call the police after, they must have some kind of video equiptment running in that store as proof for the police. It sound to me like a gang that is running lose & I am quite sure the police are looking for & would like any information they could get there hands on to arrest & convict this group of kids. Go to the police, you will feel better about telling the story to hopefully someone that could possibly stopp if for the next person involved. The next time it could be an elderly person they knock down or possibly evven kill in the process of theri little game they think they are playing. Marilyn, the Bearlady

Glad to hear that you made it through this ordeal. That manager has no business being a store manager. Her store, her employees, and her customers are in danger every time these dirtballs come in the store and she's 'too scared' to call the police. They need to get her out of there. She is not capable of putting the safety of her employees and her customers above everything else. I'd want her job on a silver platter. Isn't it amazing how the junk food and cigarettes are in the front of the store and the poor sick people have to walk all the way to the back to get their medication? I can't imagine....these kids come in every week and do this crap and nothing is done about it. I blame the stupid moron manager. And that's all I have to say about that!!! Hope you and yours have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Joanie

Hey Connie, I admire you for standing up to these idiots, but I shudder at the chance you took. I'm glad that you came out of it without harm. I totally agree with the others that letting the local police know is a good idea. I also think that everything possible should be done to see that that idiot manager gets fired for not doing her job!! Mike

Well....SCARY!!! It's hard to do the perfect thing when you are in the moment, but I know that if you come up against it or anything similar again you will likely default to what you know to do in the future. From a dispatcher perspective I would recommend that the very first thing you do is make sure the police are on the way. If the ONLY thing you can do is to pick up a phone at the store (payphone or their phone....just not cell) and dial 911, then that is good. If they get a hang up on a 911 call, they are supposed to send the police. Not that you shouldn't use your cell, but if there is a hang up, or even if they can hear the dispute but don't have a location, there isn't much they can do to get help to you. GPS is in very few locations where 911 is concerned and even still, WHERE within the GPS range you would be is hard to determine. A land line will give them the exact location the call was placed from...whether inside the store or on a payphone outside, etc. I would also recommend you not let the employee/kid walk you to your car if these kids are as dangerous as they sound. Just wait until the police come and go then. If they aren't afraid of the kid on his own turf in the store, they aren't going to be afraid of him in the parking lot. Then I would call the company and not only complain about what happens, but threaten legal action because of the inaction of the manager. That put you in danger and in fear of your safety because the manager refused to do something so simple as to call the police. And my last recommendation here: Find a different store to frequent. Sounds like these kids run in this area. Better to find a place they don't hang around... Dina

Here's the good news about dating a cop... it's been elevated. The police now know. The Man says they'll be reviewing the security tapes. I talked to the regular store manager this morning and he's just as wimpy as the one last night. He said that he'd talk to her and ask her why she didn't call the police. What!?!?! Connie here said, "I'm going to hope that the words 'talk to her' include the phrase 'you're fired!' I've given you my number and I'm expecting you to call me back and tell me that you've fired that assistant manager, you've reviewed the tapes and you're seeking prosecution against these kids." I took Jen's advice and told him that now that he's been forewarned, Walgreen's is libel if nothing is done to prevent this in the future. I don't think the police will let it drop if there are security tapes. The Man was afraid that the assistant manager last night might have destroyed the tape already to save her job. I'm betting I don't hear from the manager again, but if there's not a voicemail from him by the time I get back from my trip, the corporate office will become quite familiar with me. I refuse to be afraid to go to the store in my own neighborhood. The Man pointed out that in the short time that we've been dating, I've had two run ins with people that required police attention. The first was the dog locked in the car and now this. Well, all I can say to that is that sometimes it's not easy being me. I hope he can keep up. Connie

You are in these situations because you care. The easy thing to do is to ignore situations and say, "It's not my problem!" Life is so much more exciting when you care!