So I have worked for the past three years as the Health and Beauty Clerk for a small chain grocery store. This job includes lots of counting toothpaste tubes, checking the expiry on vitamins and chatting to the seniors, who frequent the store. However not all of our clientele are so pleasant.Â
This store is located in a small township an hour away from Vancouver, which has recently seen an influx of drug addicts from the city. At least once a day someone on staff finds themselves following a suspicious character around the store, maybe they are a known thief, or carrying a ridiculous number of well-stuffed duffel bags, or just high out of their mind. Whatever the reason, if a person arouses our suspicions we will usually drop our work and trail them around the store for a bit. Generally they realize the game is up and make for the exit in a huff, but every now and then one gets more confrontational.
Several months ago, I spotted one of my least favorite sights; a young man, obviously on something already, coming out of my department, with his pockets bulging. I could easily identify the shape of a box of matchsticks, a thinner package that was probably sinus medication, and the round bulge of crazy glue. Mentally cursing myself for not spotting him sooner, I fell in behind the would-be shop lifter, fully expecting him to waltz out of the store scott free.
But drugs do strange things to people's logic and rather than making a break for the nearby door, this fellow decided to turn around and challenge the little girl behind him. He spun around, obviously trying to intimidate me and shouted "WHAT?!!!" in a voice that could be heard three aisles over.Â
On the spur of the moment, I stuck my chin out and snapped right back at him "What's that in your pocket?"
In response he launched into a tirade about his personal rights and began threatening to sue me, while I managed to keep my cool and continued to repeat that if he had nothing to hide there was no harm in revealing the object inside his pocket.
As the fellow started getting in my face more, I could hear our wonderful express-lane cashier hastily calling our manager down to the floor. Being only 5'2'' I tend to lack in the intimidation department and I was extremely glad to overhear that backup was coming.Â
Sure enough the fellow began to back peddle, the moment that my manager rounded the aisle. Switching to a defensive angle, he cried out to both of us "What do you want with me!? I was just minding my own business!"
At this point, I was both flustered and frightened I advanced on the fellow, intending to repeat my earlier request but what came out was the well known Golum line "What has it got in it's pocketsess!?"
To this day, I have know idea how it popped out at that ill timed moment. It is pure luck that my manager is literally the biggest nerd I know. He gave me one incredulous look, before bursting into laughter. Fortunately laughter proved to be the last straw for our shop lifter, who panicked and ran, after chucking about sixty dollars worth of stolen goods at the pair of us. Â
For the next week half of the store made Golum sounds, whenever I passed by and the manager will probably never let me forget it... at least we liberated the hostage items?
This store is located in a small township an hour away from Vancouver, which has recently seen an influx of drug addicts from the city. At least once a day someone on staff finds themselves following a suspicious character around the store, maybe they are a known thief, or carrying a ridiculous number of well-stuffed duffel bags, or just high out of their mind. Whatever the reason, if a person arouses our suspicions we will usually drop our work and trail them around the store for a bit. Generally they realize the game is up and make for the exit in a huff, but every now and then one gets more confrontational.
Several months ago, I spotted one of my least favorite sights; a young man, obviously on something already, coming out of my department, with his pockets bulging. I could easily identify the shape of a box of matchsticks, a thinner package that was probably sinus medication, and the round bulge of crazy glue. Mentally cursing myself for not spotting him sooner, I fell in behind the would-be shop lifter, fully expecting him to waltz out of the store scott free.
But drugs do strange things to people's logic and rather than making a break for the nearby door, this fellow decided to turn around and challenge the little girl behind him. He spun around, obviously trying to intimidate me and shouted "WHAT?!!!" in a voice that could be heard three aisles over.Â
On the spur of the moment, I stuck my chin out and snapped right back at him "What's that in your pocket?"
In response he launched into a tirade about his personal rights and began threatening to sue me, while I managed to keep my cool and continued to repeat that if he had nothing to hide there was no harm in revealing the object inside his pocket.
As the fellow started getting in my face more, I could hear our wonderful express-lane cashier hastily calling our manager down to the floor. Being only 5'2'' I tend to lack in the intimidation department and I was extremely glad to overhear that backup was coming.Â
Sure enough the fellow began to back peddle, the moment that my manager rounded the aisle. Switching to a defensive angle, he cried out to both of us "What do you want with me!? I was just minding my own business!"
At this point, I was both flustered and frightened I advanced on the fellow, intending to repeat my earlier request but what came out was the well known Golum line "What has it got in it's pocketsess!?"
To this day, I have know idea how it popped out at that ill timed moment. It is pure luck that my manager is literally the biggest nerd I know. He gave me one incredulous look, before bursting into laughter. Fortunately laughter proved to be the last straw for our shop lifter, who panicked and ran, after chucking about sixty dollars worth of stolen goods at the pair of us. Â
For the next week half of the store made Golum sounds, whenever I passed by and the manager will probably never let me forget it... at least we liberated the hostage items?