Posted on 11/30/2012 6:31:11 AM PST by B Knotts
York County, Va. The man dubbed the fake-beard bandit has hit more than 30 businesses on the Peninsula. Each time, the MO is the same: He walks in, flashes a gun and takes off with the cash. But this time, an AutoZone employee decided he was going to take action! I was in fear of my life as soon as he walked through the door and I see the gun. Your heart just starts pounding, says Devin McClean, a former Auto Zone employee. Devin McClean decided to take action after recognizing the Fake Beard Bandit. I waited for him to go up toward the front, I ran out of the restroom, ran out to my truck where I keep my own personal weapon, grabbed my weapon, came back into the store and confronted the guy, says McClean. When I yelled freeze and I said Stop, drop the weapon, he threw his hands up with his gun still in his hand he started running, says McClean. I felt like it was my responsibility to step in. Devins manager is grateful. He was like Thank you Devin, you really saved my life, says McClean. Two days later, he was fired. Its pretty much getting slapped in the face doing something that you feel was right everybody else around you feels you were right, says McClean. NewsChannel 3 spoke to a representative at AutoZones corporate office, and he says that the company has a zero tolerance policy for employees having weapons inside the store. If I can save somebodys life, I put that way above a store policy, says McClean.
No business and I wouldn’t work for anyone who didn’t back me up
in any situation.
Boycote AutoZone stores!
Whatever happened to “if it saves just one life.....”?????
Michelle Obama tried to rob an autozone?
CC
'Zero tolerances' always means 'zero thinking.'
But since legislatures have yet to see fit to actually extend self defense shield laws to cover companies, I can understand why Autozone would set such a policy. The root problem isn't the company's policy, but the out of control courts where this robber could turn around and sue the store for scaring him by an employee drawing a weapon while he's robbing the store with a firearm.
” “Fake Beard Bandit”
Michelle Obama tried to rob an autozone? “
LMAO!
Why would you assume Michelle’s beard is fake?
| + | ? |
God bless this young man for taking a stand! Hopefully he’ll get a job offer from a competitor.
I know exactly where that Autozone store is located. For fellow FReepers in Hampton Roads, it’s the one on the west side of Hampton Highway (Rt 134) near the intersection of Big Bethel Road. I strongly recommend avoiding patronizing this and all other Autozone stores.
Autozone just lost this customer.
grin grin, wink wink, nudge nudge, SAY NO MORE!
CC
This is just a taste of what is to come, I'm afraid.
They lost this one too, and hopefully many more.
‘Zero tolerances’ always means ‘zero thinking.’
********************
Agreed. It leads to appalling injustices and inanities. Exceptions to rules are necessary in exceptional circumstances.
No, it was McLean - one leg is shorter than the other one.
If I can save somebodys life, I put that way above a store policy, says McClean.
**************************
Something tells me he is going to get a better job real soon.
Get outta the zone... Autozone..
kinda has a nice ring to it.
I hope he does get a better job from this.
A friend of mine runs an Advance Auto Parts store, as well as the store being an I.T. client of mine. The store is located in a decent yet lower-class town, and is on the wrong side of the tracks for sure.
This place has scary situations _daily_. I don’t know what it is about a parts store that gets people so boiled. Be it a wrong part, or just that the clerk can’t understand what their problem is. Either way, I’ve witnessed things get out of hand (reaching over the counter to grab a clerk, knocking over displays, loud threats and breaking things).
His employees, as well as himself, are not allowed to have any weapon. Between them all, they have decided that the policy isn’t worth their lives.
That needed repeating.
As with Tort Reform needed to control Health Care cost - this needs to change too. A robber hurt doing his job can take a lot more money from a business they get hurt at - more than what's in the register.
I have a couple of local stores/markets that I frequent quite often. Both of the owners are clearly carrying, it isn’t quite open carry, but I can tell and they have confirmed it to me verbally. Those are the business where I feel the safest!
I spend most of my budgeted money at their establishments!
Michelle Obama tried to rob an autozone?
It couldn't be Michelle. She is a REAL beard.
Same with me. I sent them note at that link.
If I boycotted every organization that did something to tee me off, I’d need to take up a primitive existence in the wilderness of Montana.
Lol, I’ve actually got that problem since I broke my leg a couple years ago, but I still find this funny.
123 S. Front St. Memphis TN 38103
(901) 495-6500
I spoke to corporate at this number; they told me:
Mr Bill Rhodes is the CEO, and the owner. You can contact his personal assistant at this number, or send email:
bill.rhodes@autozone.com
always stupid of these companies to do this. The bad press is way way worse than the cost incurred. A simple statement of “ Although our products are not worth sacrificing our employees life for, we believe every human has the right to protect their own lives and safety.As a corporation we can say we are proud of this young man and it shows the quality and character of the people we surround ourselves with at autozone.” That would have made them a ton of money.... Lawyers are not marketing experts.
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS or NAPA will be happy to have my business. (Smiles).
” - - - I wouldnt work for anyone who didnt back me up
in any situation. - - - - “
These are words that Benghazi-Coward Obama will never admit were uttered by the 4 Heros murdered in the Benghazi Massacre.
The chain stores are all like this. They care more about preventing lawsuits than they care about their own employees. Employees should fight back by suing when they are fired for defending themselves.
State legislatures need to do three things to stop this nonsense.
1) Create a law limiting employer liability when an employee brandishes or fires a weapon in an effort to prevent a felony crime.
2) Create a law specifying very limited circumstances in which an employee is prohibited from carrying a gun, such as in areas with flammable or compressed gases, flammable liquids, very strong magnetic fields, and certain types of secure vaults.
3) Create a law specifying that gun possession, brandishing or use in a legal manner and place cannot be used as a rational for employee termination, and that employees thus terminated can sue for unlawful termination.
Emailed, boycotting and spreading the word.
What is the distance range on a can of BEAR Spray?
A woman in San Fran may have caught the ‘Bicycle Bandit’ in the past 24 hours with a can of Bear Spray.
How about Hornet spray?
Neither can be considered ‘a gun’.
Too bad- Might have to talk to the local Auto Zone store. We don’t have enough qualified auto parts stores where I live as it is.
I can tell you for a fact that Food Lion grocery stores, in NC and throughout the Southeastern US....have so many “handcuffs” on their hired Loss Prevention Officers (”LPO’s”) that these plain-clothes security officers are getting hurt on a regular basis. No pepper spray, certainly no concealed weapons, etc....no, they have to take on shoplifters who are of a different calibre now: they brandish weapons, attack. I know of one who was seriously injured just last evening (cracked vertebrae).....all because a f**king corporation scared shitless of lawsuits says “I’ll hire you to protect my shit, but I don’t care if you get killed or injured”.
I’d tell them to hire eunechs in body armor and walk away.
So much for self defense
LOL...it did cross my mind!
Thanks for the insights into LP. I’ve had a couple job offers in that field and what you say is something to take into account.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.