By: Diane Benjamin
This story was told to me by a reader – it happened yesterday:
I just watched a guy shoplift a couple grand worth of Milwaukee tools from Home Depot in Normal. I got pics of his vehicle and plates along with him from the side. I found out Home Depot doesn’t report shoplifting.
I followed him out and yelled at him he let go of the cart and came at me, I backed off. I called the Normal police. They never sent an officer out. A female officer called me and said that is because he didn’t touch me and Home Depot doesn’t report shoplifting. Coming at me with clenched fist to stop me from trying to get his pics is not a crime. The Normal police didn’t want his license plate or pics because as far as they were concerned there was no victim or crime. She only wanted me off the phone.
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The license plate number is FB 23219 if anyone cares.
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For all we know the vehicle was stolen, the Normal police didn’t care enough to check. Home Depot doesn’t care that everything you buy at their store is more expensive because YOU pay for this theft. Somebody has to cover the cost of allowing this guy to walk out of the store with merchandise he didn’t pay for.
That person is you – yes a crime was committed contrary to what the Normal police think.
Welcome to California where shoplifting is legal. I suggest finding stores that actually prosecute shoplifters instead of shopping at Home Depot.
This shoplifter got away with theft. His theft will continue because there are no consequences. How long will it take him to get even more brazen? Of course theft isn’t detainable under the Safe-T Act. He’d be out of jail the same day if he was arrested. He’d be free to repeat the same behavior elsewhere. Crime pays in Illinois.
How long will it be before stores have everything locked up and you have to find a clerk to buy anything?
I like to shop at Home Depot. However, I will no longer go there. It is not right that I have to pay more while they let other people shop for free and walk out the door with whatever they want. And how pathetic of the Normal Police department to knowing let theft occur.
Normal PD not responding to make a formal record of the incident is typical of their behavior. As well as totally unacceptable of a law enforcement agency that is allegedly CALEA accredited. But this is their standard of conduct. Telling the victim, “You were not assaulted, what you experienced wasn’t assault, go about your business. Have a good day.”
Assault as defined under Illinois law (720 ILCS 5/12-1):
Key elements include but are not limited to:
The accused must knowingly act in a way that COULD cause FEAR of imminent harm. (If the accused causes one to feel fear that they will be BATTERED or harmed.
The victim must reasonably fear immediate physical harm. Simple words or threats of future violence are generally not considered assault in Illinois. (Gestures, aggressive postures, simulated acts of violence or imitation of physical harm such as punching, kicking, pushing, shooting (hand gestures), stabbing gestures, spitting, throwing objects, threats.
Battery involves actual, knowing, and unjustified physical contact that is insulting, provoking, or causes harm.
ASSAULT DOES NOT REQUIRE PHYSICAL CONTACT!
Another Example of assault includes threatening someone with raised fists or lunging towards someone quickly, causing fear of attack.
Simple assault is typically a Class C misdemeanor in Illinois. Penalties can include up to 30 days in jail, a fine up to $1,500, or community service.
Assault can be elevated to aggravated assault with harsher penalties when certain factors are present, such as if the assailant is armed, history of violence, and if the victim is under 18. As well as the location of the assault (such as a public place), the victim’s status (like a person with a disability or a police officer), or the use of a weapon or other factors such as attempts to elude or prevent identification by wearing a mask or if using a laser sight to blind a person.
Aggravated assault can be a Class A misdemeanor, or a Class 3 or 4 felony, depending on the circumstances.
The day will come when shoppers aren’t allowed inside stores!
Looks like Illinois plans to lead the way!
There is an easy way to fix this as it goes back to how much in $ value has been stolen. Thinking back to some articles coming out of California the norm was for police to ignore and not write a report if items valued less than say $1000 were stolen, no report. Solve the problem for all items to be listed at outrageous prices unless one is a member. Members that are vetted get deep discounts. Non-member steals one thing they get arrested. If the dollar value is the key, use the key.
How about all criminals face justice? Remember when that was normal?
The dollar value rules in this scenario. Then in considering white collar crime and the elite, all crminals facing justice has never been the norm in my lifetime. But I get what you are saying. Small correction.
ATTENTION SHOPPERS: Get $1000.00’s in discounts. Sign up today as a Vetted Member! For example, that Milwaukee drill you’re hubby wants for his birthday. Listed at $1169, as a member you can buy it for $169! Yes, that’s right you get $1000 off by being a member. As you shop you’ll be able to save $1000”s if you’re a member. So sign up today to be a Vetted Member and help stop shoplifters at the same time.
wouldn`t expect anything less from the Normal police, after all they run from riots and just let people loot. I’m sure the unelected city employee making $300,00 a year who is in charge of said police, has nothing to do with the attitude’s and polices of this department
I knew someone who worked at HD in the office and was concerned about missing money amounts from cash registers and the management didn’t seem concerned about it. I told them to find a different job and leave and they did.
So I wonder if this is a local management issue or a corporate policy not to persue theft? Some stores have a policy where employees are not to intervene in theft for safety reasons.
I know at Lowe’s most powered tools are in locked storage and requires someone to unlock the storage. Also there are door alarms that trip when the sensitive tags are not deactivated. I haven’t been in HD for years to know what they do to prevent theft. It appears free shopping is encouraged. Maybe I should go there. On second thought I’m probably not qualified due to my race.
We have the same security features at Farm and Fleet. The tools are locked up and we have door alarms. Bloomington Police are very good on that side of town with shoplifting.
Why do we pay taxes for services that don’t function as intended?
It’s a scam.
So if this guy sells the power tools at a great price, then the authorities can’t arrest the buyer for receiving stolen property. We all need to vote Pritzker out to save what’s left of Illinois.
LOL I wonder how many went straight to Midwest Exchange based on their criminal charges.