To date at least, the most disturbing shoplifting incident in which I intervened involved a male suspect pulling a retail manager along the floor in a frantic tug-of-war over an armful of clothing still on their hangers.

I got between them and walked the combative shoplifter out of the establishment. At the request of the spunky manager, I let him go. Company policies forbade 'stops' (questioning or detaining suspects) outside of the store.

More recently, a local clerk was attacked by a knife wielding shoplifter during an extremely violent retail theft episode:

Irish Channel store clerk stabbed in head while trying to stop suspected shoplifter, NOPD says

Lastly, more tragically, a reported shoplifting at a Mississippi Walmart left a one year dead and suspect wounded after an officer -involved shooting of the suspect's vehicle:

Officer involved in shooting outside Walmart that killed 1-year-old boy placed on leave

The officer claimed the suspect attempted to run him over.

As I've written in the past, borne out by calamitous current events, shoplifting is no longer the polite game of 'cat and mouse' it was when I did retail security in the nineties and early 2000s.

Retailers and private protectors must adjust their strategies accordingly.

Nadra Enzi aka Cap Black addresses 'anti safety' theory and policies through advocacy and consulting.

Nadra Enzi——Bio and Archives

EVENT AND EVERYDAY PEOPLE PROTECTOR. ADVOCATE.

Nadra Enzi AKA Cap Black is a philosophical protector specializing in security management beside event organizers and owners of establishments serving the general public. (Substack)

Cap Black is a contributor to Canada Free Press, a security writer on touchy topics; security advisor/founder of Borrow A Brother volunteer safety escorts for female friends concerned about carjackings robbery and sexual assault. $realbrocap on Cash App