Three employees at a sporting goods store in Louisiana were terminated from their jobs after attempting to stop a shoplifter who allegedly stole a pistol.
Michelle Sutton, together with two other unidentified employees on the Academy Sports + Outdoors in Metairie, Louisiana, said that the shoplifting incident happened Dec. 16.
The sales associates said that they thought they were about to make a sale and were showing a customer a pistol, when he took off with the firearm.
Sutton, who was working as a team lead at the shop, said once she received word on her radio, she immediately dropped what she was doing and jumped into motion.
“I just took off,” Sutton told local TV news station WGNO.
“I knew I needed some type of method to help the police.”
Sutton said that she and two other employees began on the lookout for the suspected thief, but they weren’t in a position to locate him.
The Metairie Police Department didn’t immediately reply to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
4 days after the incident, Sutton said that the outdoor retail chain’s firearm compliance personnel terminated her, in addition to the 2 other employees for his or her response to the theft.
Sutton said that they were let go on account of Academy Sports + Outdoors policy on loss prevention, which states that employees will not be allowed to chase or physically restrain a fleeing person suspected of theft.
Michelle Sutton, together with two other unidentified employees on the Academy Sports + Outdoors in Metairie, Louisiana, said that the shoplifting incident happened Dec. 16. Google Maps
Loss prevention associates or managers are allowed to detain a suspect who has exited the shop by approaching the person at a “non-threatening distance” and asking them to step back into the shop.
“Because we did run out of the constructing, although I and the opposite associate did stay on the sidewalk, it fell under [that] we left the front porch, as they call it,” Sutton explained.
Sutton told the local outlet that while she now understands the policy, she would have appreciated more clarity and training to organize for shoplifting incidents.
The sales associates said that they thought they were about to make a sale and were showing a customer a pistol, when he took off with the firearm. Nomad_Soul – stock.adobe.com
“Every store that sells firearms, especially pistols that are concealable, must have a transparent policy,” Sutton said.
“They should have extra training. They need to organize for the unexpected.”
Katy, Texas, based Academy Sports + Outdoors didn’t immediately reply to FOX Business’ request for comment.
