“The One That Got Away?”

While working at a store, I observed one of two males conceal some merchandise. I met all my requirements to initiate an arrest, so, as they exited the store, I followed them. I was hurting that week for a stat so I really needed to get this guy. I attempted to pretend as though I was going for my car and get in front of them but it didn’t quite work. The subject with the stolen merchandise turned and saw me walking up. Before I could identity myself, he started to run very quickly though the parking lot. I attempted to get him to dump the merchandise by shouting at him to do so but it was not successful. I walked back into the store very frustrated and hoping that he might come back sometime in the future and give me another change. Little did I realize how soon my wish would come true.

Less than a week later, I was working at a store in a different city. This time I was working with a partner and the store was one of the busiest in the district. At some point in my shift, I’m on CCTV and I’m scanning the sales floor. I was feeling kind of low because I was coming to the end of my shift and hadn’t been able to spot anything. I was just about to give up and call it a day when I spot movement coming into the store through the mall entrance. I take a closer look and low and behold, it’s the male subject that had run from me at the other store. I immediately went on alert and informed my partner about the peep. We watch him on camera and he goes into the Men’s department where he selects a jacket. He proceeds to remove the electronic security device and discards it. At this point, I leave the camera room and take up a position outside the mall entrance. One thing that’s important to mention is that the store has two entrances and that means that there’s no way to know which way he’s going to leave the store. This means that I have to be ready to fly to the other side of the store in a hurry. My partner maintains camera observation of the subject and relays his actions to me via two-way radio. Now remember, this guy got away from me before and since then, I could not have known that I’d ever get a second chance. You can bet that I was going to do everything I could to not to allow him get away again.

So I’m posted up and I had to take into consideration that if the guy saw he would get ghost and I’d lose him. The area where I’m standing does not offer any good hiding spots so I’m forced to improvise. Against one of the walls I find a couple engaged in conversation and I decide to use them as cover. I sidled up next to them and pretend to be on a cell phone. My partner inside informs me that the subject is preparing to exit and he still has unpaid for merchandise. She gives me a countdown and the subject’s out the door to the mall. I flatten myself as much as I can and peek around the couple to see if I can spot him. A split-second later, he appears and I jump out and grab him. He’s so startled that he drops the merchandise as I show him my identification. I pull him in and tell him, “Don’t even think of running this time, I’ve gotcha”. He looks down and a look of defeat crosses his face. He realizes that I mean business, he complies with me and we walk back into the store without issue. In the office we talk about what happened the other day and he eventually apologizes for it. The circle is complete and I win.