Employees shouldn’t challenge robbers: It could get them arrested
January 6, 2009 by Fred HosierPosted in: Dubious decisions, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views
HR pros who work for retail establishments: It’s probably part of your company policy that employees shouldn’t resist when confronted by an armed robber. Reason: Their lives are more valuable than any cash they are forced to hand over.
Here’s another reason why they shouldn’t resist robbers: If they call attention to themselves, police may arrest them on old warrants.
Chris Truax was working as an attendant at a car wash in Portland, OR. A masked man confronted him and demanded money.
The would-be robber produced a handgun which broke. Truax then thought the weapon must have been a fake.
The attendant led the robber to where the cash was in the car wash tunnel. As the gunman grabbed for cash, Truax grabbed a power washer and aimed a 2,000 pounds per square inch stream of soapy lukewarm water at the robber.
The robber fled and remains at large, according to The Oregonian.
When police found out, they jailed Truax on a 7-year-old warrant accusing him of driving under the influence. He was released the following night.
Tags: armed robber, cash, retail
January 9th, 2009 at 11:22 am
I guess if you are one of the majority that don’t have active warrants, then you can resist,
especially if you feel you are in fear of your life!
January 9th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
Obviously, this employee was helping his employer by foiling this robbery attempt. Of course that does not excuse his previous run in with law enforcement. However, the employer should reward this courageous employee for risking his life to protect his employer’s property/profits!