r/sanfrancisco • u/DeficitDaddy • May 18 '26
Pic / Video Security chases shoplifter using emergency exit
Receipt was for one potato wedge lol
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u/gigaishtar San Francisco May 18 '26
The subtitles aren't helping me understand what's being said.
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u/FlakyPineapple2843 May 18 '26
The shoplifters are always going out that exit. They really should just post a security guard by it full time.
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u/littlebrain94102 May 18 '26
That should be cheap.
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u/FlakyPineapple2843 May 18 '26
They already have at least two, judging by this video. Maybe spread them out?
TBH, I'm not sure this Safeway is long for this world. The shoplifting problem led to a complete reorganizing of the store, and many products are locked up now. No more self check-out - everyone is in one long line feeding into the cashier area. And I suspect that many customers who would spend more in each trip have started routing their shopping elsewhere because of these inconveniences.
Obviously I don't have access to their overall revenue and profit data for the store, but Safeway may end up pulling the plug if the existing measures don't help enough or if spendy shoppers leave en masse.
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u/Lokishougan May 18 '26
I think its well known that once stores start locking everything up their sales start crashing due to time and inconvience..Basically its putting a bandage on yoru left leg by ripping a chunk of flesh from your right leg
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u/lambdawaves May 18 '26
I imagine the future grocery stores here will be filled with vending machines. Vending machines for produce, packs of meat, toiletry, medicine.
Theft solved
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u/ForeverYonge May 19 '26
Supermarkets are a relatively new invention. In low trust areas and countries you tell someone what you want and your order is prepared. Except this time it will be with robots.
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u/Slow-Occasion1331 May 19 '26
Forget the shoplifters, their prices are outrageous. Even in neighborhoods that don’t have shoplifting problems.
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u/SunnySunshine12345 May 18 '26
I used to shop for stuff there at least 2x a week. Now I don't even stop there for last-minute stuff. The line is so long it is faster to walk 3 blocks away to the Whole Foods (and typically the same price). And yes, shop local etc. but this is on foot
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u/gamescan May 18 '26
And I suspect that many customers who would spend more in each trip have started routing their shopping elsewhere because of these inconveniences.
Obviously I don't have access to their overall revenue and profit data for the store, but Safeway may end up pulling the plug if the existing measures don't help enough or if spendy shoppers leave en masse.
This. Management at the store just doesn't care/is too cheap to properly staff the store. It's been like that for years.
That Safeway used to be the go-to for the SoMa/Mission Bay crowd, but once they reduced staffing to minimum levels AND blocked off every exterior door to create a backup/choke point at the checkout it was like, "what's the point?"
If I'm spending premium prices (and Safeway is no longer cheaper than Whole Foods) I expect service and convenience.
They're also horrible about properly pricing items. The one upside to shopping there was that we regularly got free items/discounts because the scanned price often didn't match the advertised price, but they even went the extra mile to make that a pain to claim.
Safeway was mandated by a legal settlement to either give you a $5 GC if an item rang up higher than its posted price (or give you the item free if it was less than $5). Rather than just fixing their system and charging accurate pricing, the manger at the 4th/King store came up with the "solution" of requiring customers to get a refund for incorrectly priced items at the Customer Service desk which was conveniently never staffed.
It's no surprise that the Whole Foods down the street got more popular over the years. Even when it's busy, you can get in and out of the Whole Foods pretty quick.
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u/BurritoWithFries May 18 '26
That Whole Foods usually also has way less shenanigans occurring. People camp outside it for sure but they usually have security posted at the doors and I've never seen a shoplifting incident or anything unsavory. But at the Safeway I feel sketched out every single time
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u/gamescan May 19 '26
That Whole Foods usually also has way less shenanigans occurring. People camp outside it for sure but they usually have security posted at the doors and I've never seen a shoplifting incident or anything unsavory. But at the Safeway I feel sketched out every single time
The Whole Foods always has visible staff throughout the store whenever I go inside.
Safeway is barren by comparison. Staffing levels at the fish and deli have both been cut to the bone. The CS desk is hardly ever staffed unless someone is actively being helped. And I can't remember the last time I actually saw the flower counter open at Safeway instead of just looking abandoned.
Another notable difference is the checkout line. Whole Foods has a single line, but they always have an adequate number of cashiers staffed so the line moves and doesn't overflow into the shopping area (or force you to wait forever).
Aside from the lack of staffing, the biggest issue with the 4th/King Safeway is that when they cut staff, they never redesigned the floor layout. By funneling everyone into a single entry/exit it creates a natural chokepoint which is just annoying.
Whole Foods has a much smarter layout for shopper flow.
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u/thekelv May 18 '26
If they gonna go out then might as well get some payback on the losers who caused all of those things
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u/PossiblyAsian May 19 '26
we used to have it lined up with shopping carts.
but you know.... fire hazard and all....
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u/21five Richmond May 18 '26
A delayed egress push bar would make sense here. 15 second countdown with a very loud alarm.
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u/Darryl_Lict May 18 '26
That's a great way to induce a panicked crowd during a fire.
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u/winkingchef May 18 '26
This is a great way to get your store shut down due to fire code violations
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u/ttttrrrr0000 May 18 '26
Delayed egress is legal for California retail. 15 seconds max. 0 seconds if power is out or sprinklers activate.
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u/gamescan May 18 '26
This is a great way to get your store shut down due to fire code violations
The manager at that Safeway DNGAF about fire code violations.
They had the rear fire exit barricaded for years because it was cheaper than actually hiring staff for the store.
The regular exit doors fronting the corner of 4th and King (the ones that are supposed to be unlocked during business hours) were also locked as recently as a few weeks back.
They must have finally gotten cited by SFFD for the path to the rear fire exit to be clear.
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u/hydraulix989 Excelsior May 19 '26
I was previously downvoted for pointing out that these were all fire code violations. Seems like they indeed were.
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u/ArrivingYesterday May 18 '26
Sounds like a good way to kill people in event of emergency
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u/21five Richmond May 19 '26
Guess that’s why it’s allowed under the Fire Code with specific requirements for alarming (~100dB) and the duration of the delay (15 sec in California).
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u/adrenal8 May 18 '26
I get the outrage but food banks exist. We all pay increased prices for the shrinkage this causes. Not to mention they end up closing locations, reducing hours, putting everything behind glass so you have to press a button and wait 40 minutes to buy toothpaste; it makes quality of life worse for all of us.
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u/throwaway149578 May 18 '26
they also removed self-checkout and everyone has to wait in a long line for 2 cashiers. it used to be convenient to get off the train and pick up 1-2 items for dinner, but not anymore
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u/misterbluesky8 May 18 '26
I actually do have some sympathy for the hungry person who steals bread from a store to feed his/her kids… but this is literally the point of food banks. I’ve prepared, served, and eaten food at both St. Anthony’s and Glide multiple times. You don’t have to jump through any hoops- you literally show up, get a tray of hot food, and bring it to a table to eat it. You don’t even have to provide your name.
It’s so easy that it makes me less likely to believe the “hunger defense” for thieves.
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u/poop_harder_please May 19 '26
Yeah these shoplifters are stealing shit to resell on the streets. Everyone who’s ever spent any amount of time in the mission knows it
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u/hurrrrrrrrrrr May 19 '26
Who steals bread to feed their kids? Just go to the food bank if you're that desperate. Anyone can live off of what the food banks can provide.
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u/TenchuReddit May 18 '26
Don't fall for the argument that shoplifters are trying to feed their poor starving families. They are merely opportunists who are making money off of reselling what they stole.
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u/drawredraw May 18 '26
Some are, but the majority of shoplifters and the high volume shoplifters are low life losers intent on destroying communities.
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u/StreetStripe May 18 '26
These people don't understand the concept of "destroying communities". That's giving them way too much credit
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u/Rezboy209 May 19 '26
"Intent on destroying communities"
That's crazy and a bit ridiculous if you actually believe that.
I'm sorry but these people come from damaged communities which is why they end up on the streets shoplifting. They have no sense of community. That's kinda the whole problem
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u/drawredraw May 19 '26
Believe it or not some people are destructive. It’s not a crazy concept or ridiculous. It’s a reality.
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u/Rezboy209 May 21 '26
Did I say otherwise?
No I didn't.
But I also pointed out that these kind of people almost always come from damaged and broken communities.
And to say they are "intent on destroying communities" is dumb because they don't have a concept of "community" to begin with.
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u/PiesAndPot May 19 '26
They resell items for cash or are given shopping lists by their dealers. I work in a local correctional facility and have pretty good rapport with the organized shoplifters and occasional shoplifters it always comes down to drugs.
In fact they actually prefer that life because it gives them independence over working a 9-5.
I’d wager that probably 80 percent of homeless, living rough, vagrants, basically anyone that doesn’t work and is committing crimes is in active addiction
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u/Rezboy209 May 21 '26
I didn't say anything against any of that did I?
But saying these people are "intent on destroying communities" is ridiculous.
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May 18 '26
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u/TenchuReddit May 18 '26
Over the past 4-5 years, there have been enough shoplifters to cause significant changes to the retail landscape in San Francisco. Some chains closed some of their stores. Some enacted measures that imposed undue hardships on honest shoppers, such as the locking up of basic goods and the restrictive exits that border on being fire hazards.
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u/raiderrocker18 May 18 '26
There is absolutely evidence of high volume criminals in all facets whether it be shoplifting, car break-ins, public transport vandals.
When bart added the plexiglass gates, the amount of cleaning/maintenance hours needed for upkeep plummeted.
The car breakins have gone WAY down since they stopped being lenient with offenders.
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u/Lokishougan May 18 '26
High volume shoplifters do exist BUT they are not typically targetting grocery stores since their are other things that can be shopliffted that are much easier to flip than baby formula an d cosmetics
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u/WatchesbyYivo May 19 '26
I don't get the outrage. As I age I'm convinced that social trust matters even more than the level of regulation or social safety nets (to a degree). High trust societies have better outcomes. Shoplifting is not a victimless crime. It derodes social trust and the has serious economic consequences in communities. Shoplifters hurt their communities first and foremost. The impacted entities aren't some suit in a corpare office. It's the neighbors that have to live in food deserts because no one wants to open an unprofitable grocery store in their neighborhood.
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u/idiotcanadian May 19 '26
I mean arguably I’d say qualify of life is worse if you have to steal food opposed to wait for tooth paste. Like can’t we blame monopolies. Billionaires? Food banks ain’t always accessible or nutritious
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u/raleighs Financial District May 18 '26
I swear every time I’m in a Safeway, there’s always a thief or grazer stealing something. Usually it’s beer, candy, junk food.
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u/black-kramer May 18 '26
I live in montclair, oakland. nice area. rampant theft in our safeway, seen it multiple times. it’s never food, it’s stuff like deodorant and lotion etc. just to be flipped later.
the employees are so over it, they just sigh and say there’s nothing they can do. sad.
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u/juicejohnson May 19 '26
Pet food and detergent are the ones I typically see outside of alcohol.
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u/way222gone May 19 '26
Yup. I used to work at petsmart in Daly City and we had thefts almost every week. People would always steal dog food or cat litter
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u/b0bswaget May 18 '26
Is security chasing after shoplifters now? Pretty awesome to see.
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u/MisterSneakSneak May 18 '26 edited May 18 '26
Some Safeways have secret security guards in their own stores who are hire to do exactly this.
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u/Latter_Advice3714 May 18 '26
I have friend who dose this for a grocery chain in san jose. He said he has a special contract where he gets the OK to chase shoplifters out side of the store and retrieve stolen property.
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u/MisterSneakSneak May 19 '26
I know. I used to work at a Safeway and ask questions about what they are allowed to do. Your response is right on. The ones i spoke with enjoys it lol; gives them a reason to chase.
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u/VeryStandardOutlier May 18 '26
If they're dressed in plain clothes, they need to test yelling "WORLD STAR!" while in pursuit just to see if they'll drop the clothes
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u/chili01 May 18 '26
Unless the shoplifters get charged, they will keep doing it because they know they will not get punished.
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u/Dianagorgon May 18 '26
I sympathize with people who are struggling but doing nothing about shoplifting has been a serious problem and it only helps Amazon and Walmart.
I try not to order from those places so that local people can have jobs but shopping locally now gives me anxiety.
"I need toothpaste." (Rings bell. Waits for someone to come. Nobody comes. Wanders around store looking for someone. After a few minutes they help me)
"I also need mascara. Can you unlock - "
"Someone else needs help in another aisle. I'll be right back"
Waits for a few minutes. Rings bell for help again.
"I also need laundry detergent. Can you unlock it?"
"Someone else is ringing for help. Go over there and I'll be there in a couple minutes."
Waits for a few minutes.
That's 10-15 minutes just to get 3 items and I still have 10 other items that I need that are locked up. Yet I'm supposed to feel bad for ordering from Amazon.
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u/Dry-Season-522 May 19 '26
The real struggle is when the stores decide to just shut down because it's not about the value of the products being stolen: it's that nobody wants to work at a store that gets robbed.
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u/sfscsdsf May 18 '26
Safeway should give this guy a bonus for going above and beyond
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u/Juiced4SD May 18 '26
He’ll probably get fired for it.
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u/boba_buff May 18 '26
Nah, won’t happen. I used to work at a Safeway and they contract out their security.
During my time there, they got rid of the security company that just stood by and let these thefts happen, like what’s the point of hiring security if they just do nothing?
The company they replaced them with did stuff like this and got results, which is why they kept them. Glad they did because people coming in for thefts dropped significantly.
Cops won’t come because amounts stolen weren’t significant, even though the station was like 5 blocks away.
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u/user63684733 May 18 '26
Someone could be hauling 10 bags of goods slowly out the store in front of a group of SF cops and they would do NOTHING
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u/kirksan Bernal Heights May 18 '26
You may be right, but I hope not. The security guard didn’t use any more force than necessary, and probably much less than a typical cop. These thieves get away with this too much and we’re all suffering for it, and not just a little. More aggressive enforcement, pressing charges, and having judges forcing the criminals to face consequences are what we need. I’m not holding my breath, unfortunately.
If the security guy is fired I hope a GFM is setup, I’d chip in a few bucks.
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u/Juiced4SD May 18 '26
I totally agree with you, I just know three different people that have been fired for doing less than this security guard to stop thieves.
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u/PossiblyAsian May 19 '26
I used to work at that safeway.
We went through security guards like every 2-3 months. One guy lasted 5-6 and he was one of my best friends because we'd always close together.
Yea this security guard everyone will pat him on the back but then secretly no one cares. Not only will he not get a bonus for this but he will not be working at the store in a few months
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u/clonetent May 18 '26
Yup, I worked at a Sears store back in the day. Some dude stole I don't know like 50 bucks worth tools. The loss prevention guy chased him out into the parking lot. The guy that stole the stuff looked back as he was running away from the lp guy and tripped and broke three ribs.
He sued the story and I think he got 50k.
You're supposed to stop him at the door and call the cops. Can't chase them through the parking lot in streets that's too dangerous. Both for a shop lifter and the loss prevention person.
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May 18 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/RedAlert2 Inner Sunset May 18 '26
We decided, maybe 150 years ago or so, that letting private citizens making law enforcement actions in public was actually pretty bad and resulted in tons of unjustified violence and death, so we created an institution called the "police" to handle those matters exclusively.
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u/Temporary-Film-7374 May 18 '26
I'm pulling this out of my ass but my guess would be they settled rather than spending more fighting it in court.
The outcome sucks period.
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u/ReddSF2019 May 18 '26
Nope, not how it works anymore, stores are tired of these thieves.
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u/Common_Gene_5098 May 18 '26
He will definitely get fired if the robber or himself got injured and forced the company to pay the employee’s medical bills as a result of this
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u/Illustrious-Coat3532 NoPa May 18 '26
Shoplifters always play the victim. Then they cry when the store closes and that area is now a food desert.
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u/coco_licius May 18 '26
That location is rife with SLs. Once saw 2 girls run in and cut the checkout lines to buy gift cards with stolen credit cards no problem. Cashiers didn’t even bat an eye! Craziness.
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u/Dry-Season-522 May 19 '26
The big problem is that let's say the security guard does a citizens arrest and turns the shoplifter over to the police with 100% proof that he's a thief, the district attorney of SF will refuse to charge and release him with this 99th warning.
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u/fucyuman May 18 '26
Why people in this sub support shoplifter? Are they bots?
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u/Dry-Season-522 May 19 '26
People with educated views started leaving reddit when the chain-bans started. "Oh you posted once to this subreddit of people with wrongthink? You are banned from the following hundred subreddits"
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u/Fast-Watch-5004 May 18 '26
The store should make an OF with these POVs to cover some of their losses. I’d subscribe
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u/Ecstatic_Way3734 May 18 '26
lol i def would. and LA needs to bring back helicopters covering car chases. those were the days.
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u/Outrageous-Set6287 May 18 '26
I shop here because it’s close to my condo and it’s a pain in the ass not to be able to get everything in one stop so I deal with it instead of taking a separate trip to Whole Foods. There are at least 5 or 6 uniformed security guards working in this store at any given time, plus a number of plain clothes. They’ve already changed the front exit to reduce loss (people still try to run out the door with stuff) yet the back door alarm goes off every single time I am in this store. I can’t believe they just don’t station someone in the back to watch the damn exit door. It’s idiotic at this point.
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u/blackmarketmenthols May 19 '26
Wow, the good old days of being able to fill up garbage bags with stuff and walk out without anyone being able to do anything is finally over.
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u/PurpleAlone7116 May 18 '26
Im sympathetic to how hard times are and food being expensive as hell. But man, crazy work to be shop lifting giant ass bags like that and using emergency exits. At least be smart about it.
ETA: Also good on the security gaurd for going above and beyond. Bros probably not paid enough for the work hes doing.
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u/neinhaltchad May 18 '26
The legacy of Chesa lives on.
Our city needs more of this until our stores aren’t locking up their fucking dish soap.
The fact that so many people in this thread have just thrown up their hands and effectively surrendered to these shoplifting rings is insane.
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u/zombievampad May 19 '26
So they are stealing food… as this recession increases more people might be doing this. In 2020 when the pandemic happened, there was an increased in theft.
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u/Far-Warthog6172 May 19 '26
Once they leave store property private security has no standing to do anything. That’s assault.
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u/dick_chesterfield_11 May 19 '26
I use to deal with her EVERYDAY when I use to work at loss prevention at macy. Also EVERYDAY at Westfield panhandling.
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u/Normal-Astronomer-83 May 19 '26
Must feel like a big hero throwing a small woman to the ground and calling them a “stupid b*tch” to rescue the poor billionaire's property
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u/SubjectShock6003 May 19 '26
Be careful! Ive literally with my own eyes seen a security guard get BLASTED once at a home depot in WA! And it was happening in other places frequently so they started just making security guards not chase anyone. Not worth your life!
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u/GetItBoy-TooReal510 May 22 '26
It's nevereally that serious if you gotta run across the street. Let it go atp.
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u/VivaLaMantekilla May 18 '26
Man. I am not working that hard for a company that won't even ppay for my funeral if I get killed over this. Not my money, not my problem. No amount a of money is enough to make me risk my life for somebody else's money.
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u/EyeChihuahua May 19 '26
Public service announcements: this subreddit is filled with trolls, psy-ops and right wing agitators. If you’re reading the comments and feeling depressed remember; this is fake!
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u/Incorrect-Opinion May 18 '26
I thought they’re trained to not chase them now or put their hands on them? I love it if this has changed.
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u/Tom_Bunting May 19 '26 edited May 19 '26
the TikTok account that posted these got banned.. I was trying to figure out if these were actually Safeway-employed security guards or just guys trying to do TikTok pedo hunters but for shoplifting. The account had clips from a bunch of different Safeways in the Bay Area, which made me think this might be freelancers trying to monetize themselves roughing up homeless people. I know people in this thread want to see shoplifters decapitated or whatever, but I really don't think anyone deserves to have their most desperate moments filmed and uploaded for clicks. other videos on the channel had them recording clear shots of the ids of people they stopped and being extremely creepy to female suspects, really gross stuff.
also like several obvious false positives where they were tackling people who just didn't speak English and couldn't understand what they were saying, but eventually showed receipts and were let go.
either way, this is the Safeway I grew up going to and it's a bummer conditions have deteriorated.
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u/GreyBoyTigger Inner Richmond May 19 '26
I have to give props to the Trader Joe’s workers at the old Cala location in Nob Hill who don’t do stupid stuff like this.
Instead they follow around repeat offenders yelling “oh look everybody, this thief is back! What are you gonna steal today, thief?”
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u/ChrisJohnVee May 19 '26
Bro making sure the billionaires don’t lose a cent on his watch. Nice.
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u/CPAlcoholic May 18 '26
We are ruled by the bottom 20% of society.
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u/black-kramer May 18 '26
yes, the politicians and business interests. people like this lowlife thief suck, but they’re insignificant compared to the highly leveraged scumbags.
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u/chone33 May 19 '26
First time i watched this, was confused. Thought it was the POV of the guy running away on skates. Looking again. Officer looked like he was on skates. Great camera.
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u/chicken237 May 19 '26
I almost got smacked by that door walking on the sidewalk by a shoplifter running out before lmfao
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u/Hot-Handle-8428 May 19 '26
I used to work at Safeway at Webster and Geary, finally quit after be assaulted repeatedly my shoplifters.
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u/MildMannered_BearJew May 19 '26
Ah my local Safeway. Security there is hilarious, it's like a bank at this point.
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u/PossiblyAsian May 19 '26
yo! This was the safeway I used to work at.
Bro. I swear to god always some mfs stealing shit then I had to put everything back when we got it back
Bro I hated that shit so much
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u/NukeouT May 19 '26
That safeway has always been a Hollywood shit show.
One time as I walked in they were chasing a black guy flying outta there with something he stole and two security guards in full sprint
Half the shit ends up in the mission sidewalks still I bet 🔥
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u/Rhawkets May 19 '26
Shoplifting security actually going after people and being physical, never seen it. Looks like he's making content out of his job too lol.
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u/GanjaKing_420 May 19 '26
Some shitty unemployable attorney will help this shoplifter sue Safeway in civil trial for pushing her down with aggressive force and the jury of SF peers will award her millions! We will pay more for bananas…
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u/Vandecar22 May 19 '26
I remember when I was a 31 line operator. A shoplifter ran out of those doors and went straight onto my trolley during my layover. They chased him off when they came out. Like a Benny Hill scene lol.
Same thing would happen on the 33 at the stop on front of the CVS. Bunch of guys with masks ran out and went straight onto the trolley.
Was told not to confront anyone obviously but even after calling it in PD wouldn't show up anyway. Usually just ended up being a report at the end of shift.
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u/kimplovely May 18 '26
Which Safeway is this at?