ND1129115

Title: How Not To Deal With 4-Year Old ?Shoplifters?

Description: Safeway fires a security guard who banned a 4-year for life from Safeway stores after he caught her eating from an opened box of dried apricots.

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EVERETT, WA ? Safeway announced last week it has fired a grocery store security guard after he told the father of a 4-year old girl that she was banned from Safeway stores and would face criminal charges for eating from a dried fruit package and replacing it onto a store shelf, the Washington Post reports.

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The child?s father did not see his daughter open a package of dried apricots from a store shelf, eat a few pieces and return it to a shelf.

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However, a security guard who saw the transgression took the child and her dad to a back room and had the girl sign a paper acknowledging she understood she would be banned from entering Safeway stores in the future (this, despite the girl not being able to print letters; apparently, the guard had her scribble an acknowledgment).

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Upon learning of the guard?s actions, the company issued a statement saying it was ?appalled? by the guard?s actions and that it had fired him.

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?Our policies on shoplifting are intended to protect our customers, but built on common sense. And everyone understands what common sense is,? said Safeway spokesperson Cherie Myers.

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Incidentally, Safeway did not to press charges. It also apologized to the girl and her family and said it would re-examine its shoplifting policies.?

Content Subject: Operations

Formatted Article Date: November 29, 2011

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