There are a variety of factors that security officers have to consider when deciding whether to try to physically confront a shoplifter
You see them daily in uniform at grocery stores, pharmacies, and retail stores.
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While the primary function of security guards is to “observe and report” — and act as a deterrent against crime — there are times when they have to make a split-second call whether to physically engage a suspect.
The challenges, and dangers, faced by security guards came into focus over the weekend in Vancouver’s Olympic Village.
Just before 10:30 p.m. Saturday, a security officer at Legacy Liquor Store tried to stop a a person he believed was shoplifting from leaving the store. A witness who was passing by tried to assist and was stabbed by the shoplifter, police said.
Dieter Karpf, a retired deputy sheriff who has been a security consultant for decades, said there are a variety of factors that security officers have to consider when deciding whether to try to physically confront a shoplifter.
Some employers have guidelines that instruct guards to ignore the shoplifting of minor or inexpensive items. Where the theft involves pricier items, that could lead to greater intervention, but only when it’s safe to do so, Karpf said.
Does the thief have a known history? Do they have a weapon? Are they endangering others? What is their mental state?
“The key is assessing the personal safety of the guard, then the safety of the public, and then safety from the perspective of the subject. A guard needs to understand if the subject is intoxicated, or if there is a very dangerous history, or are there are other health issues,” he said.
There is a national standard that security guards follow when escalating the use of force, but every store or chain has its own policies for how, when and what action to take against shoplifting, said Karpf.
There are usually several steps, starting with continuous observation until a person takes an item out of the store without paying for it.
In B.C., all security guards must complete a basic 40-hour course at the Justice Institute of B.C. For guards who work in more conflict-prone environments — such as hospitals, nightclubs and special events — they may be required to take an additional 24-hour advanced security training course.
The right to use handcuffs requires additional approvals from Victoria.
Karpf teaches an advanced security training course that was developed by the Justice Institute. It’s a program for security guards who may need to employ force or use restraints such as handcuffs when confronted by high-risk, resistant or violent individuals.
They are trained to assess for risk by considering how quickly a person can move across distances and what opportunities there are for repositioning themselves for safety. The course uses simulations of different scenarios rather than just theories.
Arrests by security personnel are not common, he said.
When it comes to civilians, it can be very dangerous for passersby to intervene because of the unknown factors, said Karpf.
“You don’t know their (physical) skill, or if they have hidden weapons.”
In the Olympic Village incident, police obtained security images from the store and began searching for the thief, who fled from the crime scene with three accomplices.
Shortly after midnight, Vancouver police officers patrolling near Granville and Robson streets located and arrested four people.
A 21-year-old from Surrey is a suspect in the stabbing. He was held overnight in jail, then released from custody with bail conditions and is expected to face criminal charges once the investigation is complete.
The three suspected accomplices — an 18-year-old man from Richmond, a 16-year-old girl from Surrey, and a 16-year-old girl from New Westminster — were also released on bail, pending completion of the investigation.
A manager at Legacy Liquor Store declined to comment Monday, but the company did issue a social media post that said: “Our store experienced an incident that has deeply affected all of us. While we are relieved that the injured individual is recovering, our thoughts remain with them and their loved ones during this difficult time.
“We also want to take a moment to recognize the incredible strength of our team members who were present during the event. Their resilience and professionalism in the face of such a traumatic situation are truly commendable.”
— with files from Douglas Quan and The Canadian Press