SACRAMENTO, Calif. — As the holiday season ushers in a wave of shoppers to local stores, it is also drawing a surge in retail theft, raising concerns for safety among employees and customers alike.
Retail workers in Sacramento, including those at shopping centers like Howe Bout Arden, report that theft has become commonplace.
But many employees feel their hands are tied due to store policies that limit their ability to act.
“It happened so quickly,” said shopper Thresa Smith. She described witnessing an incident, saying, “I just heard people in the store say, ‘Did you just see that girl run out?’ And it’s really sad.”
ABC10 captured one such incident on video Wednesday evening at the Nike Clearance Store. A man was seen walking out with a stack of shoes around 5:30 p.m., responding to questions with a vulgar gesture.
This incident came after the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office had already been called to the Nike store twice that afternoon.
In one case, a deputy sustained minor injuries when struck by a suspect’s car as they fled the scene. In another, deputies detained four suspects allegedly working together—one of whom was armed.
“These are not the teenagers you think about stealing candy bars or trying to steal a gift for their little brother for Christmas,” said Sheriff’s spokesperson Amar Gandhi. “These are violent, dangerous criminals committing these retail thefts.”
Employees at the Nike store told ABC10 that corporate policies limit their ability to respond to thefts. They are required to notify corporate offices before contacting law enforcement, and they risk losing their jobs if they intervene.
“You don’t want to take that risk of running after them,” said Smith. “Nowadays, unfortunately, people have guns, knives, and it’s just not worth it.”
Security officers face similar restrictions. During the incident captured on video, a private security guard stood by and watched the thief walk away, stating that he had been instructed not to intervene.
Gandhi criticized policies that discourage reporting crimes in progress, arguing that they embolden criminals. Nike’s corporate office did not respond to ABC10’s request for comment.
The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office advises the public to avoid intervening in thefts. Instead, authorities recommend observing from a safe distance, recording video if possible, and being prepared to provide detailed information to law enforcement.
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