A weird dude.

[Rams]

A little back ground.

Some may already know this, some may not. Although officially retired, I still work "part time" at an auto parts store. Normally a couple days a week.
Due to my experience and reliability, I'm often asked to manage the store. This is not a position I seek, I don't need the crap that goes with it. I'm retired.
Tonight was one of those nights, I was the closing manager.

A middle aged man (late thirties I think) came in and started talking like a jabber mouth idiot. Kept picking up items (all kinds of unrelated things). Was hauling all this stuff around, picking up other things and dropping stuff, kind of making a mess of the store. There is one other employee there, a middle aged (50 something lady) employee with me, I told her to keep an eye on this dude. She did from a distance.

Eventually, he asked for a basket to carry all the goodies he was trying to carry. She obliged him by getting him a basket. Four times he came to the counter to check out and then remembered something else he thought he needed and would proceed to gather more things for his basket. We're approaching closing time so, I advised him that we would be closing in 15 minutes. He kept up his routine. Made a couple more trips around the store and back to the register. Now, my co-worker is starting to get nervous. She gets my attention and says she thinks he's stealing stuff. I'm not surprised but, we continue to watch. After a couple more times of me telling him we're ready to close, he sets everything down and tells us, he can get a better price tomorrow if he comes in and see so and so, she always give him a good deal. Ok, I say, come back tomorrow. It's time for us to close.

He walks toward the door, then turns around, he needs one more thing but, can't remember what it is. I've already closed the last register but, due to his insistence, I open it back up. He walks around for another 10 minutes and still doesn't know what he wants. He finally decides he'll go. We start to go through his basket, intending to put some things back up, knowing he most likely won't come back tomorrow. We notice three packages that are now empty. Three packages we know had tools in them. I ask him about it. He swears he did not take them. I'm pretty sure he did but, the "company" doesn't want us to get physical and I have no intent to do so. Screw the tools, I'll report the theft and move on with life. He's now outside and beating on our doors, wants back in. That's not going to happen.

I am about ready to shut everything down and he comes back to the door and is hitting it hard enough that I think he's going to break that plate glass. I tell the co-worker to stay near the phone and be prepared to call 911. I go to the door to quell (peacefully) the customer. He now wants to know if I've seen his brothers, the two guys that came in with him. Now, I'm concerned that this dude is either nuts or, high on something. I assure him, he was alone when he came into the store and I didn't see anyone with him out in the parking lot. He does this twice. I continue to finish closing up.

Just as she and I are about to walk to the door and leave, he comes back, he is sure his brothers are in the store so, I told him to wait outside and say I'll take a look. I assure you, there is no one else in the store but humor him this one last time. Walk the store, no bodies or ghosts to be found. He doesn't believe me and wants to come in a look for himself. That is not going to happen. I (gently as possible) get him to exit our outer doors and then ask my co-worker if she feels safe enough to exit the building. She tells me yes if, I'll walk her to her car. I agree.

We exit the building and purposefully walk straight to her Jeep, she gets in and locks her doors. As I turn to go to my truck, I see the "dude" coming my way. I don't even break stride, I simply tell him to stop, Edited Out. He slows slightly. That give me the time to actually get into my truck and start it. My co-worker and I both left at that point. Left him in the parking lot. The minute I got onto the street, I called 911 and advised the dispatcher that I had a very strange guy still in my parking lot and thought he was either high on something or mentally challenged. I also informed the dispatcher that we believed he had taken the tools but, were not looking to press charges just to ensure this dude was safe to be driving around. Made sure the patrolling LEO knew everything before he walked up on a potentially bad situation. One of the weirdest situations I've seen. I don't feel bad about calling the police to check on him but, you can bet your bippy, I'll get a corporate complaint tomorrow about this. Don't really care. After the call to 911, I immediately called the regional director and informed him. I strongly suspect meth.

I don't like the idea of confronting someone and not being prepared. I'll leave it at that. I am prepared. Edited Out Not sure it would have made a difference if what I suspect is true. I don't relish the thought of getting serious Edited with someone over a few dollars worth of tools. But, I assure you, you do not want to get weird or challenge an old guy like me in a dark parking lot, especially if, you've already scared the crap out of the lady who is also working there. She was also preparing to dial 911 I found out. Hopefully, someone will be able to help this guy but, I'm not qualified and am not willing to get hurt in the process. I guess I'm (or he) am lucky it ended the way it did.

[phideux]

I would have called 911 alot quicker than you did, and I wouldn't have gone out the doors until they showed up.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Be careful out there Ron. He is no alone. We get plenty here in the day time. Once the sun goes down they seem to crawl out of their spaces. Half the time we only have a woman night manager on duty. Thankfully there are always men around to help if needed. They'd have to triple my pay to deal with all these people.

[FLAVALK]

I would have called 911 alot quicker than you did, and I wouldn't have gone out the doors until they showed up.

Me too....

[..]

I would have called 911 alot quicker than you did, and I wouldn't have gone out the doors until they showed up.

Me too....

Me three.

[Robert]

I would have called also, remember there is no reasoning there is no talking and there is no way to stop someone on drugs from the behavior they show. They may be very nice people when not on drugs but when they are 3 sheets to the wind they are not thinking, please dont take chances. It would be better to lose a job than your life.

[DirtyDan]

Sounds like meth "imaginary people" are a common theme with tweakers

Be prepared be ready. I know I'm a bit "security conscious" this is one reason why

Dan

[Oss]

Taught my daughter call 911 first, you should as well

Do you have cameras in the store?

[The emperor has no clothes]

If we were to call 911 every time we get these weirdos we would never be able to get the cops here when we REALLY needed them. Unfortunately mental illness and drugs are almost everywhere .

[signart]

I only met you once, but I love ya like a brother. You shouldn't have opened that door. Because I always pack a heater, I would have called po po before he started beating on the door, so I could avoid being put in a situation that I would not hesitate to assure that I or my fellow worker got to go home.
It's not that I think I couldn't handle it, I don't want to handle it. Just call 'em, and if it's nothing, it's nothing.

I am glad it didn't get bad and you got home safe. 

[Fazer]

Glad things turned out without serious trouble.  Being "prepared" is great, but employing that preparedness, even in fear of your life, can bring a world of crap into your happy family.  Of course better to have it and not need it than not have it and need it.

Greg

[old2soon]

I echo the call sooner responses. I M H O-going Home WAY more important than shrinking inventory. Protecting the Lady so she an git Home too. RIDE SAFE.

[Firefighter]

Don't hesitate to call 911, that is why you pay taxes. Happy everything turned out OK, he could of had his brothers with him!!

[Jess from VA]

Read up on bipolar disorder and paranoid schizophrenia.

Sometimes it's just drugs.

Sometimes it's just lunacy.

And then sometimes it's both.

And always watch their hands (and eyes).  

I think my brother is in there...... No sir, we had him arrested a couple hours ago, and the police came and took him away.  Would you like us to call the police again for you? They can be here in just a few minutes you know.

I would have tried to get his ID and write down the particulars (or just his name).  A call to the the local constabulary might get you a ...... yeah, we know that guy, and .....

[Serk]

I am SO thankful that I don't work in retail any longer, and hope I never have to again...

*Salute* to those who still do it... I don't know that I could.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I am SO thankful that I don't work in retail any longer, and hope I never have to again...

*Salute* to those who still do it... I don't know that I could.

I've only had a couple close calls over the years. But I will forever remember a Produce Manager I worked with who was assassinated in the store over a stupid carton of cigarettes. Mid 20's with a new baby and wife. The ones that get to your heart are the young ones who are suffering from mental illness. A lot of them are alienated from their family and friends and just left to fend for themselves in the world.

[Rams]

If we were to call 911 every time we get these weirdos we would never be able to get the cops here when we REALLY needed them. Unfortunately mental illness and drugs are almost everywhere .

In this, you are correct.   I sincerely appreciate the well wishes and advice from those members.   I will try to take that advice as much as possible but, everyone has a limit.   Normally, they don't push me to the line like this guy did.    Thanks.