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Don't swing your arms at the Target Store in Council Bluffs Iowa
While at the Council Bluffs Target Store The Following Happened.
I want to refer you to an incident in Council Bluffs, Iowa, concerning my
sister.
She was arrested for stealing a CD which she was caught swinging around her
arm while leaving Target. The security there was very tight as you will
see. I would like you to send this to
whomever is in a position to deal with this matter. Target is getting a
very bad image for badgering a 18 year old high school student who is
getting straight A's. The individuals at the Target store don't seem to
understand that if a teenager wanted to steal a CD that they would
do a little better job of concealing it than swinging it around their arm.
I am sorry to send this e-mail to both of you who probably have no
responsibility in this area, but its the only address I could find. I
would like some sort of response or direction that I can address this with
Target. My sister's name is Janette Howard from Glenwood, Iowa, so if you
could pass this on to whomever I would appreciate it.
Plus it would give
Target a better image than it is developing in our area as they are going to court over this.
Thank You
Don Howard
[email protected]
Please Respond or Call As Soon As Possible.
Thanks!
The above message was e-mailed to Target.
The following are e-mail messages about this incident:
I would promise never to shop there again but I never do. The success of
Target style stores proves to me the stupidity of the Amercan Consumer.
They would much rather buy 3 shirts for $45 than 2 shirts for $35. The fact
that all three shirts together won't last for 6 months seems to be lost on
them.
K*
No doubt the store is full of crap. You get what you pay for minus
taxes, parking meters, and politicians.--jonathan
Rich and ostensibly upstanding people steal all the time. Here's my take:
When she was approached outside the store she should have been given the
chance to rectify her "mistake" by paying for the purchase. If this was
done then we should be done. If however she wasn't given the chance to pay,
then Target is in fact acting in a way that may be deplorable but still the
choice to act that way is rightfully of their choosing.
Well, if given the chance to pay, any thief would do so and avoid the
penalty. What thief would not? So, although it seems to be the "fair"
thing to do, it's not neccessarily the correct one. If the store gives
everyone the chance to rectify a "mistake", people will steal without
fear of punishment.
Yes, you see it the way it appears to you. It may be entirely different
to the store. Old ladies make the same mistake quite often. I'm sure in
most cases they don't end up in court though. The best you can do is
fight it hard, and if found innocent, make the store pay for all legal
fees, hastle, time etc. If they want to make an example, make them work
for it.
Ultimately, it will be a good learning experience for the girl involved.
She will learn about the court system, store theft, corporate
beaurocrats, fighting for her rights and dignity. It will seem to be
aweful for all on her side, but she will emerge stronger for it and even
if found guilty, the sentence will be very light or non-existant. Slap
on the wrist and a brush with the court system.--jonathan
If I lived in your neighborhood, after having heard this story, I'd NEVER set foot in his
store...after telling him to his face what I think of him.
Hilary...if she only could have! Her and her friends were busy talking about going somewhere to
eat and she had the CD swinging on her arm. Now Janette has always had the "dumb blond"
complex and just been plain absent-minded. Anyway, she's a cheerleader, Senior in High
School, Honor Society, etc. etc. and believe me, I know she didn't do it intentionally. In fact, the
lady that tapped her on the shoulder in the store noted the look on her face and said she thought
she didn't do it intentionally. Yes, they did charge her and she has a court date. We did spend
$250 for an attorney here in town. We're helping her out because she just didn't mean to do it
and it was a mistake. They questioned her for 1-1/2 hour in the store. The police were called
and according to her, "treated her pretty harsh". Then she was taken to the police car and she
said the policeman was really nice then and he tired to have a conversation. He asked her if she
would going to a certain concert. What was this young officer trying to do?
Ramonyca(mother)
If a store is willing to dismiss, it will often require that the person give them a release from liabilty
before they do so...
Good Luck
Bob
I think you've gotten good LEGAL advice, and I certainly wish you the best. Now perhaps a
different twist...just a thought...your "mileage" may vary.
I'd take the store manager on the side and explain to him that while your daughter regrets the
confusion, she very clearly had no intent to take something without paying for it, and if he insists
on trying to push this thing, you and she are not going to just sit there and take it. He has
already created an arrest record for your daughter, and now he seems to not care that he may
create a conviction. Actually, I doubt a reasonable judge would convict here, especially after
hearing the circumstances and the testimony of the clerk who you mentioned in a previous post
didn't think she intended to shoplift.
I'd --very-- plainly, and firmly tell him that we WILL take our case to the media and other
approaches to let the public know that people who commit innocent mistakes are NOT welcome
in his store. Seems to me that some picketing on a busy Friday or Saturday night would be quite
effective - might even bring the TV cameras. A person who is confident he is doing the right
thing shouldn't mind that...someting tells me he -will- mind.
Boy, it was good hearing you say that Henry! It confirmed just what we've been starting
to do. I printed off all the checks I'd written at their target store in a two year period and
handed that to the manager. Then I explained it was a mistake and if they didn't attempt
to do something, we would "spread the word" so to speak. I also told him the emotional
devastation our daughter felt after their interview. Wednesday we have the hearing
where she will say she is not guilty and we are collecting reports from all her friends
she was with and the clerks.
Thanks so much!
Ramonyca(mother)
Amar wrote:
Hey.
It happend to me once. I was in CVS pharmacy and picked up a chocolate bar and put it in
my pocket and was HONESTLY going to pay for it. My cousins were leaving and I ran out of the
store in a rush and as soon as I stepped outside I realized I was still carrying the candybar. I was
lucky that they don't attach those antitheft things to Nestle Crunch. Well anyway I suppose I
should have gone back to pay for it but I didn't. So what I was only 10.
-Amar
No doubt it happens all the time...but an older teen has learned this
lesson by now, you were only 10. It's not the fact that it happened that
I don't agree with, it's the story that seems a bit strange. And
besides, why would someone post or email to get help for a teenage girl
who was caught shoplifting? Big Deal.
The store doesn't give a crap about losing her business if it keeps
others from stealing. Store theft is huge and costs us all way more than
anyone would think. The girl screwed up. So let her learn her lesson and
hate the store. Business is business. If she stole from me, I'd probably
arrest her as well. or I would take back the merchandise and get with
the parents. Who knows?
Assuming you get a reasonable judge and a good attorney, you should have
no problem here. With no prior convictions and good school grades, I
think charges will be dropped.
The problem here is twofold. One, you're dealing with with a large
corporation. Second, the store in question probably has a shoplifting
problem. The corporate mentality is this: make an example out of all who
get caught.
I agree with another letter that I saw at your web site. I also suggest
putting on the heat, getting the local media involved. I would also try
to get together a list of character references for the accused
(teachers, fellow students, school administration, etc.).
If Target realizes that they will lose more business than it's worth,
they'll probably drop charges.
Get your community involved. Voice your displeasure to:
Target Stores a division of Dayton Hudson Corperation
33 South Sixth Street
Minneapolis, MN 55402
USA
The more mail they get, the better the effect.
I checked out the Target web site, (www.target.com), and it appears
there is no guest book, or email address where you can talk to them, so
I did a little research. There is an administrative contact for DHC:
Administrative Contact:
Loomis, Elwin (EL55) [email protected]
800-376-1768 (FAX) 612-304-4706
Bug this guy and ask him how to contact the muckity mucks at Target
online.
Good luck,
Rick Duim
Date: 3/16/97 2:06 PM
To: Nancy Fuller
From: Don Howard
>
Nancy its getting worse...please help.
>
https://pw1.netcom.com/~donhow/tstore.htm
3/17/97
>
Mr Howard,
I have forwarded your email to Guest Relations. They should be contacting
you. I have visited the site you put up. While it's absolutely your right
to do this, I must caution you that the graphic of the Target you have used
is from Target's copyrighted web site.
> I encourage you to remove that graphic immediately.
Thank you
> Nancy Fuller
- Don Howard
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