To Protect or Not To Protect – That is the question!?!
by Sherry McCourt, CFE
Everybody has a right to protect themselves. We have a right to protect our property. Business owners have a right to limit loses and protect their livelihoods.
What happens when injury is a result of us protecting ourselves – what happens if death is the result of us exercising our rights? Where do we draw the line?
On Tuesday September 22, 2009 – CBC – reported that a “Store owner faces assault charge after the death of a shoplifter” (Please click the link to read the full story).
Of course the investigation is still on going but the summary of the story is that a 61 year old woman was confronted by the owner of a convenience store when she was trying to steal a can of lunch meat worth $1.49. The police were notified of the confrontation, which allegedly included the use of a bat, 2 days after the incident. Five days later the woman was taken off life support and had passed away.
Reportedly her death has not been conclusively linked to the “confrontation” and there is an ongoing investigation.
So my question for you is… Where do we draw the line? How far are we allowed to go to protect ourselves?
Be Safe & Be Good To Each Other!
Sherry
