Sometimes people's lack of respect ticks me off so much!

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Jeff C

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So I work in security for a major retail corporation. We have several cameras fixed in the parking lot, and since I know where they point, I make sure I always park in one. They all run to a computer, and I can keep that camera up at all times while I'm at work. Today, I got here and parked in my usual spot. About 15min ago I noticed there was a cart next to my car that wasn't there earlier. I looked at the video and some lady just pushed the cart away from her car (parked far away from the store too, likely because she doesn't want anyone to hit it also) and it slammed into mine leaving a scratch (I actually recorded the video replaying on the screen onto my phone and I'll upload it when I get home). Unlucky for her, I do work in security, and have already identified her license plate number and vehicle, which allowed me to trace her back into the store using various cameras, and because she paid with a check (remember, semi-old lady) I was able to obtain a telephone number, address, DL number, etc. The scratch may come out with some Scratch-X and elbow grease, but if it doesn't, how should I go about getting her to pay for it (or even should I?). I know it's not that big of a deal, but people have no respect for other people's belongings and I think this would be a valuable lesson for her.



Video when I get home tonight.
 
You'll have to get the real police involved if you really want it to go anywhere. That and your insurance company.
 
I would get an estimate and then show her the video, make her pay and own-up. I'm not sure, but I think it becomes a civil matter when on private property. I don't think the police will help.



Gary D.
 
Jeff C,



Though I appreciate the issues, I suspect there are more important and useful things you can be doing in your life than trying to seek retribution from this lady and/or attempting to teach her a valuable lesson.



My own experience with such things is that people are oblivious at best, and down-right belligerent when it comes to those types of things, and the whole experience if you pursue it will likely be a frustrating one for you.



Of course, you could get the 1 in 100 type person that was temporarily lackadaisical and inconsiderate, but when confronted will "come clean", apologize and make things right. Good luck with that if you pursue it.



Our 1 year old Pacifica has a nice ding in a fender from a door in a parking lot. It happens. Do I wish it didn't? Sure. Do I think my crusade or yours will ultimately make a difference...nope; the only difference it will probably make is to make one more upset.



TJR

 
You risk having her (possibly on advice from a relative, etc.) complain to your management that you used your position to copy surveillance footage, acquire customer information from purchase receipts, etc. I'd weigh the possibility of that vs. the cost of repair. If the repair was more than you are willing to absorb, then go through your insurance company.



If you are willing to push the envelope w/o exposing the means by which you acquired the information, you could say a witness provided you with the license plate info and general description of the lady.



I just wouldn't your access, as a security professional, to the security cameras, surveillance tapes, charge receipts, etc. to be exposed as the source of information for a private, property damage issue. As was stated, she may be oblivious to the damage she caused.
 
Jeff,



I think you are in a loose/loose situation. For some reasons I will not expand upon, it is probably best if you tack it up to a loss in the profit and lost column. Sometimes it is best to fight the big battles and let the small ones go. :angry:
 
GOOD!!! I am glad you will pursue this Jeff C. I am like you parking at the end of ther parking lot hoping that somebody doesn't *ding* the ST. But it seems more often than not, some jackass will park to close and give you a door ding, or an incident with a cart. It has heppened to me on a few occasions. I am considerate and respect other people's property and return carts to the corral no matter how far away I park. I am pretty sick of not having that respect returned. Just my $.02



Sorry, I just get a little worked up over things like this. Rant over.



Tommy
 
If the lady is still in the store I would approach her and let her know that you have the insident on video tape. Since it is on private property the police have no jurisdiction unless you file a report. You are walking a fine line here.



If you choose to pursue this matter I do agree that you need to get a city police report done & then your insurance company. If your insurance deductable is more than what it would take to fix it then you are stuck going to small claims court if you really feel it is worth pursuing.



I also have to somewhat agree with TJR's comments, in that if someone had opened their car door and hit your ST then you probably would not feel so irate about it. My guess is that the lady had no intention of hitting your vehicle, but to see her move the cart so that it would not scratch hers and then hit yours and scratch it would make my ego come into play too.



p.s. I have to agree with Eltee that you have to weigh in on whether you want to rick loosing your job and possible future employment as well as being brought up on charges for the way you got some of the information on her. I do feel that if a customer came to you and said that someone had hit their vehicle with a cart and could you please check the video tape to see who did it: Would you be able to do that within your rules & regulations? Of, would you have to tell the customer that you are not permitted to do that. The same rules will probably apply to you as that do a customer.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
You risk having her (possibly on advice from a relative, etc.) complain to your management that you used your position to copy surveillance footage, acquire customer information from purchase receipts, etc.
Click to expand...



I already did the same thing I do when we turn evidence over to the police, so I'm good with the company. My attourney (aunt) told me that it would be hard to get any reimbursment since the two video frames are separated (one view shows her pushing the cart, and another view shows the cart hitting my ST) and while, they can logically be linked together, without paying a lab to prove they are of the same thing, they won't hold up in a standard court. She advised me that if I want to pursue it to go to small claims court, but that I will have to return this evidence and have it re-signed out by my boss for proof that it's not tampered with.



I already talked to some employees to see if they saw anything, and one of the managers actually did see it happen and saw the lady and vehicle, so I'm good there.



For some reasons I will not expand upon, it is probably best if you tack it up to a loss in the profit and lost column.
Click to expand...



Could you expand upon them? Telling me not to do something without a reason doesn't help much. I realize it will be a hassle, but I'm done with school for 3 months and this would help kill some time. I'm just tired of people that only care about themselves and their belongings.
 
Jeff,



A lots of what Eltee wrote and a little more. If you want more email me. The fact that you are good with your company will not help you at all in some cases, nor will the fact that you turned the information over to the police. Their are a lots of people that just don't care about others and do things like what happen to you. I know you want to react, but, think about it and don't be in a rush.
 
Would you have been so meticulous in your sleuthing skills if it was somebodys elses vehicle that you saw get scratched?? IMO I don't believe you had the right to get all the information on the person that you did...the police asking for it is obviously different than you asking for it . On the other hand it does suck that she did this and will more than likely get away with it...
 
I do feel that if a customer came to you and said that someone had hit their vehicle with a cart and could you please check the video tape to see who did it: Would you be able to do that within your rules & regulations?
Click to expand...



Yes, I am within my right to do that. I can turn over a vehicle description and show pictures to the person asking, but I cannot give them any personal info, I have to create a file and keep it here until law enforcement asks for it, if they decide to file a report. It happens about once a month, since our parking lot is on an incline, that people's cars are severely damaged by carts, including busted taillights or windows (one was a Z3 for example), dents, and severe scratches, usually resulting from the little metal tube that goes around the bottom of the plastic cart.



There are plenty of signs on the entrance that say when you enter the property you asknowledge that you may be photographed. I always follow my guidelines very strictly. I made a case, entered the info, saved video, etc, b/c my insurance has a $0 deductible, I may choose to have it fixed, and need some kind of report.
 
Group buy?



<img src="http://qualitymarinesupply.com/library/TaylorMadeSuperGardFenders.JPG">



heh... Seriously, I'd go after her. I bought a truck for me to enjoy, not to stop shopping carts or be a doorstop.
 
Perhaps it's my nature and the work that I do, but assuming the channels are clear of any illegality or impropriety, I'd have no fear in going after her. Sure, some ignorant folks don't learn--until they're taught a hard lesson.
 
As long as you don't break any laws, I would contact her and tell her you would appreciate it if she would take care of the damage. Be polite and be prepared for an ugly repsonse, but don't respond in kind. This is not an easy thing to do.



We should not do things only if we think we can "win"; we should do things because they are the right thing to do REGARDLESS if we win or lose.



I am almost 50 years old and the older I get, the more I realize it really does matter more how people play the game, not whether they win or lose.



As Spike Lee once said in a movie, "Do the Right Thing".
 
If you can prove it Jeff...make her pay!!!! That will teach her and everyone she tells of what happened. grrrrrrr Vengence is yours! ha ha! and if more people could be caught doing it and being made to pay...there would be more people out there being more careful.



the nerve of her!!!





 
I don't see why the cops would have a problem with the video. It is set up in a private business where video footage is taped and the public is aware of this. I'm guessing no where in the store manual say that it says the video's will only be used for shoplifting crimes.



On a side note, I had something similar happen to my truck at the Cub Foods by my house. A lady pulled in the spont in front of my while I was shopping, and parked too close to my ST. She actually bent my front license plate holder and my tow hooks looked liked they were swallowed up by her grille on her Dodge Intrepid. I went in to ask if they could page the owner of the car, because I didn't want to move my truck until I got her to see what she did and to get her insurance info. They wouldn't page her for me, I had to call the police and then they would possibly page the owner. By the time they came (15-20min). She came out of Cub. She was an older lady, in her 70s. She looked at the front bumpers of our two cars (in which my license plate holder was bent 45degrees back). and said, I don't see any damage. I told her I didn't know if my front bumper was damaged or my license plate holder; or if my tow hooks damaged her vehicle. She finally agreed to swap insurance info, but she had never done this before and was kinda lost. i found that hard to believe because she scraped the cart return corral as she backed out. Luckily everything popped back into position and the tow hooks slid into the opening of her front bumper.
 
Andy,



Many old folks are like that. Had an old lady open her door HARD against my step bar, leaving a nice scuff. I saw her do it. She saw me seeing her do it. I walked over as she was trying to extricate her largeness from her car, and moved my ST further away.



I never said anything. Would be like trying to teach a pig to dance.



TJR
 

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