# Clerk beats thief with stick - can clerk and store be sued? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 4, 2023, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clerk-beats-thief-with-stick-can-clerk-and-store-be-sued/988068 "2023-08-04T18:46:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![X.L.Lent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/a5b964/32.png) [@X.L.Lent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/X.L.Lent)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2023, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clerk-beats-thief-with-stick-can-clerk-and-store-be-sued/988068/1 "2023-08-04T18:46:06Z")
Ran across this video today of a 7 - 11 clerk beating the heck out of someone robbing the store. With all the anger and frustration over retail crime lately I’m not surprised this happened. However, I am wondering what will happen to the clerk and the 7 - 11 corporation. Can they be sued? Of course, they can be but would the thief have a good chance of winning? Also, could the clerk be charged with a crime? Link to video: [California 7-Eleven workers beat robber with stick until suspect starts crying](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIFKtOsZl8c) ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2023, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clerk-beats-thief-with-stick-can-clerk-and-store-be-sued/988068/2 "2023-08-04T18:58:53Z")
Seemed excessive. But when emotions are running high, things often are. He was clearly caught red handed. Just dumping things off the shelves into a garbage can. Cigarettes mostly. He was told to leave, but would not. It appears that he may have had a knife in a back pocket. Why did they just kick him out? He was clearly subdued. Why not call the cops? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2023, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clerk-beats-thief-with-stick-can-clerk-and-store-be-sued/988068/3 "2023-08-04T19:00:13Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > It appears that he may have had a knife in a back pocket. If that wasn’t known beforehand, it doesn’t matter. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2023, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clerk-beats-thief-with-stick-can-clerk-and-store-be-sued/988068/4 "2023-08-04T19:06:05Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > If that wasn’t known beforehand, it doesn’t matter. You can see him pull it out at about second 18 in the video. But he puts it right back. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2023, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clerk-beats-thief-with-stick-can-clerk-and-store-be-sued/988068/5 "2023-08-04T19:13:33Z")
Who was the guy with the camera that deescalated things? ---
**Author:** ![alovem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@alovem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alovem)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2023, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clerk-beats-thief-with-stick-can-clerk-and-store-be-sued/988068/6 "2023-08-04T19:15:18Z")
He comes around from behind the counter, so I think he works there. Might have been a customer who hid there once the trouble started. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2023, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clerk-beats-thief-with-stick-can-clerk-and-store-be-sued/988068/7 "2023-08-04T19:31:39Z")
> [@alovem](#): > > He comes around from behind the counter, so I think he works there. I think the camera person was in front of the counter to start. Cigarettes are usually behind the counter. Not sure. The thief will pay for this for a few days for sure. Damn, he got a beating. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2023, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clerk-beats-thief-with-stick-can-clerk-and-store-be-sued/988068/8 "2023-08-04T19:56:40Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > You can see him pull it out at about second 18 in the video. But he puts it right back. He clearly threatens the guy with it. That makes the stick a reasonable counter. However… perhaps the beating was too long. Boy that thief was blatant, ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2023, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clerk-beats-thief-with-stick-can-clerk-and-store-be-sued/988068/9 "2023-08-04T20:31:33Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Boy that thief was blatant, Not particularly subtle was he. I doubt there where three employees in the store, but there where three guys. The thief was cruising for a bruising. It was a bit much though. He was pretty clearly subdued. The guy with the stick should have just helped hold the guy down. Or stood at the ready with the stick. The knife is an issue though. Did no one call the cops? There where people outside that where seeing this. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2023, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clerk-beats-thief-with-stick-can-clerk-and-store-be-sued/988068/10 "2023-08-04T21:10:33Z")
Police have been de-funded so much that departments are extremely short-handed. Response times are often hours. In California, if you steal less than $900, it’s only a misdemeanor, and many left-wing DAs refuse to prosecute those. ---
**Author:** ![Common\_Tater](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/common_tater/32/13846_2.png) [@Common\_Tater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Common_Tater)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2023, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clerk-beats-thief-with-stick-can-clerk-and-store-be-sued/988068/11 "2023-08-05T02:14:53Z")
That’s an important observation. This is exactly how things are handled in the “third world”. There’s no point in calling the cops, that’s why they had to beat his ass in the first place. Nice, eh? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2023, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clerk-beats-thief-with-stick-can-clerk-and-store-be-sued/988068/12 "2023-08-05T02:23:30Z")
> [@X.L.Lent](#): > > However, I am wondering what will happen to the > clerk and the 7 - 11 corporation. Medals? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2023, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clerk-beats-thief-with-stick-can-clerk-and-store-be-sued/988068/13 "2023-08-05T02:23:56Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > Police have been de-funded so much that departments are extremely short-handed. Response times are often hours. How much of that is defunding, and how much is police just sitting back because someone dared to question their actions? ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2023, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clerk-beats-thief-with-stick-can-clerk-and-store-be-sued/988068/14 "2023-08-05T03:24:08Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > Police have been de-funded so much that departments are extremely short-handed. Objection! Assumes facts not in evidence. Here in Seattle, the police budget has actually increased by several hundred million since 2020, but the far-right crowd who never even go into downtown still cry about “defunding” every time some street crime happens. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2023, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clerk-beats-thief-with-stick-can-clerk-and-store-be-sued/988068/15 "2023-08-05T04:40:41Z")
Hint: if you’re beating somebody’s ass and they’re begging you to stop, you’re committing a crime. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2023, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clerk-beats-thief-with-stick-can-clerk-and-store-be-sued/988068/16 "2023-08-05T05:12:20Z")
I’m sure they can be sued. However, when the state abdicates the role of maintaining law and order don’t be surprised when street justice or in this case behind the counter justice is administered. I did get Rick James getting his legs beat vibes from the video though. If it worked to straighten out ol’ Rick perhaps a similar path to enlightenment is in this thief’s future. ---
**Author:** ![alovem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@alovem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alovem)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2023, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clerk-beats-thief-with-stick-can-clerk-and-store-be-sued/988068/17 "2023-08-05T05:35:49Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > I think the camera person was in front of the counter to start. Cigarettes are usually behind the counter. Not sure. You might be right. I saw one display screen on this side of the counter and assumed it was the cash register or something (it’s not), but later in the video we see more screens and other equipment on the other side, where the beating happens. Seems to me that it would be an unusually large space for the employees on that side and a lot of merchandise, too (looks like more than just cigarettes), but I think you’re right. It’s weird that it’s not clear in the video. Maybe the dimensions are a bit distorted or something. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2023, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clerk-beats-thief-with-stick-can-clerk-and-store-be-sued/988068/18 "2023-08-05T05:51:58Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > Police have been de-funded so much that departments are extremely short-handed. Response times are often hours. Wrong. The budget for the police in San Francisco went up 4.4% from 2019 - 2022 Cite: [SFPD budget up 4.4% since 2019, despite Mayor Breed, supervisors making bold promises to defund - ABC7 San Francisco](https://abc7news.com/sfpd-budget-defund-the-police-department-funding/12321818/) Defunding also means moving money for cops being social workers to trained social workers. Now, the police department might be understaffed, but that in my Bay Area town at least is due to the housing crisis, not lack of money or positions. ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2023, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clerk-beats-thief-with-stick-can-clerk-and-store-be-sued/988068/19 "2023-08-05T06:26:21Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > Police have been de-funded so much that departments are extremely short-handed. Response times are often hours. > > In California, if you steal less than $900, it’s only a misdemeanor, and many left-wing DAs refuse to prosecute those. Cite? (ETA: You guys were already on it 😃) ---
**Author:** ![El\_DeLuxo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_deluxo/32/9043_2.png) [@El\_DeLuxo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_DeLuxo)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2023, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clerk-beats-thief-with-stick-can-clerk-and-store-be-sued/988068/20 "2023-08-05T07:34:33Z")
Oh Jesus, the _comments_ on that video. If I needed proof of what a smug, sadistic, ugly-spirited coward the average law-abiding citizen really is, that comment section would be Exhibit “A”. Everyone who approves of this brutality should take a long look at those comments and see what kind of filth they’re agreeing with. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clerk-beats-thief-with-stick-can-clerk-and-store-be-sued/988068.md?page=2)