Best Buy Employee Tackles Thief, Gets Fired
Roger Kline may have saved the day when a thief tried to make good with over $1,600 in merchandise, but his instinct to tackle the sticky-fingered customer didn't save his job. In fact, it got him fired.
The 51-year-old former Best Buy employee, who had worked for the company for almost three years, reportedly tackled the thief after he tripped and fell. Even though he knew it was a violation of company policy, Kline said he was only trying to stop the thief from running out of the store with two computers in hand.
"Someone steals from you, you stop them," he said. "That's the way I was brought up. I felt like the guy was stealing from me, not just the company. I guess I took it a little personal when I saw the guy run out of the store with two computers."
Best Buy hasn't commented on the Kline's firing.
Suspect Brent Carter Latendresse has since been charged with theft and drug possession.