Embarrassment to a decent company, to decent people.
While on the road, I remembered that I wanted to buy something for a friend. I made the mistake of going to the Target in Richmond. Immediately disappointed and concerned by the obvious lack of adhering to the usual quality standards of Target, I did my shopping anyway.
Almost immediately, I saw 3 teenagers(?), two of them riding electric scooters through the store, brazenly loading up merchandise into their backpacks. Evidently they saw me too. I tried to alert security but they were nowhere to be found. Asked 3 employees to contact security but they did nothing other than looking confused by my request.
As the thieves were leaving, they threatened me, using racist language that I am not allowed to use and that clearly does not describe me. Three security guards and an employee sauntered up so I told them about the thefts and the threats, even pointing out the perps.
A guest overheard my interaction with the security guards and thought it necessary to intervene, telling me that "There ain't nothing you can do. We steal what we want." I replied as to why I believed she thought this way.
A female security guard named Darnell, (maybe 5' tall, tiny build, ugly braids) took the lead, odering me to leave. I had to force myself not to laugh at her. She and the employee said that they saw the thieves, that they would do nothing and asked me to leave for my reply to the other guest. When I questioned their lack of action, their refusal to do their jobs, they again asked me to leave.
Saddened, confused, I purchased my item and started to leave. While exiting the store, the employee yelled at me from 50 feet away, across the store entrance, telling me to "never come back." When I stopped, he repeated his command. So I went back to address his comments and the situation. He stood there smug, confident due to the presence of the security guards, again told me to leave, to never come back, and threatened to call 911. Instead I did. I knew that this incident was not to the level that warranted police involvement but I wanted the police report to strengthen my complaint to the Target corporate office (which I filed immediately).
Two of the outsourced security guards, maybe once strong and athletic but now overweight and useless, stood silent in the standard pose (thumbs tucked into the arm holes of their vests).
The Target employee, maybe 25, probably latino, was wearing an ugly, hand-painted 49ers denim jacket, earring in each ear, white Nike Airs that he was obviously proud of. He was trying so hard to be cool but anyone could tell that he's just an insecure momma's boy with no father figure. Wouldn't be surprised if he knew the thieves.
Later in the parking lot, the guest yelled at me from her car that "we n--s just gonna keep going into wh*te folks houses and stealing sh*t." Her young child was in the backseat.
So I guess my review is anyone who wants to steal large quantities of merchandise, go to the Target in Richmond. If you are a law-abiding citizen who is tired of the theft, the crime, the lack of responsibility and accountability that goes unpunished these days, better to do your shopping somewhere else. read more