Wow, That Was Awkward
Posted by Joe - 18/06/09 at 10:06:03 pmAs some of you know, in addition to my full time job in retail loss prevention, and this blog, I also try to keep up a personal blog, and recently started up a community web magazine for my local area. (I know, I know. Yes, I drink lots of caffeine, and yes, I do have help)
Last week I was out at a local festival talking to folks and getting some photos for the website. One young lady had just gotten her face painted with a cool looking butterfly, so I asked her mother if I could take the little girl’s picture for the site. She said, “Sure.”, so I got the photo.
Then I realized that I knew this lady from somewhere, but I didn’t know where. So, I asked her, “Do I know you?”
She looked at me and said, “You look familiar, but I’m not sure.” So, I asked her, “Did you ever work for Kohl’s?” (My former employer in that particular area). She said, “No, but did you work in loss prevention there?”
And it hit me. Like a ton of bricks falling on my stupid head it hit me. I had stopped her for shoplifting several years ago. I could feel my face turning red from embarrassment. I said, “Did I catch you there?”
She proceeded to tell me that I had caught her shoplifting there, and that she had gone through a rough period in her life back then, but that now she was doing very well. She said she learned her lesson after going to jail several times for shoplifting, and that she remembered that I was very professional with her, and treated her like a human being.
We shook hands and I walked away. My wife smiled at me and said, “Wow, that was awkward.”
You think? But, that’s the risk you take when you live in a small town and you have worked in that small town catching shoplifters for several years. I caught well over 500 shoplifters in my 4 years in that area, and I have met some of those same people in different venues before. But, this was the first time I had the opportunity to have a long conversation with one of them like that.
Two things struck me about our conversation. First, that she went out of her way to let me know that she doesn’t steal anymore, and that she got her life straightened out. Secondly, that she remembered me as a professional, who treated her with courtesy. I felt like, somehow, I had a positive impact on her, at least I hope I did.
Have you ever had one of these encounters? How did it go for you?
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