A theft at a Palmdale hardware store took an unexpected turn when a pregnant employee followed a suspected shoplifter outside and pulled a heavy air-conditioning unit away from him.
Surveillance video from the Ace Hardware at Rancho Vista Plaza shows a man taking the 46-pound AC unit from inside the store and heading toward the exit. The employee, who was four months pregnant, followed him as the confrontation moved from the store into the parking lot.
According to store manager Carlos Morales, the employee acted on instinct after seeing the man leave with the merchandise. The suspect reportedly stumbled while trying to get away before attempting to place the unit into a van.
The employee caught up with him and wrestled the AC unit away.
Morales said employees are not encouraged to physically intervene when a theft occurs. He said the incident reflects growing frustration among workers who have dealt with repeated thefts since the store opened about six months ago.
The store has responded by placing more merchandise behind locked areas. Morales said some aisles that were previously open now require customers to wait for assistance.
He estimated that the business had lost about $10,000 worth of merchandise to theft by September. According to Morales, employees also communicate with other businesses in the shopping center, sharing security footage and photographs when thefts occur.
The manager said the store believes some of the people involved may be coming from outside the area. He described the repeated thefts as exhausting and said the issue has become about more than the value of the merchandise.
In the latest incident, investigators are looking for the people involved. Authorities said the van seen in connection with the attempted theft did not have license plates.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the case. No arrest was reported in the latest information available.
The incident has also renewed attention on the risks employees face when confronting suspected shoplifters. While the employee managed to recover the merchandise, store management continues to advise workers not to put themselves in danger during thefts.
