As a teenager/early 20's in the late 80's and early 90's I worked at a K-Mart style discount store. We employed up to four plainclothes "loss prevention" associ

As a teenager/early 20's in the late 80's and early 90's I worked at a K-Mart style discount store. We employed up to four plainclothes "loss prevention" associates who absolutely could and did detain people for shoplifting. We even had a code for it: "Code 100!". Hear that on the loudspeaker and you know there's a shoplifter either on the run or nearly so, and if you're able to give pursuit or just look tough, get to the front NOW. I chased shoplifters twice. One was tackled by a bystander in the parking lot, and while the other got away, I gave the cop a description and they picked him up at the McDonalds down the street. Sensibilities/budgets may be different today, but back then it was a rush for a young guy. I was also once in the position of acting as witness in the loss prevention office when one of my classmates was caught (no chase) stealing fishing gear. Awkward.