Boxed In By The Manager

(After checking out five medium boxes, a customer tries to leave the store. He sets off the store’s alarm. Boxes do not have alarm tags in them.)

Me: “Uh, excuse me, sir. Could you please come here for a moment?”

(Manager approaches. He immediately tells the customer he can leave.)

Me: “But he only bought boxes, sir.”

Manager: “It’s okay.”

Me: “But—”

Manager: “You have another customer.”

(Thirty seconds later, the register phone rings. It’s Loss Prevention, warning us to be on the lookout for a suspected shoplifter. L.P.’s description matches that customer exactly, right down to the tear in his shirt collar.)

Me: “Sir, remember that one guy?”

Manager: “Yeah. Well, next time be more vigilant.”