1. No, coaches aren’t the only people that could stop thieves. TL’s and AP can also step in and stop thieves. It is policy that associates like you and I cannot physically stop thieves, but we can stall them by pausing their transactions and giving them excuses while a TL, AP, or coach comes. I mean honestly, there’s not much you can do next time except do what you did this time. Pause transaction, stall and get someone to get a TL or Coach and AP to get them moved to a register.

2. I don’t know if there is a company wide number for how many people need to be at a SCO, but at my store on slow days we typically have three associates, one for each SCO. And on busy days (such as a holiday or Black Friday) we’d have at least four associates, two in the grocery bullpen, one in large basket SCO (SCOs with conveyor belts) and one in the GM bullpen.

And sometimes you will be the only one watching SCOs. So make sure you double up on the devices and make sure that you walk around and keep an eye on both SCOs to make sure that everything is running smooth. It’s a lot and it’s hard to keep up and it’s unfortunate that you was in that position.

1. Honestly, we don’t have the power to physically or even signal stopping them. If they still left and stole those items, AP will put them in the BOLO book so if they come again, they will be trespassed and kicked out of the store and never be able to shop there again.