Supercheap Auto worker 'stood down' after stopping shoplifter
He’s been hailed as an Aussie hero, but Supercheap Auto has put the brakes on this employee’s career.
The staff member shot to viral fame last week after he was filmed trying to stop a screaming woman from shoplifting at a Gold Coast store.
She’d left the retailer in Ashmore pushing a pram when the worker accused her of smuggling stolen goods inside instead of a baby.
The footage shows both the man and woman wrestling over the pram, which is draped with a blue blanket.
While he grabs the pram and threatens to call the police, she screams “let my baby go.”
He can be heard firing back, “you haven’t even got a baby in there!”
As tensions escalate, a box can be seen falling onto the ground before the woman yells, “you can have the f***ing rotor, mate.”
In response he bends down to pick it up then says, “and the rest you got here”.
While the staff member has been praised across social media for his quick actions and dedication to the job, he has reportedly been stood down in the wake of the incident.
Supporters have flocked online in response, backing up the worker’s tough stance.
“He should be getting a promotion,” one person wrote, “all you’re doing now is condoning people to steal products from shops!”
“Old mate should be employee of the week,” said another. “This is just wrong.”
Others made their position clear, calling for a boycott of the store.
“If this man loses his job for standing up to a shoplifter, then I will never shop at Supercheap Auto again.”
Another slammed the move as disgusting.
“I will never shop at Supercheap Auto again,” they added, “you are setting a bad example for thieves everywhere.”
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But the auto worker might not be out of work for long – job offers are already rolling in with other companies impressed at his performance.
Competitor Autobarn was quick to stick its hand up.
“On behalf of our team in Burleigh Heads, we would like to offer this man a job,” they wrote on Facebook.
According to the Gold Coast Bulletin, the retailer took the decision while a review into the incident is underway.
A Supercheap Auto spokesperson said that is the standard practice after an event of this nature.
“At all times, we remain focused on the health, safety and wellbeing of customers and team members,” they said.
A Supercheap Auto worker has been stood down for confronting a shoplifter outside a department store on the Gold Coast. Did he deserve to be stood down? #TodayExtra pic.twitter.com/l2AMJGSakk
— The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) May 9, 2022
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