Punk-ass kids

Two kids walk in the store, looking slightly like they were up to no good. I was going to do a security call, but never got around to it because I got bogged down with customers right away, and soon forgot about them . . . until I saw them being rung up for some sodas and then setting the security alarm off when they exited the building.

I was already walking in their direction because I figured there was a really good chance this would happen. The kid stops dead in his tracks and says, "Was that the alarm?" with a slight look of panic on his face. I matter-of-factly tell him that yes, it was the alarm, and ask if he'd step back into the store. I know he's got something on him, but I don't know what, and I can't just tell him to empty his pockets. Store policy or something.

The manager for the evening, our loss prevention associate, and one other associate were there with me, trying to figure out what the kid had stolen. There were two of them, so we weren't sure which one had what. The tall skinny one turns to me, because I'm behind him, blocking any exit he might have made that way, and mouths to me, "Don't tell anyone, don't tell anyone." and puts a hula girl in the shopping cart next to him.

They let them go. Even though they set the alarms off again upon their second try to exit the store. How the hell are we supposed to stop people from stealing shit from our store when even our loss prevention manager can't do anything about it once they've exited the store? It makes me so mad. I know they stole crap out of the automotive section, 'cause that's where they were being followed from; our loss prevention manager plus two floor associates were following the kids through the store, and they still managed to get out of there with most of their stollen shit. WTF.