Police and medic units responded to the Harvard QFC early Sunday morning after a man attempting to shoplift unknown merchandise punched a cashier before escaping from the store on foot.
The incident drew fire and police response to Pike at Broadway just after midnight as officers searched the area for a tall, heavyset black male wearing all black and carrying a green backpack.
We have no details on the extent of the employee’s injury. Shoplift reports at the store are a regular occurrence with occasional incidents like this one that flare into cases of strong arm robbery when a suspect becomes violent and attempts to fight security or staff. The last strong arm report at the Harvard store was October 22.
I’d hate to work in that store. The street waste stealing from there is rampant. Sure hope the store employee is ok
How much revenue does this QFC get from being open 24hrs? Is it worth the health and well being of their employees? Honestly, if you can’t get your grocery shopping done between the hours of 6AM and 10PM, why not?
So, I work here. I don’t know who the employee was since I wasn’t working at this particular time, but it’s amazing how much of this kind of thing happens here. The needle dispensories in our bathrooms (yes, we have to have those) are constantly full, and a majority of shoplifters here are high out of their minds when they come in to steal. Unfortunately, well-intentioned employees sometimes get caught in the crossfire. I’m lucky to have never been physically injured, but have been threatened many times. It sucks.
In regards to being open 24 hours, you probably have a point about profits being low. However, it does provide for more hours for employees. Checkers sometimes have a hard time getting enough hours to get by, so working night crew can help with that.
Yet another depressing incident of urban crime by urban sleazeballs. Yes, employees need more hours, but is this really worth the risk? It’s ridiculous that any drug addict who stops by can use the bathrooms…why not put a lock on them and allow only employees and legitimate customers to use them? This is a private business, for God’s sake, not a health clinic or needle exchange.
This store should close overnight. There just can’t be that much business at 3 AM to justify the crime risk…it’s a frequent problem, and someone is going to get seriously hurt if changes are not made.
overnight hours are great for when you and your friends come out of the bars and need some much needed food. however the times we are open allow for ppl of all walks of life to come in. As many people work and have different schedules it allows for them to get what they need at a time that is best suited for them not those who do work a regular 9-5 M-F work schedule not all of us work that.
As for the health and well being of the employees this was a shoplifting incident and could and does happen in daylight, as i work at one of the other QFCS on Broadway and see it happen all the time..
Better security at all 3 locations is needed.. but closing at a certain time would greatly affect workers more..
Those of us who don’t work a 9-5 schedule and especially those of us who work nightshift need stores open at these hours.