Hi,
I had a few questions for you guys. Along with the part time residential security position I have, I will also be taking on a loss prevention agent/security position at my full time job at a newly opened large national "box store" home improvement retailer. My store is in a primarily rural college town in Michigan. Other large stores in our community have had issues with shoplifters brandishing knives and other sharp objects when confronted. Thankfully nobody has been injured. We had an issue at our own store with a customer using a folding Buck-type hunting knife to open a package in a concealed location...when confronted by our LP staff his natural instict was to hold the knife up when startled. He immediately dropped the knife. Now, his intent probably wasn't to stab anybody, but the weapon was there and could have been used to injure or kill. With a high degree of meth use in our area it seems as though our small rural town isn't what it seems.
After consulting with a sworn LEO friend of mine he suggested that I consider wearing a lightweight concealable stab/small arms vest while on the job. In my mind this seems extreme, but I have been told by other LP agents in my company that they have been stabbed and actually shot at during encounters in larger cities. I would rather wear a vest and not need it than not have one and end up injured. Our previous LP agent did not wear or use any type of protective vest during his employment. Do you more experienced guys have any advice? The vests I have looked at are big $$$ and I am sure my company would look at me like I have two heads should I suggest them assisting in payment! I am sure they would say I don't need one and maybe I don't, but I figure you guys are the best to ask. I would be willing to spend some of my own money now if it could benefit me. Thanks
I had a few questions for you guys. Along with the part time residential security position I have, I will also be taking on a loss prevention agent/security position at my full time job at a newly opened large national "box store" home improvement retailer. My store is in a primarily rural college town in Michigan. Other large stores in our community have had issues with shoplifters brandishing knives and other sharp objects when confronted. Thankfully nobody has been injured. We had an issue at our own store with a customer using a folding Buck-type hunting knife to open a package in a concealed location...when confronted by our LP staff his natural instict was to hold the knife up when startled. He immediately dropped the knife. Now, his intent probably wasn't to stab anybody, but the weapon was there and could have been used to injure or kill. With a high degree of meth use in our area it seems as though our small rural town isn't what it seems.
After consulting with a sworn LEO friend of mine he suggested that I consider wearing a lightweight concealable stab/small arms vest while on the job. In my mind this seems extreme, but I have been told by other LP agents in my company that they have been stabbed and actually shot at during encounters in larger cities. I would rather wear a vest and not need it than not have one and end up injured. Our previous LP agent did not wear or use any type of protective vest during his employment. Do you more experienced guys have any advice? The vests I have looked at are big $$$ and I am sure my company would look at me like I have two heads should I suggest them assisting in payment! I am sure they would say I don't need one and maybe I don't, but I figure you guys are the best to ask. I would be willing to spend some of my own money now if it could benefit me. Thanks
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