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http://www.redding.com/business/local/former-cvs-employee-said-she-was-fired-for-confronting-shoplifter-3f9f8bbf-82ad-2fb3-e053-0100007fb7-398268331.html

Vikki Patterson worked for CVS for 17 years, starting off when it was still Longs Drugs.

She had been a dedicated and faithful employee, working whenever needed without complaint. Vikki loved her employees, many of them were known as her “work kids” and went to her for all kinds of help. She loved her customers, became invested in their lives over the years and they in hers.

She worked in that store on Placer St in Redding, CA since that shopping center was built.

On Thursday October 13 2016 there were two suspicious customers in the store, one woman had filled her purse up with nearly 300 dollars worth of merchandise (and hundreds more in the cart that she didn’t have time to shove in her purse). She was swearing at Vikki and the other employee working and as the employee went to lock the door to call the police the shoplifter rushed the employee. Vikki ran to protect her “work kid” with her keys in one hand and cell phone in the other. She was forced outside with the suspect and her keys got caught in the woman’s hair. The suspect ended up punching Vikki multiple times, splitting her lip open and scratching her all over. She tried to steal her phone in the tussle while Vikki was calling 911.

Once Vikki was able to free her keys from the woman’s hair, she ran off and got into a car with the other woman she was with in the store.

Redding police spotted their vehicle while responding to CVS and pulled them over. They recovered all the merchandise as well as merchandise from other stores. The suspect was arrested for theft and battery.

CVS was notified of the situation and asked Vikki to write up her statement. The morning they received it, she was suspended without pay.
Today, they terminated her employment.

Vikki has been the caregiver for her husband Rob for years. Using all her vacation time to take him to/from doctors appointments and surgeries. This job was their main income, and her insurance was what saved Rob multiple times. Through a heart attack, triple bypass, seizures, strokes, dialysis, kidney and pancreas transplant, and countless other medical emergencies over the last 5 years.
Vikki and Rob are friends of many, they are caring people and involved in the community.

This whole situation sends the wrong message, it tells thieves that it’s ok to steal hundreds of dollars worth of merchandise and assault innocent people because it’s not them who will be punished.