Home Depot "Security" Measures

[Stuey]

So I was at a Home Depot in Brooklyn a few weekends ago, and snapped a picture of the utility knife display. It's not too hard to imagine why they keep such tools locked up.

But check out what they decided to stock nearby...

Yup, that totally makes sense... 24" bolt cutters.

In one NJ HD, I saw the bolt cutters locked up, and I frequently see high-value items such as a basic Greenlee SlugBuster set locked up. A few Lowes near me have lock-boxes - one keeps many electrical tools in a cage, and another keeps Surefire flashlights amongst other products in their cage.

 

[Gregster]

hahaha now thats gold!

 

[Nealcrenshaw]

Stuey,maybe you should bring it to the mgr's attention.You might receive some thank you money or at least a store credit.

 

[justinmc]

How handy.. they even gave you a bucket to load your loot into after you cut the lock with the bolt cutters. Thanks HD.. you guys think of everything!

 

[DiStOrTiOn]

haha, nice. I've seen things like that before, usually with the expensive items, but they've got higher dollar stuff on a shelf nearby. who knows. but I definitely feel the lock-up of razor knives in Brooklyn.

 

[nextdoorhobo]

i think it's some nyc law. I had problems ordering utility knives on sears.com for delivery, it gave an error saying some stuff about utility knives in nyc.

the home depot in ues also has utility knives locked up

 

[Stuey]

Stuey,maybe you should bring it to the mgr's attention.You might receive some thank you money or at least a store credit.

Doubtful, as I've seen similar practices elsewhere.

I do remember seeing something on Sears' website about the sale of knives being restricted in certain states - maybe the hobo is right about the lockup being mandatory.

From Sears... Sales of knives is prohibited or restricted in the following states, AL, FL, ID, KS, MA, MD, ME, MS, NC, NY, OH, OK, RI, TX, VI, WA, WI, WV

 

[Merkava_4]

Brilliant!!

 

[elect]

some big thinkers in action!

 

[joecaver]

epic fail on their part

 

[MXtras]

I was approached just last weekend in a Lowes parking lot by a crackie trying to unload stuff he stole from the very store he was standing in front of. This is speculation on my part, of course but it is amazing to me how someone could just walk out of a store with a bunch of packages stuffed in their pants and then proceed to try to sell the stuff right outside of the same store. Africkingmazing.

That is an ingenious security system they have devised. I wish them the best of luck with that.

Scott

 

[rsanter]

back in college I worked at OSH
we had a problem with people stealing the power tools that were put out for display so we locked them with a chain and lock.
people would use the bolt cutters in the store to cut the chain and steal the tool so we had to lock up the bolt cutters as well

it will really happen

bob

 

[klswvu]

I have seen pictures of utility knives hanging on the pegboard with a note saying get customer service for assistance. This is undoubtedly compliance with some law designed to keep minors from getting hold of the razor knives.

 

[Stuey]

I also see spray paints locked up at many stores, yet they'll sell toxic chemicals such as paint stripper to anyone...

 

[Tool Pants]

In California spray cans were locked up years ago and you have to be over 18 to buy them. It is because of graffitti.

 

[Stuey]

In California spray cans were locked up years ago and you have to be over 18 to buy them. It is because of graffitti.

I know why they're locked up, and assume it's a NYC law or regulation as well, but still cannot understand why hazardous chemicals are not protected as well.

 

[StanBo]

Yeah in Staten Island I had to give ID to purchase windshield wiper fluid. They also wanted to enter my information on the purchase. I get a case when the weather changes.

I guess drinking it gets you high so kids buy it. I wasn't too happy about it and bought the stuff in NJ when I got home.

 

[Coach James]

I worked at a Big Box in college and we had lots of power tools, including chain saws, stolen during business hours. The most theft, though, was done by a store employee. The janitor would work alone at night sometimes. He would stack things by the loading bay door, have a friend drive up, they would load items into friend's car.

The manager got wise after the big losses followed the pattern of the janitor's night shifts. He was charged with thousands of dollars in theft but did no time. A few months later, he was arrested from stealing from his new job at Circuit City. Cops found two closets in hos house full of vcr's he had stolen from the store.

Coach

 

[Tool Pants]

I half expect to see some young person standing outside a store asking an older to person to make a buy for them. Utility knives, paint cans, and windshield washer fluid.

In the old days it was beer.

As for the graffitti. Where I live I have noticed no change in the amout of it before and after the spray cans were locked up.

 

[Brad54]

Feel-good policies at their best. "Oooo! We have to lock up the knives, because young, impressionable children might buy them and in a fit of teenage boredom, they'll car jack some poor mother or knock over a liquor store."

I have to show my ID when I buy spray paint from the Home Depot. I'm 37, with more gray then brown in my beard.

I was doing something at the store, and Jr. tried to buy a can of spray paint. They said he couldn't buy it, so he came and got me. I walked up with the can and kid in tow, put it on the counter, the woman rang it up, I paid for it, then handed it to my son and said "Here you go kid. Don't huff it or vandalize anyone's stuff" and walked away from him like I didn't know him.

-Brad