Thread by @HereSayMedia

After working as a security guard at a Target in downtown San Francisco for seven weeks, Rafael Gutierrez had seen enough.

“I really fear that somebody is going to get hurt or killed there,” he told Here/Say.

Gutierrez resigned this week. (1/9)

Gutierrez loves loss prevention.

The native San Franciscan spent over a decade homeless and battling addiction, but was able to enter recovery and get a job working security at Fallas Discount Store a few years ago.

Target was meant to be the next step in his career. (2/9)

But Gutierrez says a combination of brazen theft, store policies and slow police response has made working conditions dangerous for employees and customers at the downtown Target.

“Everyone deserves to go into a store and shop and feel safe." (3/9)
heresaymedia.org/target-securit…

Security guards are discouraged from intervening in shoplifting incidents—under penalty or threat of termination, Gutierrez said.

They are also not allowed to carry protective gear like pepper spray or tasers, despite several incidents in which shoplifters grew aggressive. (4/9)

Gutierrez said he understands Target’s policy preventing him from attempting to retrieve stolen items.

But he doesn’t understand why he can’t step in to help when customers or fellow employees feel threatened. (5/9)

“Even if you fear for your life, you can't defend yourself. There's no way or you will lose your job,” Gutierrez said.

Citing unsafe work conditions, Gutierrez tendered his resignation at Target this week, after working at the store for 52 days. (6/9)

Target recently scaled back the hours of its five San Francisco stores, telling ABC 7 that those locations will operate only from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m., rather than 10 p.m., to mitigate a rise in theft. (7/9)
abc7news.com/target-hours-s…

On Wednesday, KRON-4 reported that a security guard at a Walgreens on Market Street was injured in a confrontation with a man who was allegedly harassing customers. (8/9)
kron4.com/news/bay-area/…

Walgreens says San Francisco stores see four times more thefts than the rest of the country, despite spending 35 times more on security. (9/9)