Texas veteran fired for confronting shoplifters

PEARLAND, Texas — A 70-year-old Army veteran has been fired from a Houstonarea Home Depot after trying to stop suspected shoplifters from taking thousands of dollars’ worth of merchandise. KTRK-TV in Houston reports that Jim Tinney says he was fired last month from the store in Pearland.

Tinney says he was trained to not confront shoplifters and knows he violated company policy, but that his military training just kicked in when he noticed three men attempting to steal tools. He threw a paint roller extension pole toward the suspects’ feet. The men escaped.