So, today I helped my mother-in-law return a TV to one of our local Best Buy outlets. Because the TV was big and this was the only reason for the visit, I waited in the fire lane in front of the store for the 15 minutes or so that it took for the paperwork to be completed. In that time I watched 100 or more customers of all stripes come and go, young and old, families and teens. At least once the security alarm positioned just inside the doors went off, but the two young men who had just exited were waived on their way.

No, the only people who were stopped were the employees. Two Geek Squad members headed out for a smoke break and what I suspect was a cashier heading home all had to stop and have the coats patted down and their bags checked. I realize that employee theft costs retailers about $10 billion annually, as much or more than shoplifting by customers, but this just strikes me as a sign that something bigger is wrong.