Police were called to two Southern California Wal-Mart stores Friday morning, including one that shut down for more than two hours, after shoppers became too rowdy.My son works for Toys-R-Us and spent six hours running around the store today helping lots of customers. The store opened at midnight and according to his co-workers who where there they had 700 people in line. It was two hours before everybody could actually get in the store.
Store management at a Wal-Mart in Upland called police around 2:44 a.m. Friday and reported that customers were fighting inside, according to Upland Police Lt. Jim Etchason.
Employees say about 300 people were inside the store, which remained open all night, when customers began pushing and shoving each other.
The shoppers apparently began tearing into merchandise that had been shrink-wrapped and was supposed to be opened later in the day.
One employee said the customers "just bombarded the store."
The unruly shoppers were kicked out of the store and told to line up in the parking lot.
The store was shut down while employees emptied shopping carts and returned the merchandise to shelves.
While outside, employees say some customers began yelling, pounding on the doors and trying to sneak in through the lawn and garden section.
The crowd eventually calmed down and police officers stood guard as a precaution.
Police left around 6:15 a.m., shortly after the store reopened, allowing customers back inside in groups of 20-to-30.
No arrests were made and no injuries were reported.
About two hours after the Upland incident began, San Bernardino County sheriff's deputies were called to a Wal-Mart in Rancho Cucamonga.
Deputies were summoned around 4:03 a.m. after a fight broke out near the electronics section, said Jodi Miller, public information officer with the San Bernardino County sheriff's department.
The store didn't actually close, according to a manager. When deputies arrived, none of the people involved in the reported scuffle were there.
That's just crazy.
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2 comments:
So, who is paying for the police?
Sam Walton?
I'm fascinated by the psychology that foments such unrest over a few gadgets or trinkets. You'd think the water bottle truck at Katrina had just arrived.
Perhaps Walmart should ensure every employee carries a visible night stick, and tap in in their hand as people go by? What else would restore people's presence of mind that they need to be considerate of others?
I understand it's part of the human condition, but I still find it profoundly disturbing that people would scrap over such ultimately trival things.
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