Did you see the Associated Press, Police 1 Bizarre Beat article detailing a story about a man who snatched a tip jar after applying for a job at the victim business?
On August 26, 2020, an employee of the PIzza D’Oro in North Catasauqua, Pennsylvania, reported to police that a man stole the tip jar containing $220 cash.
This “who done it” generated a short criminal investigation.
The suspect, Nicholas M. Mark, 22, had just applied for a restaurant job, leaving his name, address, and phone number. To make it easier for the police, Nicholas was thoughtful enough to leave his backpack at the restaurant containing personal identifying information and drug paraphernalia.
The restaurant worker, who witnessed the theft, ran after the suspect and the tip jar but decided to back off when Nicholas brandished a knife.
Several witnesses picked Nicholas Mark out of a photo lineup, making Mark’s defense attorney’s ability to mount a defense all the more difficult.
Mr. Mark was brought up on charges for robbery, theft, possession of a weapon, simple assault, and drug paraphernalia possession.
I just do not get it. Some might consider me a two-bit reporter in a one-horse town, reporting for a small newspaper you can’t even wrap your garbage in. Yet as a reporter, even though I only have an 84 word vocabulary, I do know how to ask all the right penetrating questions.
The Associated Press article never supplied the answer to the burning question the public demands to know.
The obvious question is, when does Nicholas Mark start his new job?
In my “used to be” world, we would have to wait for a definitive answer. To my surprise, when I discovered a thief among our employees and was asked to present the evidence to the owner, I was asked, “Does he make us more money than he steals?” Not prepared for that question, I had not done the research with which to answer it. I was told not to bring this information (the thief part) without knowing the answer to that question. If he added more to our bottom line than he subtracted, he would not lose his job!
I always knew the answer to that question in the future and, as it turned out, the folks who stole the most, also made the most! Who would guess that!
Anyway, the tip jar thief would have to be hired, then his earning history tracked. Perhaps, he too, would be a top earner with little else for which to be admired….
Jerri Ecclestone.
I do not believe we have ever met in person. I venture to say your boss’s question hangs up and sticks in both of our craws.
I knew a guy who owned a Lakewood cocktail lounge. He knew his bar tender stole from him especially when customers paid by cash. None-the-less, he chose not to care because the bar make him money.
While I do not agree with that line of thinking, I do realize it is their right to be willing to be enablers to criminals allowing them to practice their craft.
I have been involved in numerous partnerships. I always shied away from anyone who lacked integrity. If they would cheat on their own wife, there was no reason they would not cheat me. Maybe I could have made more money including thieves and other human rejects, but I am richer in terms of contentment and having enjoyed quality relationships with a large collection of business partners and my small collection of employees.
Thanks for commenting and sharing your experience. Your comments certainly are interesting and you trigger many thoughts of my own experiences.
Joseph Boyle