Best Buy Heroes Fired for Saving the Day

(CBS4)

DENVER (CBS4) Proving no good deed goes unpunished, two Best Buy employees have been fired after foiling a burglary.

It happened Aug. 1 at the Best Buy in Broomfield, Colo.

Jared Bergstreser, 20, and Colin Trapp, 23, were on duty in the Asset Protection Unit near the front doors when a shoplifter grabbed some mobile phones and computer hard drives and made a run for the door.

"I just kind of reacted, tackled him ... and ended up on the sidewalk with him" said Bergstreser.

Trapp ran outside to help.

"At that point I was looking out for the best interest of my co-worker and the safety of my co-worker," Trapp said. "So I kind of grabbed the guy by his shoulders and tried to restrain him, because I didn't want to get anybody hurt."

As it turned out, somebody did get hurt. The suspect pulled out a knife and slashed at the fingers of a manager who had come outside to help. The thief broke away and fled in a car. Jared and Colin were soon told to leave as well. Best Buy fired them apparently because the two employees physically confronted the shoplifter.

Bergstreser acknowledged that tackling a customer was against company policy, even shoplifters. Trapp complained his firing was unfair.

"I feel if I'm looking out for the well-being and safety of a co-worker, I feel like that should be recognized as 'way-to-go,'" he said.

Bergstreser had worked at the store for nearly 3 years. Trapp said he was in asset protection for about 6 months.

The manager involved was not fired.

CBS4 Denver called Best Buy for a comment but the company has not yet responded.

Story Contributed by CBS4 Denver Reporter Raj Chohan

(CBS4)