AN elderly Walmart greeter has been beaten by an angry customer.
The heated altercation took place over a receipt check.
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It happened at a High Point, North Carolina Walmart Supercenter, about 76 miles north of Charlotte, on Monday.
The elderly store greeter, Vincent Battaglia, 68, was checking receipts near the home and garden entrance when he was confronted by an angry man around 11 am, according to the police report.
Being greeted by a friendly face when you enter and leave retail stores is common.
Many stores hire greeters to check customer receipts an added protection against theft, also known as shrink, which has become a growing problem across big box stores.
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Sometimes, these checks – which have become a standard protocol in many stores – can become heated.
In this instance, the store greeted suffered injuries to the face and head, per the police report.
Trevon Waden, 27, allegedly punched the store greeter in the eye, causing him to “fall to the ground and strike his head.”
The drama began when Waden’s girlfriend, Tomeisha Robbs, 28, allegedly got agitated by the greeter’s request to check her receipt.
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“The female offender had went to customer service about 20 minutes prior to the assault and complained about the victim checking her receipt,” the police report said.
Robbs then told her boyfriend to “take care of him,” prompting the attack on the elderly man.
Police said the Walmart employee “advised him that he was just doing his job,” but it clearly wasn’t enough to stop the attack.
“The male offender advised the victim that he was upset that he had stopped his girlfriend earlier at the exit,” law enforcement added.
The couple fled the store after the encounter without checking on the well-being of the elderly man.
Police said they were familiar with the couple “from previous calls,” so they were able to locate them.
Anti-theft measures rolled out by retailers
Retailers across the US and Canada have rolled out strategies designed to combat theft. The U.S. Sun has compiled a list of measures that have been implemented at stores.
- Locking items in cabinets.
- Security pegs.
- Security cameras.
- Signs warning about the impact of theft.
- Receipt scanners.
- Receipt checks.
- Carts with locking technology
The man and woman were arrested at their High Point home a short time later.
Robbs and Waden both received misdemeanor assault charges.
Waden was also charged with failure to appear in court in connection with another unrelated case.
Both of the suspects were being held on a $500 bond at press time.
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The U.S. Sun has reached out to Walmart and the High Point Police Department for comment.
The extent of the Walmart employee’s injuries could not be confirmed.
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https://www.the-sun.com/news/11377333/walmart-receipt-checker-attacked-high-point-north-carolina/