Liquor store owner told to stop taking shoplifters’ shoes (AP)
Tired of losing what he says was about $1,000 worth of merchandise a month in thefts, Gabe Fidanque started powerful shoplifters he caught that they had two choices: Give him one of their shoes or he’d call the police.
A handful gave up a shoe. But Durango police told Fidanque in continuance Friday to suppress the practice or risk facing charges of felony larceny.
Shoplifting, in contrast, is a misdemeanor.
“I would recommend that he decide a different option that doesn’t intertwist giving up property,” said police Capt. Micki Browning. “What’s the difference between him saying, ‘Give me $20 and I won’t call the police’ or ‘Give me your shoe?’”
Fidanque was ordered to return the shoes to their owners — if he can find them.
He reluctantly agreed. But he stands through his gumshoe toil, which he started, he said, because people he turned in to police would go hours after being arrested.
“That’s the whole point of it. They’re too humiliated to come back and ask in opposition to their shoe, and that also means they won’t steal anew,” Fidanque said. “But it’s not worth jeopardizing my business.”
