The liquor store stabbing highlights the question facing guards: When to confront?

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You see them in uniform every day in grocery stores, pharmacies, and retail stores.

While the primary function of security guards is to “observe and report” and deter crime, there are also times when they have to make a split-second call to decide whether or not to physically engage a suspect.

The challenges and dangers faced by security guards came to light over the weekend at the Vancouver Olympic Village.

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Just before 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, a security guard at Legacy Liquor Store attempted to prevent a person he believed was shoplifting from leaving the store. Police said a witness who was passing by tried to help and was stabbed by the robber.

Dieter Karpf, a retired sheriff’s deputy who has been a security consultant for decades, said there are several factors security officers must consider when deciding whether to physically confront a thief.

Some employers have guidelines instructing security guards to ignore theft of small or inexpensive items. In cases where the theft involves more expensive items, that may lead to more intervention, but only when it’s safe to do so, Karpf said.

Does the thief have a known history? Do they have weapons? Are they endangering others? What is their mental state?

“The important thing is to consider the security guard’s personal safety, then the public’s safety, and then security from the perspective of the subject. A guard needs to understand whether the person is drunk, has a very dangerous past, or has other health problems,” he said.

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Karpf said there is a national standard that security officers follow when increasing their use of force, but each store or chain has its own policies on how, when and what action to take against thefts.

Usually there are several steps, starting with constant observation, before a person picks up an item from the store without paying.

In BC, all security officers must complete a 40-hour basic course at the BC Institute of Justice. For guards who work in more conflict-prone environments, such as hospitals, nightclubs and special events, they may be required to take an additional 24-hour course. hour advanced security training course.

The right to use handcuffs requires additional approvals from Victoria.

Karpf teaches an advanced security training course developed by the Institute of Justice. It is a program for law enforcement officers who may need to use force or restraints such as handcuffs when confronted with high-risk, resistant or violent individuals.

They are trained to assess risk by taking into account how quickly a person can cross distances and what opportunities exist to reposition themselves for safety. The course uses simulations of different scenarios rather than just theories.

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He said arrests by security personnel were not common.

As for civilians, Karpf said passerby intervention could be very dangerous due to unknown factors.

“You don’t know their (physical) abilities or if they have secret weapons.”

In the Olympic Village incident, police obtained security footage of the store and began searching for the thief who fled the scene with his three accomplices.

Shortly after midnight, Vancouver police officers on patrol near Granville and Robson streets located and arrested four men.

A 21-year-old from Surrey is the suspect in the stabbing. The suspect, who was held in jail overnight, was later released from custody on bail conditions and is expected to face criminal charges once the investigation is completed.

Three suspected accomplices – an 18-year-old man from Richmond, a 16-year-old girl from Surrey and a 16-year-old girl from New Westminster – were also released on bail pending the completion of the investigation.

A manager at Legacy Liquor Store declined to comment Monday, but the company released a post on social media saying: “Our store experienced an incident that has deeply impacted us all. While we rejoice in the injured individual’s recovery, our thoughts are with them and their loved ones during this difficult time.”

“We would also like to take a moment to recognize the incredible strength of our team members who were present during the event. Their resilience and professionalism in the face of such a traumatic situation is truly admirable.”

—With files from Douglas Quan and The Canadian Press

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