Jiffy Lube Manager Says He Confronted Family Dollar Thief

OAK FOREST, IL — An employee of the Jiffy Lube in Oak Forest sprung into action last week after he noticed a thief trying to get away without paying for a few items from the Family Dollar store across the street.

Bill Cain was on his break from work as the assistant manager for the Jiffy Lube at 5401 W. 159th St. on May 4 when he went to the Family Dollar on the other side of 159th Street to pick up a few snacks and drinks. Cain said he already bought his food items but went back into the store to see if he might also want to pick up some flowers for Mother's Day.

"That's when I saw this guy walk around the register and out of the store hiding something under his coat," Cain told Oak Forest Patch, noticing there were a few Tide pod jugs under the coat.

Cain said he yelled out to inform the Family Dollar cashier, who at first wanted to confront the thief herself.

"She was going to run out of the store, but I said I would do it," Cain said. "I'd rather have to fight the dude myself than have the lady do it."

Outside the store in the parking lot, Cain said he verbally confronted the stealing man.

"I told the guy he had a couple of options: give the stuff back, or I was going to tackle him and keep him down until the police came," Cain said.

"He told me at first he wanted me to come up to him and get it out of his coat myself but I didn't need to get hit."

Plus, approaching him like that wouldn't be keeping the social distance that's recommended amid the outbreak of the new coronavirus.

Cain said the thief then dropped the stolen items on the ground before running into an awaiting white Ford pickup truck and fleeing the scene. ;

But before he left, Cain told the man that he didn't need to steal those Tide pod containers.

"If he had just asked me for some money in the store I would have given it to him and I told him that," Cain said.

Oddly, Cain said at that point the thief asked him for $40 to go back in and pay for the items.

"I told him it was too late," Cain said.

Cain said he called the Oak Forest Police Department's non-emergency number after the man left to report the incident. Police confirmed the call was made.

A call for service detail released to Patch following a Freedom of Information Act request indicates Cain called and "wanted to make us aware" of the incident in which a man "returned two Tide pod containers after he was approached about it in the parking lot."

The call log confirmed Cain's account to Patch that he confronted the thief outside the store and made him "drop the proceeds" before he left in the white Ford pickup.

No complaint was made by Family Dollar, police said.

Cain said he went back into the store after the ordeal and the cashier was so appreciative of his actions she offered to pay for the items he had bought a few minutes earlier

Cain said he declined the offer, paying for his items anyway.