Clerk talks about his brawl with a suspected shoplifter caught on camera

ROCKWOOD, Tennessee (WVLT) – Roger Sharp is always willing to help his customers.

He’s also willing to help thieves know when they’ve done wrong.

“We have zero tolerance for shop lifting.”

WATCH AS A YOUNG MAN WALKS INTO THIS IGA GROCERY STORE IN ROCKWOOD, ROGER SAYS HE LOOKED SUSPICIOUS.

“As I came up I saw a gentleman standing beside the throat spray who looked a little suspicious.. whenever I started watching him I saw him put the throat spray in his jacket.”

“I saw him put the throat spray in his jacket we started walking that way and that’s when he struggled and tried to get away from me.”

A QUICK BRAWL IN THE MIDDLE OF CHECKOUT LANES STOPPED THIS ACCUSED SHOPLIFTER FROM MAKING IT OUT OF THE STORE – BUT ROGER SAYS THIS IS NOTHING COMPARED TO OTHER SHOP LIFTERS HE’S STOPPED.

“Shoplifter fell on me and cracked a rib, I had a girl that dislocated my finger, I’ve had scraped in bruises and stopped a girl in the parking lot the car door hit me and knocked me to the pavement. I had to be transported to the hospital for that one.”

HE SAYS HE TRIES THE CALM APPROACH FIRST, BUT IT’S NOT ALWAYS EFFECTIVE –

“It’s just beginning to be a real epidemic.”

ROGER SAYS THE SHOPLIFTING HAS REALLY TAKEN A TOLL ON HIS STORE FINANCIALLY HE ESTIMATES HE’S LOST BETWEEN 30 AND 35 THOUSAND DOLLARS THIS PAST YEAR.

“Shoplifting takes away from my livelihood I have to pay for everything when it comes in the backdoor and I’d like it to be paid for when it comes in the front door.”