There’s no doubt about it: this was an incredibly stupid thing for him to do. Put it this way: do you think, if he had it to do over again, he would act the same?

It was $5. If he felt so bad about the employees losing their tips, just grab a ten dollar bill out of your wallet and replace it.

As for the kids, we’re missing some crucial information. Was the collision an accident? If so, they’re not murderers any more than anyone else is if they accidentally kill someone.

No, get a cop .Its there job this guy essentially lost his life for 5 bucks. Just stupid . I feel for the guys family but they should be made at him for doing something so dumb. These people probably didn’t even know why the guy was running after them. It 2 teenagers leave the police work to th epolice. The guy didn’t deserve to be run over but really he should have just drank his coffee and used his cell phone to call the cops.

BTW, businesses. Please invest in better video technology. Technology is cheap these days. These images look like they were generated from a $2 camera.

So when someone steals from the store we’re supposed to stop them, and when business/government/landlords steal from us, we’re just supposed to lie down and take it?

The sad thing is, whey are people tipping Starbucks counter help anyway? This country is way overdue for a recession if we have so much extra money we’re giving it away to people who are just doing their jobs.

Seriously, there is absolutely no reason to shift the blame and/or animosity and insult to Starbucks employees or to the general barista community. As an eleven year industry veteran, I can attest that tips for these employees are more meaningful than found cash and they are absolutely deserved in most cases. $0.40 shows a little customer appreciation for the friendly service and the quality drink from someone who makes a lot less money and works a lot harder than you might imagine. Maybe McDonald’s should have tip jars!

People have to be held accountable for their own actions irregardless of the context. The kid could have stolen a CD or a pound of coffee worth more than the tip jar, which would likely have had similar consequences… so then should Starbucks pull all items of value from their store floors?

Just posted: “Car description: They sped off in a white 1990s Ford Taurus. The car was missing its front license plate. Police had no details on a rear plate.”

We all need to do what is right for each of us, ultimately this is what this discussion is about. Roger made his choice, I just wish someone else in the store would have made their choice and gotten that plate #

I think anyone who has ever worked for tips would have done same thing. Whether tip or donation jar; I’d have gone after those slimeballs. I hope that when they catch them (surely someone will recognize these losers!) they charge them with murder or at least manslaughter. It would send a clear message to others like them!!!

My thoughts and prayers go out to the Kreutz family and friends. He sounds like a good man who was standing up for what he believed in. May he rest in peace.

I, myself, would not have attempted to stop the thieves. I would have tried to get the license plate number but I do know that it would not have done much good for such a petty crime.
Many years ago, I worked at a 7-11. We were instructed NOT to try and stop a thief EVER! Of course, the company did not want to see us get hurt for any amount of goods, but mainly, I think they wanted to avoid any lawsuits brought by us or family should we get hurt or killed (cynical but true). One time, my boyfriend happened to be in the store when a thief ran out with a 12 pk of beer. He chased him. I screamed for him to stop, “Let him go!”…he went anyway. He found the perp behind the store hiding in the shadow. When he confronted the thief, the thief put a gun in his face. Thank God he didn’t pull the trigger! My boyfriend backed off and let the guy go. Many of these punks have no regard for human life. I don’t like letting the bad guys win either but I think bb (comment #72) said it best: “If they assaulted someone or attempted to kidnap someone, yes of course I would have intervened….It all depends on the situation whether or not to get involved and TO WHAT EXTENT. The risks you take and the benefits of the outcome have to be in balance with the offense.” Very well put. You need to think about your own life and the lives of the people who love you before you take action especially when it comes to theft. Be wise. And to those conceal and carry advocates, I don’t think the Starbuck’s theft would warrent you to pull out your piece and take action. That may cause more problems for you and for others in the store.

Since this has gone into a tip discussion, I say pay decent wages big corporations and don’t make folks endure the indignity of tips any longer. It’s just as bad as “company stores” existing in many ways. The man was brave. We see a lot of anger here from everybody. Much from a sense of powerlessness. I vote for less armed citizens in MO. They show by constantly letting their weapons fall into the wrong hands, and their irrational reactions on this blog that they just aren’t cut out for the responsibility of it all. They cost cops extra work every day in this country. I am hoping we all stand up for right. I am hoping none of us get those results.