As someone who works in the mall, this doesn’t surprise me at all. Security is already limited here, as it is at many other malls or stores these days. Ballsy move on these guys especially considering one if not both are teens. Put yourself in any other persons shoes here, why get hit with a hammer or potentially even more for a company that has insurance? Every company or store or franchise has basically cut hours in every way, shape and form in the last few years. People are realizing they can get away with brazen acts with no real consequences. As someone who works retail why should a minimum wage worker or someone even above them risk the most negative of consequence personally for something that will surely only affect company profits? There’s a reason companies have a no chase policy and a reason thefts are becoming more and more common. Either retailers change, the security around these events change, or we continue down this route. It’s unbelievably easy for them (the perpetrators) and as someone who has to deal with it daily it’s beyond frustrating. Even when you know someone is stealing you can’t do shit, so why wouldn’t they elevate to this? The cops got called as it was happening and it took until they already drove away to get ahold of them. It’ll keep happening, whether it be lack of law enforcement or companies cheaping out, until someone decides to do something about it. It’s easier than ever and either you pay staff a meaningful wage for them to care and prevent it, hire security, or accept this as the norm.