Heroic Woman Fired For Catching Shoplifter: Lowe's Says Clerk Put Herself In Danger, Violating Company Policy [VIDEO & REPORT]

By Jobs & Hire Staff Reporter | Oct 11, 2013 01:22 PM EDT

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A Lowe's clerk was fired after pursuing a shoplifter, and the only reason the management could give her was she violated a company policy by putting herself in danger, UPI reported Thursday.

Karen Sizemore, a Kentucky woman who has been working for a Lowe's store in Elizabethtown for over 18 years, lost her job when she pursued a man, she was sure of identifying as a shoplifter.

According to her, she spotted the shoplifter, who was later identified by reports as Kyle Heim, attempting to quickly flee the store, adding that she then decided to follow him.

"It was just the adrenaline rush. I'm not taking it any more. You just get to the point where you're so tired of people stealing from you," Sizemore said.

When she managed to follow the man to his car, she reached into his backseat and found a Dewalt tool kit priced at nearly $600.

Sizemore reportedly failed to retrieve the kit from Heim, but she managed to obtain valuable information before the shoplifter took off.

"We did get his license plate number, that's how we caught him. He's in jail," she said.

Because of Sizemore's heroic effort, Heim was arrested and her story made the local newspaper.

However, the now-hero clerk got shocked when she received a note that she was fired from her post halfway her Thursday shift.

"Their explanation was I put myself and other people in danger and they fired me," Sizemore revealed. "Eighteen years with this company, for chasing a shoplifter. This is the thanks I get?"

Meanwhile, Lowe's statement on the firing of the brave clerk reads: "Our policies are in place for the safety of our workers. We have very specific guidelines when it comes to handling potential shoplifters, to ensure the well-being of not only our team but our customers."

Despite the unreasonable gesture of the store's management, Sizemore said that she is considering hiring a lawyer just so she can have her job back.

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