crime

McDonald's staff trained to throw tracking balls at armed robbers

49 Comments

Police in Saitama have teamed up with McDonald's Japan to offer staff training to cope with a possible armed robbery taking place at their stores. The move was announced after an incident in Kawaguchi on Oct 1, when two men entered a McDonald's store, threatened staff with knives and stole cash from the registers.

According to a McDonald's spokesperson, part of the training staff received was to throw colored tracking balls at anyone posing a physical threat in the store, TBS reported. The dye is meant to help police track down the culprits.

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49 Comments
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Way to go McD & J-po, give the thieves a reason to stab employees.

14 ( +17 / -3 )

That is the true japanese spirit. To avoid losses for the comapny, risk your life....

Sheep mentality has no limits....

0 ( +8 / -8 )

If a knucklehead threw a paintball at me I'd get pissed as shit and stab/bludgeon the McFool.

The Keystones need to prevent innocents from getting hurt not put them into more danger for a few measly yen. What a greedy proposition this is.

4 ( +9 / -5 )

Farmboy, now THAT'S a good idea! I'm lovin' it...

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Banks have these tracking dyes, too, but they smack the culprit when the culprit opens a bag or stack of cash, presumably in the safety of his or her own apartment. Therefore, employees are not in the position of getting stabbed by irate criminals. Did neither McDonald's nor the police think of this scenario?

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Dear Mac Donalds employees. Do not put your lives at risk to help keep money for their company. Engaging a violent person in any way is a risk for you and your working peers. Let them have the money and let them leave the shop unopposed. That is the smart and safe thing to do.

Dear Mac Donalds, shame on you for putting minimum wage employees at risk!!!

Dear Saitama Police. IDIOTS!!!

9 ( +9 / -0 )

This idea is stupid. Getting hit by something may aggravate the robber and they might retaliate. If they are armed they might hurt an employee or customer. How about having a giant net above the exit instead? Or a trap door that drops the assailant into a pool of sharks with freekin laser beams attached to their heads.

12 ( +12 / -0 )

probable more effective to offer them a big mac meal....just this thought would disgust them, enough time (afew hours or a day or two) for the Jcops to come and find them in the toilets throwing up

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

According to a McDonald’s spokesperson, part of the training staff received was to throw colored tracking balls at anyone posing a physical threat in the store

and they're expected to do that with a smile

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Brilliant!

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

You know what would've been more appropriate? invisible radiation emitting dye spray mounted at the exit.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

" According to a McDonald’s spokesperson, part of the training staff received was to throw colored tracking balls at anyone posing a physical threat in the store, "

That is a strange description. I thought these tracking balls were to be thrown at robbers as they are running away, to mark them with funky colors. At that point, they are not a "physical threat" any more.

Is Mac Dow now saying that employees should throw thing around INSIDE the store while the robbery is in progress? I think either Mac D is insane, or the article writer seriously misunderstood something.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

If I worked at mcd and had a good lawyer - a golden opportunity here They actually expect 700Y / h workers to risk their lives for the company ... who is the bright head to come with this.... ?

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Every Mac D's should have a shotgun under the counter

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Everybody is assuming that the robber would actually be hit by one of these dye balls. Most of the people I've seen working at McDonalds here are young women. I don't imagine they are going to be very accurate, especially when they're scared.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Absolutely one of the stupidest ideas ever. Poor Mac workers being given this responsibility. I agree with all above that this will only endager the employees. If you know of anyone who works at Mac, please tell them not to risk their safety for 780 Yen/hour.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

It's not just about tracking money. It's about tracking the culprit so they don't rob again. It's still a dum idea though.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

How about a bucket of pigs blood above the door jam and a long "we've just be robbed, pull here" rope running back to the counter?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Good on McD's. As much as I loathe the place (but still partake of its food now and again), they do a pretty good job of managing (from time to time, and save the scandal two years ago when it was revealed sub-managers or whatever they're called got the same pay as ground level staff). Now the question is, will they have the courage to throw it if need be?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

I won't pretend to know how to prevent robberies, but McDonald's workers are not Security, it is not their duty/responsibility to prevent crimes. I'm surprised McDonald's even agreed to take part in the training or are these just franchise owners who don't know any better?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

After reading all of the above posts, this is my favorite...

volland at Oct. 26, 2012 - 07:54AM JST That is the true japanese spirit. To avoid losses for the comapny, risk your life....

Sheep mentality has no limits....

Couldn't agree more.

S

0 ( +1 / -1 )

24-hour stores have had these paint balls for quite some time, I think I even saw a pair on the counter of a postal office.What is all the fuzz about? These publicity is as much a part of crime-prevention, or "shifting" as in "we got balls, go get your free hand-outs somewhere else", since many robbers in Japan are not of the violent, angry type as in other countries.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Come on! This is Safety Japan! No body gets hurt nor killed here, right?? Anyway, I want to see how far they can throw them orange paint balls! Ganbare Nihon Makudonarudo!

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Tracking balls?! What's the matter with shuriken (throwing stars)?

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I think it is fair, if the robber gets to threaten the staff, who are only paid 700 or 780 per hour, they should get to throw paint balls at them for 700 or 780 per hour...I would pay money to throw paint balls at criminals! ;->

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Budamex/ GFYS! as for all the good comments and some of the not do good comments, the truth is, those paint balls are not to throw at the customers. They are to throw at the vehicle the robber is riding. If that ink got on someone's face and in to their eyes, it is a painful irritant and a law suit waiting to happen. Not that their employees are the best pitchers.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Smile...0 yen

Tracking ball...0 yen

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Why not pepper spray?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

wait a sec. Isn't Japan suppose to a hightech country?

trackers = CHECK. then what about the CCTVs? aren't they a big help as well? come on. Don't let those employees who're working 24/7 in Mcdonalds at risk. Just install a CCTV, then if incident happens like the robbing and stuffs, they don't have to worry since the incident is recovered. Police can watch the tape, and try do some facial recognitions (I believe Japan have the technology for that).

what are those detective movies (CSI and many others) for then? geez.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Oh my God... they're still doing this kind of stupid crap hahahaha.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Umm... let me see if I have this right. An armed robber enters the store and robs the place. After the robbery and as they're leaving, I'm supposed to grab a paintball and throw it at the robber? The robber then sees the paint on them, realizes they've been marked, and... runs screaming in fear from the store? Sure! That makes PERFECT sense! Let me sign that form that says I've received the training. ... wait a minute... Why is this form titled "Last Will and Testament"?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Ridiculous to expect 17 year old girls to be throwing paint balls at thugs desperate enough to rob a burger shack.

McDonalds' staff - dont ever think about doing this. Not. Ever.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

They should have started this campaign after halloween.

And how about a potential robber first grabbing these balls and throwing them at the other customers or even the workers?

Then, who will the police try to catch?

Same as the handling of the online threat with infected computers?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I wonder if caloric and nutritional content of the dye is posted? Wouldn't want to see a robber get rich after suing Mickey D for making the robber fat! Probably another Michael Moore epic in the making: unsuspecting armed robbers are traumatized by an evil corporation...

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Also, why not mustard gas....

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Well, after all, this story is from Saitama, so we should not be surprised.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I'm not lovin' this crackpot idea.

McD's should have Akeem of Zamunda train their staff to deal with these creeps!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Issue tactical strobe flashlights. Blinds and disorients.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

That would be a great Halloween costume: paintballed fast-food thief.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

They should give the culprits bags of free McDonald's food. That will kill them. But seriously this is a ridiculous idea that would endanger low-payed young people.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Instead of hiring Alstok & the japanese woman Olympic wrestler they come up with this hair brain scheme.

I have a few suggestions

1) Since police don't use their guns much in japan. Give the police guns to the manager carry a shotgun or assault rifle. Hang signs on the walls, " If you rob us you will get shot. " With a new Mcd's Mascot.

2) Increase heavy police patrols around McDonald's. Especially policemen on bicycles.

3) Use a French Fry hot oil cannon or place a hot bucket of french fry oil next to the counter.

4) Frozen hamburger patty shotgun

5) Umeboshi & natto flavored pepper spray carried by all cashiers with extensive training

6) Train staff in Krav Maga or Jiu-Jitsu

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Wonder how long it would be until bored McDonald's workers themselves get before getting bored and just start throwing the paint balls at each other, or an annoying customer. I see that as a far more likely scenario.

Frankly, a trap door that drops a would be robber in to tank full of sharks with fricken laser beams on their heads would be far more effective.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Here in N.Y., two nasty pieces of work chases the clerk & went over the counter to beat him!- well,the clerk grabbed a metal rod,did a number on both of them & was Locked Up!-the manager wouldn't bail this fellow out because-"It's NOT McDonalds policy" so all i can offer is Hot Oil in the Kisser,Poste Haste,You are on Your Own!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

a McDonald’s spokesperson, part of the training staff received was to throw colored tracking balls at anyone posing a physical threat in the store,

This is one of the craziest things I've ever heard... Got common sense...?

Your Money's Insured, It's NOT worth Dying For...

Mean anything to anyone...?

Ah, forget it... There's no use trying to teach Common Sense here... When you have Cops Firing Warning Shots, and Yakuza Stealing Police Stake-Out Vehicles.... Might as well just as well bury your head in the sand...

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Do you want fries with that?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

In one bold move they have turned the downtrodden poverty-strickedn underclass into respectable samurai warriors who will die for the Golden Arches, giving meaning to the blood red the arches sprout out of. A modern feudal corporation.

Cmon, if not gps-ed burger, how about a button that they press to release flourescent dust when they go out the door? Already fleeing outside, and it's a machine, so a step or two away from a direct attack on an employee...

1 ( +2 / -1 )

most stupid idea in the whole world...ever

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

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