Two students who tackled a shoplifter who was stealing from the store they were working at have been fired.
Jared Bergstreser, 20, and Colin Trapp, 23, were fired on Sunday, two weeks after they tried to stop two men fleeing the Best Buy in Broomfield, Canada.
When the students saw the men leave with what the assumed was stolen goods, Mr Bergstreser tackled one of the men, Denver News reports.
"A gentleman came by us in a red shirt with a bunch of product in his hand. It was pretty obvious that he hadn't paid for it yet," Mr Trapp said.
"I just kind of reacted. I wasn't thinking about it and followed the guy out the front door and tackled him," Mr Bergstreser said.
As Mr Bergstreser was struggling with the thief on the ground, Mr Trapp ran over to help.
"We thought we had the situation under control. That's when he pulled a knife and began flailing it around wildly," Mr Trapp said.
The man broke free and eventually cut the store's manager.
The shoplifters escaped in a car driven by a woman, according to police.
A police report said the two men got away with computer hard drives and other items but are yet to make any arrests.
"It was just completely demoralising. You think you have in your head what you know is right or wrong, what your parents instilled in you growing up as a child, and then to be reprimanded for that act is so sour and so sad," Mr Trapp said.
Best Buy spokesperson Kelly Groehler refused to discuss the situation.
"Employees who in our stores are aware, and trained, on the standard operating procedures for dealing with shoplifting or theft - which includes ceasing pursuit of a suspected shoplifter once they exit the store," she said.
Mr Bergstreser had worked at the store for nearly three years and received minor cuts and bruises in the incident.
He said he understands the company's concerns but disagrees it was enough to have him fired.
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