>> Ginger: JUST DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS, FOUR HOME DEPOT EMPLOYEES WERE FIRED. >> Matt: THE REASON, THEY TRIED TO GET THE LICENSE PLATES OF A SHOPLIFTER WHO HAD JUST STOLEN FROM THE STORE. HERE'S MORE ON WHY THEY GOT FIRED. >> Reporter: RESIDENCES WHO SAW EVERYTHING GO DOWN IN THE PARKING LOT TELL ME THE FOUR EMPLOYEES WERE NOT OVERLY AGGRESSIVE IN TRYING TO STOP THE SHOPLIFTER, BUT HOME DEPOT OFFICIALS SAY THEIR POLICY FORBIDDING EMPLOYEES FROM PURSUING SHOPLIFTERS IS NO SECRET. >> ONE OF THE CORE VALUES WE WEAR ON OUR CHEST IS TAKING CARE OF EACH OTHER. I MEAN, IS IT JUST WORDS? >> Reporter: THE FORMER HOME DEPOT EMPLOYEES AND A CASHIER WHO DECLINED TO SPEAK ON CAMERA SAY THEY DID NOT DESERVE TO BE FIRED. LAST MONTH, AS A SHOPLIFTER TRIED TO LEAVE THE STORE WITHOUT PAYING FOR NEARLY $1,000 IN POWER TOOLS, THE CASHIER ADMITS SHE PLACED HER HAND ON HIS SHOPPING CART. >> HE KIND OF RAMMED THE CART INTO HER A COUPLE OF TIMES. >> HE HIT HER? >> HIT HER WITH THE CART. >> THE EMPLOYEES SAY THEY RAN AFTER THE THIEF BUT ONLY SO THEY COULD SEE HIS CAR'S LICENSE PLATES. >> THERE'S TIMES WE'VE HAD SHOPLIFTERS AT OUR STORE WHERE MANAGEMENT WOULD ASK ME IF ANYBODY GOT A PLATE NUMBER. >> Reporter: THEN THEY NOTICED THE SHOPLIFTER REACHING UNDER HIS CAR SEAT. >> HE SAID I'LL SHOOT YOU. I THOUGHT HE HAD A GUN. >> WHEN DEPUTIES LATER LOCATED BRANDON MULLENS, HE DID NOT HAVE A WEAPON BUT HE HAD WARRANTS AGAINST HIM FOR ALLEGEDLY SHOPLIFTING AT OTHER STORES. THE PROBLEM IS PURSUING SHOPLIFTERS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, WHICH IS WHY THEY ONLY ALLOW TRAINED SECURITY PERSONNEL TO DO SO. OVER THE YEARS, WE'VE HAD SERIOUS INJURY AND FATALITIES IN THE STORES AND NO AMOUNT OF MERCHANDISE IS WORTH RISKING THE SAFETY OF OUR CUSTOMERS AND OUR ASSOCIATES. >> WE DIDN'T CHASE THE GUY, BEAT HIM UP, WE DIDN'T TACKLE HIM. WE WEREN'T TRYING TO HOLD HIM. WE JUST WANTED TO GET A LICENSE PLATE. >> Reporter: SIMPLY FOLLOWING A SHOPLIFTER OUT TO THEIR CAR TO WRITE DOWN A LICENSE PLATE TO PROMPT THE THIEF TO SPEED OFF, PUTTING OTHER PEOPLE IN DANGER. >> Matt: THOSE FIRED EMPLOYEES SAY THEY WANT THEIR JOBS BACK. HOME DEPOT OFFICIALS TELL US THEY THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATE
