Security Cameras Don’t Lie!
As we continue to showcase examples where video surveillance has helped to remedy legal situations and reduce crime, we turn our attention to Whole Foods Market (WFM). Recently, Whole Foods was featured in the news when a Texas pastor claimed one of their bakers wrote a homophobic slur on a cake he purchased from the Austin-based grocery chain. With the help of some surveillance footage, WFM was able to prove their innocence.
The Founder and Pastor of the non-denominational Church of Open Doors’, Jordan Brown claimed he ordered from WFM on April 14 a cake with the personalized message “Love Wins.” Instead of his request, Brown received a cake with “Love Wins F**” written on it, according to the emotional distress lawsuit he filed on April 18, 2016.
Brown said that he didn’t realize what was written on the cake until he got into his vehicle. He then went as far as to record a video, where he showed his disgust at WFM for their lack of professionalism and intolerance. As you can see in the video, the UPC label is clearly shown on the bottom and side of the box with the cake inside.
WFM, however, says the entire incident was a hoax orchestrated by Brown. They are fighting back with a countersuit. According to the countersuit, Brown “intentionally, knowingly and falsely accused Whole Foods and its employees of writing the homophobic slur…on a custom made cake that he ordered from WFM’s Lamar Store in Austin.”
Interestingly enough, it was the security footage from their flagship Austin store that proved the WFM workers’ innocence:
After reviewing our security footage of Mr. Brown, it’s clear that the UPC label was in fact on top of the cake box, not on the side of the package. This is evident as the cashier scans the UPC code on top of the box, which you can view here.
The WFM security footage suggests the cake was tampered with after leaving the store, proving that the baker did not write the homophobic slur on the cake.
WFM issued the following statement on their website:
We stand behind our bakery team member, who is part of the LGBTQ community, and we appreciate the team members and shoppers who recognize that this claim is completely false and directly contradicts Whole Foods Market’s inclusive culture, which celebrates diversity.
The company also posted a picture of their team members from the WFM Lamar Store smiling for the camera with some making a heart gesture with their hands. The hashtag “Love Wins” was captioned on the photo.
This is a prime example of how security camera footage can help to remedy a potential threatening legal situation. In the end, the video surveillance helped save WFM from fraudulent discrimination and bigotry. WFM stands by its Austin store employees, who denied any wrongdoing and are seeking $100,000 in damages from Brown.
According to Hoosier Security President Armando Perez:
When buying cameras it’s impossible to account for the ROI on something that doesn’t happen, but in this case, it saves Whole Foods $100k and a public lashing. In most cases, we don’t count what doesn’t happen, which makes the ROI of a security video system a tough calculation.
In the end, WFM’s investment into a surveillance system will save the company hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees.
At Hoosier Security, we understand that retail security cameras are extremely effective for providing indisputable documentation of events while simultaneously monitoring the actions of employees. They are a powerful management tool, assisting retail establishments in mitigating security risks and tracking performance on a daily basis. Those are the key factors in helping to establish ROI in the eyes of a client.
