EB Games clerk murdered, no one notices for hours

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Dead of Knight

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http://kotaku.com/gaming/murder/eb-clerk-murdered-232453.php
San Antonio EB Games Clerk ws found dead in the store Monday afternoon, police there said.

Managers found Amber Belken, 24, at the store about 2 p.m. after going by the store to see why she wasn't answering the phone. Police said a witness saw Belken enter the store alone around 9 a.m. and that they believe she was confronted by her killer as she prepared for the store's 10 a.m. opening.

Police believe robbery to be the motive in the killing. Anyone who lives in the area and was near the store between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. should call police, 210-207-7635 if they have any information.
Click to expand...

IMO, this is a product of GameStop Corp being a bunch of cheapasses who only care about the bottom line. This is why only ONE person was opening the store, and that should never happen exactly because of cases like this. The lack of security cameras in a store that sells fairly high-priced goods is also unacceptable. It probably took this murder for GS to realize that they need to stop caring so much about their stock price and more about their employees, but even then, I doubt they will do much of anything and not even take some of the deserved blame for the incident.
 
She was killed at 10:00 a.m. and had no customers all day? No wonder GameStop didn't want to fully staff the place...
 
I'm telling you, those women working in EB/GS are in danger. Either by zitty gamers rubbing against them or thieves wanting to murder them...
 
I was at an ebgames the other day and the clerk mentioned she had been alone since 2 p.m , it was 8:30 or so at the time, I thought it was ridiculous really . Sad to see it seems to be common with the company
 
[quote name='javeryh']She was killed at 10:00 a.m. and had no customers all day? No wonder GameStop didn't want to fully staff the place...[/QUOTE]

Use some common sense. Aren't you a lawyer? She was killed BEFORE she opened the store, so people thought it was closed for the day. The linked article that Kotaku links to at the bottom of the article says that people said the store "was closed all Monday."
 
I hate the world I live in.

Unfortunately, this tragedy alone will probably do nothing to change corporate's approach to employee safety issues, as they probably are reducing this to the same kind of A x B = C formula that Ed Norton explained to the woman on the plane next to him in Fight Club.
 
[quote name='Dead of Knight']Use some common sense. Aren't you a lawyer? She was killed BEFORE she opened the store, so people thought it was closed for the day. The linked article that Kotaku links to at the bottom of the article says that people said the store "was closed all Monday."[/quote]

OBJECTION!

Sorry, I'm finishing up Phoenix Wright.
 
[quote name='jollydwarf']I hate the world I live in.

Unfortunately, this tragedy alone will probably do nothing to change corporate's approach to employee safety issues, as they probably are reducing this to the same kind of A x B = C formula that Ed Norton explained to the woman on the plane next to him in Fight Club.[/quote]It will be interesting to see if GS has any sort of incentive to correct things, a la a lawsuit. Not sure if they would be liable for wrongful death (unsafe working conditions?) or something along those lines.

If not, then no, they won't put this into any sort of analysis.
 
THey'll buy those fake prop security cameras and a sign that says "Smile! You're on camera" to scare people.

That'll cost them nothing and they can use PR to spin this in a positive way
 
[quote name='Vegan']OBJECTION!

Sorry, I'm finishing up Phoenix Wright.[/QUOTE]
:lol: So am I, incidentally.

And I really do hope her family sues GS. Something needs to change in that company. Right now, all that company is is greed incarnate.
 
[quote name='Pijaibros']THey'll buy those fake prop security cameras and a sign that says "Smile! You're on camera" to scare people.

That'll cost them nothing and they can use PR to spin this in a positive way[/quote]They kinda do that now. Most of the stores (if not all) have a little sticker on the door or window saying something along the lines of "We use either closed-circuit cameras, time-lock safes, or something else."
 
San Antonio has got to be one of the top cities in America for murders.

I was there a couple years back and the first 2 days I was there, I heard of 11 murders that happened. Five of which were right around the hotel I was staying at.
 
[quote name='Dead of Knight']http://kotaku.com/gaming/murder/eb-clerk-murdered-232453.php


IMO, this is a product of GameStop Corp being a bunch of cheapasses who only care about the bottom line. This is why only ONE person was opening the store, and that should never happen exactly because of cases like this. The lack of security cameras in a store that sells fairly high-priced goods is also unacceptable. It probably took this murder for GS to realize that they need to stop caring so much about their stock price and more about their employees, but even then, I doubt they will do much of anything and not even take some of the deserved blame for the incident.[/QUOTE]

No its her killers fault for her death. GS won't change a thing. No matter what field you work in someone's going to get hurt or die. There's evil in this world, and it doesn't care if your trying to make a living or saving a baby from a burning house.

Most jobs I know one person goes in the morning to open. They turn all the lights get everything ready for the other people. Then about an hour or two later more people come in.
 
This is horrible...

So the killer was actually in the store before she opened? ugh, people, pay attention to your surroundings and always be aware! Thats all I can add, horrible horrible shit.
 
[quote name='Dead of Knight']Use some common sense. Aren't you a lawyer? She was killed BEFORE she opened the store, so people thought it was closed for the day. The linked article that Kotaku links to at the bottom of the article says that people said the store "was closed all Monday."[/quote]

Yikes. Didn't notice she was killed while the store is closed however I still think it's crazy that no one noticed. Was her body behind the register or in the stock room? Most EB/Gamestops have glass exteriors. Meh, sucks to be her I guess.
 
[quote name='CitizenB']No its her killers fault for her death. GS won't change a thing. No matter what field you work in someone's going to get hurt or die. There's evil in this world, and it doesn't care if your trying to make a living or saving a baby from a burning house.

Most jobs I know one person goes in the morning to open. They turn all the lights get everything ready for the other people. Then about an hour or two later more people come in.[/QUOTE]

The reason why I say GS should get a lot of the blame is because, like I said, with high-priced goods, of course there's gonna be more likelihood of getting robbed. Without security, that's putting a single clerk who is opening the store all by her lonesome at great risk in one of the cities with the highest murder rates in the country.

I do not dispute that the killer is at fault here. He is the one who pulled the trigger after all. But GS could have taken some preventative measures, and they didn't. For that reason, they should take a lot of the blame.

Javery: I'm guessing either of those would make sense. If I walked by a closed store and saw someone laying down on the floor unconscious I would notify security/police.
 
They said the door was locked.. It's unlikely that the killer got in, killed her, then locked the store back up.. wonder if it's a suicide?
 
[quote name='Scorch']They said the door was locked.. It's unlikely that the killer got in, killed her, then locked the store back up.. wonder if it's a suicide?[/QUOTE]

Decent point, but they do say cash was missing from register. However, it is quite curious that they do not note how she was killed. Was she strangled, knifed, shot? Without this information I would say suicide is a viable, though highly unlikely, option. We need more information.
 
Sad story. Disgusting.

A tape video camera system that could cover the whole store might cost $500. There is no telling if it would help to prevent or capture the criminal though. This stuff is just random.
 
[quote name='Dead of Knight']The reason why I say GS should get a lot of the blame is because, like I said, with high-priced goods, of course there's gonna be more likelihood of getting robbed. Without security, that's putting a single clerk who is opening the store all by her lonesome at great risk in one of the cities with the highest murder rates in the country.

I do not dispute that the killer is at fault here. He is the one who pulled the trigger after all. But GS could have taken some preventative measures, and they didn't. For that reason, they should take a lot of the blame.

Javery: I'm guessing either of those would make sense. If I walked by a closed store and saw someone laying down on the floor unconscious I would notify security/police.[/quote]


I agree, even the little podunk sandwich shop my GF worked at for her first job never opened with one employee.
 
During the 360 madness last year, one of my local stores was robbed. Apparently the manager decided it would be good to have two young girls (aged between 18-20) closing the store that night when they received a shipment earlier that day. Thankfully, he only made off with two 360's and no one was hurt.

However, its not uncommon for that store to be manned (no pun intended) by one female cashier. She typically opens the shop and leaves by 2PM. Since the incident, the store now has one male closer at all times.
 
First off doubt it was suicide. The guy probally waited outside the store and forced her to unlock it before taking her inside to do whatever it was he wanted to do, and then locked up himself using her keys.

Second gamestop does deserve blame. Yes humans are evil and its going to happan, but the employer should take steps to prevent this from happaning. My fiancee works at a Once upon a child which is EXACTLY like a gamestop just a different type of stock. For those that dont know Once upon a child is a used childrens items store. Most of their bussiness is used clothing for children and maternal woman, but they also buy and sell related items like high chairs, cribs and toys. So again same as gamestop but if anything id guess they are a much smaller bussiness. Yet despite this there are always atleast 2 people working the store cept for rare instances, one is usually a manager, they have an escape exit and they have a security system which they put on when the store is closed even if employees are still working there.

Our industry is now worth 30 BILLION I believe. A large large large portion of that is going to gamestop since they are the top video game chain selling both used and new games. There is absoultly no reason what so ever that they should not always have 2 employees working and a good security system. Forgot about this shit of no employees coming all day long outside the person who opened the store alone with no security whatsoever.

This is just unnaceptable adn another thing showing that our industry, especially gamestop does not care about gamers or employees. Our industry is currently one of the worst as far as putting profit, stock and putting money in the heads of companies pockets vs taking care of those who make this industry a $30billion one.
 
[quote name='Scorch']They said the door was locked.. It's unlikely that the killer got in, killed her, then locked the store back up.. wonder if it's a suicide?[/QUOTE]

It's unlikely but not impossible, the killer could have even been a fellow employee that snagged a key somehow. Also account for the fact that some places have safety doors, in which the doors can remain locked to the outside and still open from the inside when a latch is released. For instance a scenario could be her letting someone in the store early while she when preparing to open (as you typically don't unlock the doors on the outside til it's time to open), then when the killer left the door locked behind them, with them not knowing any better. However, if that was the scenario I wpuld think that police already figured it (or at least I'd hope so).
 
[quote name='Duo_Maxwell']It's unlikely but not impossible, the killer could have even been a fellow employee that snagged a key somehow. Also account for the fact that some places have safety doors, in which the doors can remain locked to the outside and still open from the inside when a latch is released. For instance a scenario could be her letting someone in the store early while she when preparing to open (as you typically don't unlock the doors on the outside til it's time to open), then when the killer left the door locked behind them, with them not knowing any better. However, if that was the scenario I wpuld think that police already figured it (or at least I'd hope so).[/quote]That was my assumption... if it stays locked when you open it from the inside (until you physically unlock it), isn't too mysterious. All it takes is the girl opening the door to someone innocently knocking on the door/window to tell them they're not open yet.
 
[quote name='botticus']That was my assumption... if it stays locked when you open it from the inside (until you physically unlock it), isn't too mysterious. All it takes is the girl opening the door to someone innocently knocking on the door/window to tell them they're not open yet.[/QUOTE]

Well again the guy could also just run up to her as she is opening the store and hold her at gunpoint to get inside. Once inside he could kill her, dump the body behind the counter and then take his time stealing whatever he wants. Whenever he is done he just locks up the store and leaves. Honestly its not like this system required your fingerprints to get in and out of the store. Since gamestop sucks ass so much I gurantee they didnt even have a digital lock but a crappy key lock so the guy again just takes the keys with him and no one notices all day.
 
Considering I worked at a few EBs, I can say that some of them do indeed have a camera that works and records, just not all of them. She let the killer in, either through accident or on purpose. Not that it's her fault, but she had to have had a hand it it. Some mall stores it's easy to get to the back door in the access halls and they could have faked a delivery.
 
[quote name='Gojtron']Considering I worked at a few EBs, I can say that some of them do indeed have a camera that works and records, just not all of them. She let the killer in, either through accident or on purpose. Not that it's her fault, but she had to have had a hand it it. Some mall stores it's easy to get to the back door in the access halls and they could have faked a delivery.[/QUOTE]

Just to back up some EBs having cameras heres a link to a new 1up story on a different robbery where someone was caught in part thanks to cameras.

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3156805
 
What happened is 1. she probably left the door/screen unlocked after opening it to get in or 2. she thought the guy was delivery for some reason and let him in. Probably the first is the most plausible; I doubt a robber would do something so crafty as the second. Then obviously he took the keys from her after/while killing her and locked the door as he was leaving.

I doubt it would have been as hard for the killer to get in as you think, Gojitron. If you look at the article linked at Kotaku you can see this was a standalone/strip mall store, not an indoor mall store. Either of my two scenarios above could apply here. Even if it were at a mall store, the malls generally open a couple hours early for "mall walkers," ie the old people who walk around the mall for exercise before it opens. I totally caught my great-aunt in the act of doing this once when I was a little girl and I went to the mall early one day. :lol:

And as far as I can tell a LOT of EBs/GSes do not have cameras. The one I worked at for 1.5 years, a GS, definitely did NOT have one. I'm not sure what the logic is in putting them in some but not others.
 
[quote name='MSI Magus']Our industry is currently one of the worst as far as putting profit, stock and putting money in the heads of companies pockets vs taking care of those who make this industry a $30billion one.[/QUOTE]

1. It is not "our" industry. Stop using that.

2. If you think that the "game industry" is the worst, you clearly don't smoke, drink beer, wear namebrand sneakers, drive an automobile, eat at restaraunts, go to bars, go to theatres, or do anything social at all. If you tell me to be outraged because a business puts profits ahead of safety, you're just explaining some fuckin' Adam Smith 101 to me. Many manufacturing jobs fail to adapt to modern government safety standards (steel mills and mining come to mind) because it is far cheaper to pay off the family of a suddenly-dead employees and/or the government agency levying fines at them). Keep your phony hyperbole to yourself. This "worst industry" of yours has resulted in one employee death over what is likely *decades* of business. Compare that to any factory/warehouse/manufacturing/industrial labor. And after you're done comparing, shut the fuck up.


Do I think EB Games is culpable? Sure I do. Am I ready to make a documentary about the deadly video game sales industry? No, because this is an anomalous incident, and while it should be treated with seriousness, and forward-looking means of preventing this, one would do well to avoid blowing this out of proportion. Something I'm afraid you've already managed to screw up.
 
Since when was GameStop the only place that has 1 person working there at a time? How many times have you walked into a convienience store at 11 p.m., or even later, and only seen one person working there? Come on people, get real. Stop blaming GameStop, and blame THE PERSON WHO KILLED HER. This type of thing happens all the time.
 
I guess she didn't push enough pre-orders and magazine subscriptions.

I know, I'm a terrible person with a horrible sense of humor.
 
[quote name='VanillaGorilla']Since when was GameStop the only place that has 1 person working there at a time? How many times have you walked into a convienience store at 11 p.m., or even later, and only seen one person working there? Come on people, get real. Stop blaming GameStop, and blame THE PERSON WHO KILLED HER. This type of thing happens all the time.[/quote]There's occasionally one person working at various gas stations around here, but the ones where crime is a problem are protected by a couple inches of glass and have a drawer where you give them your money/get your receipt.
 
[quote name='VanillaGorilla']Since when was GameStop the only place that has 1 person working there at a time? How many times have you walked into a convienience store at 11 p.m., or even later, and only seen one person working there? Come on people, get real. Stop blaming GameStop, and blame THE PERSON WHO KILLED HER. This type of thing happens all the time.[/QUOTE]

1. Alot of places around here have more then one person working at a time even at gas stations.
2. Gas stations are smaller and hard to justify having multiple people work.
3. Gas stations are often surronded by bulletproof glass even if they always arnt.
4. Gas station employees usually mak higher wages. Most of the gamestops around here pay $6-$7 an hour, most of the gas stations pay a min of $10 and as much as about $18.
5. No one is saying the guy isnt to blame who killed her, that doesnt mean gamestop isnt partly to blame as well.
 
i know more than one manager in the bay area that has been robbed or assaulted when they are alone for 6 hours. its insane that after so many incidents they dont do something, cheap bastards
 
Here's a picture and a newscast of the victim. I think a might have stopped at this particular store once or twice when I was in San Antonio. Rest in peace.

10880622_320X240.jpg




http://www.ksat.com/video/10880346/index.html
 
Since when was GameStop the only place that has 1 person working there at a time? How many times have you walked into a convienience store at 11 p.m., or even later, and only seen one person working there? Come on people, get real. Stop blaming GameStop, and blame THE PERSON WHO KILLED HER. This type of thing happens all the time.

Unfortunately, the "Ignore" feature does not include the ignored being quoted by the non-ignored.

I might rub my fair share of CAG users the wrong way, but there are just some flat-out assholes on this site.*

*--And that's not just based on one post here, I assure you.
 
[quote name='SolidSnakeX99']Here's a picture and a newscast of the victim. I think a might have stopped at this particular store once or twice when I was in San Antonio. Rest in peace.

10880622_320X240.jpg




http://www.ksat.com/video/10880346/index.html[/QUOTE]

Another sad part is as someone else has said her being pretty means there will be more news coverage...and again as someone said He who must not be named will have a field day with this one.
 
[quote name='MSI Magus']1. Alot of places around here have more then one person working at a time even at gas stations.
2. Gas stations are smaller and hard to justify having multiple people work.
3. Gas stations are often surronded by bulletproof glass even if they always arnt.
4. Gas station employees usually mak higher wages. Most of the gamestops around here pay $6-$7 an hour, most of the gas stations pay a min of $10 and as much as about $18.
5. No one is saying the guy isnt to blame who killed her, that doesnt mean gamestop isnt partly to blame as well.[/quote]Where do you live where gas station clerks are making $18 an hour?!
 
[quote name='VanillaGorilla']Where do you live where gas station clerks are making $18 an hour?![/QUOTE]

Southeastern Michigan and that isnt common, thats a rare occurance iv only seen happan a few times. Most of the gas stations iv seen with postings were around $10-$12. Regardless the point is gamestop pays half that or just over.
 
[quote name='MSI Magus']Southeastern Michigan and that isnt common, thats a rare occurance iv only seen happan a few times. Most of the gas stations iv seen with postings were around $10-$12. Regardless the point is gamestop pays half that or just over.[/quote]It doesn't matter how much you make, no worker should be left alone to man a store, especially one in an area full of crime. But, that's not practical to the big companies who run the stores, so there ya go.
 
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