Man Dies After Trying to Stop Thieves Stealing a Starbucks $5 Tip Jar - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Janice · 03-07-2008, 02:55 AM

Police have asked for the public's help in identifying the suspects, above. There is a $20,000 reward for information leading to their conviction, half from Starbucks Corp. and half from an anonymous donor. Source: AP

Watch Video: Tragedy at Coffee Shop

Man Dies After Trying to Stop Thieves

CRESTWOOD, Mo. (March 6) - Surveillance video from a Starbucks in a St. Louis suburb captures how Roger Kreutz's life changed in an instant.

He stands in line behind a young man and woman at the coffee shop, where he's a regular customer. The young man fiddles with items on the counter while she orders a coffee, pays and heads out the door. The young man swipes the tip jar, and Kreutz, in the spur of the moment, gives chase.

What happened next is not caught on tape. Police say the two suspects, with the young man behind the wheel of a 1990s white Ford Taurus, ran over the Good Samaritan in the parking lot.

Kreutz, 54, died Wednesday at a hospital, two days after he was struck.

"I don't claim to understand it," police Chief Mike Paillou said at a news conference. He said detectives are following up on leads but asked for the public's help in identifying the suspects. He did not know what provoked them - "fear, confusion, being young?"

It's believed there was about $5 in the tip jar.

Family members weren't surprised Kreutz went after the suspects.

"He was just caring, loving, witty and extremely loyal," said his youngest brother, Chris Kreutz, 42. "That's how my brother is. I would have done the same thing."

The Kreutz family owns the Holiday Inn and Viking Conference Center down the street from the Starbucks. Roger Kreutz was the oldest of five brothers, and he and Chris lived in separate, converted quarters inside the hotel.

Roger often worked early and late hours, and took time in the afternoon to exercise with his brother, Chris Kreutz said. Their habit was picking up drinks at Starbucks. Chris Kreutz said he usually drank his iced latte before his workout, while his older, responsible brother waited until after he exercised.

On Monday, he wondered what was keeping his brother, who had gone for the drinks. That's when he was called to the hospital.

The brothers' father, Edward Kreutz Sr., was vacationing in Florida and hurried back to Missouri, fighting through a snowstorm on Tuesday to get here. His son was in a coma.

"I kind of feel he kept alive so I could get back to see him," the elder Kreutz said Wednesday.

Chris Kreutz said those who ran over his brother should turn themselves in.

A $20,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the conviction of the suspects. Starbucks Corp. contributed $10,000, which an anonymous donor matched.

The Seattle-based company said in a statement that Roger Kreutz "was a longtime regular Starbucks customer whose daily presence will be sorely missed by the many Starbucks partners who knew him."

A single rose, with a note offering prayers, stood in a vase on the coffee shop counter.

Disbelief reverberated throughout Crestwood.

Nate Van Laere, co-owner of the Panchero's Mexican Grill restaurant in the same shopping plaza as the Starbucks, called Kreutz's death "a fluke incident and a real tragedy."

"It just doesn't make any sense, and hopefully they'll get prosecuted," he said of the suspects.

Janice · 03-07-2008, 02:59 AM

AP
Roger Kreutz, left, appears in a surveillance video from a Starbucks in Crestwood, Mo., Monday. Moments later, the man on the right grabbed the tip jar from the counter and ran out the door, just behind a woman he was with in the shop. There was about $5 in the tip jar.

InspectorExstead · 03-07-2008, 03:49 AM

how tragic. this man goes in to get some coffee and loses his life. all over $5 worth of tip money? oy. such a shame. i feel so bad for his family. they didn't even get a chance to say goodbye to him.

i hope they catch the guy.

Mikado · 03-07-2008, 04:18 AM

Is that what a human life is worth, $5? Sickenning! It's time that the gvmt cracked down on violence in movies and TV and started teaching these kids about the consequences of their actions (Since it seems their parents arent doing it).

Janice · 03-07-2008, 06:47 AM

The poor man gave his life up, for what, nothing. I'm guessing that it was just an impulsive reaction on his part, and it happened so fast. Still, there's not a situation in the world where I would put up a struggle for money, and I certainly wouldn't chase the bad guys.

Just hand it over. If I worked in a store, bank, whatever, hand it over, even if I owned the store. Robbed at gunpoint, take my diamond, my purse, my car. Money or material goods are not worth jeopardizing your life over. There's so many nuts out there. Get out of their way. You run in the opposite direction of danger, unless of course, they've grabbed your child or something.

Brian Damage · 03-07-2008, 09:16 AM

What a tragedy...all over 5 bucks. I admire the man for trying to be a good samaritan though. It reminds me of a story that happened in my old neighborhood in Brooklyn.

A couple of men robbed a Bodega and a man tried to stop the theft and wound up in a struggle with one of the thieves. The thief's gun went off and killed the good samaritan. You just don't know what a robber has with him.

junecleaver · 03-07-2008, 03:22 PM

Thats so sad. You'd never expect anyone to kill you over $5. Its a shame, but now days we can't even be a good samaratin without fearing our life or getting beat up.

coffield3 · 03-07-2008, 04:18 PM

AB · 03-07-2008, 05:16 PM

So very sad.

Lee · 03-07-2008, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janice

The poor man gave his life up, for what, nothing. I'm guessing that it was just an impulsive reaction on his part, and it happened so fast. Still, there's not a situation in the world where I would put up a struggle for money, and I certainly wouldn't chase the bad guys.

Just hand it over. If I worked in a store, bank, whatever, hand it over, even if I owned the store. Robbed at gunpoint, take my diamond, my purse, my car. Money or material goods are not worth jeopardizing your life over. There's so many nuts out there. Get out of their way. You run in the opposite direction of danger, unless of course, they've grabbed your child or something.

As sad as this situation is, I have to agree with you. There is nothing in the
world that is worth risking your life over. Police will always tell you that if
you are a victim of armed robbery, do not resist. Give the person who is
robbing you anything and everything he wants. Your life is more important
than valuables. I do hope they capture these awful young men and that they
are prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Lee · 03-07-2008, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikado

It's time that the gvmt cracked down on violence in movies and TV and started teaching these kids about the consequences of their actions (Since it seems their parents arent doing it).

But some parents are doing a good job teaching their kids. Don't try to put
down all parents just because some don't do their job.

OH Nuts! · 03-08-2008, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janice

The poor man gave his life up, for what, nothing. I'm guessing that it was just an impulsive reaction on his part, and it happened so fast. Still, there's not a situation in the world where I would put up a struggle for money, and I certainly wouldn't chase the bad guys.

Just hand it over. If I worked in a store, bank, whatever, hand it over, even if I owned the store. Robbed at gunpoint, take my diamond, my purse, my car. Money or material goods are not worth jeopardizing your life over. There's so many nuts out there. Get out of their way. You run in the opposite direction of danger, unless of course, they've grabbed your child or something.

The whole thing is terrible just terrible. I hope they catch the bas**rds. It's one thing to be a disgusting thief stealing from counterpeople - but murder's a whole other story.

And of course you're right. You have to pick your battles. Unfortunately he was there, saw the injustice, and went with his adrelin. Poor guy. But who would have expected them to KILL him. You really do have to keep your wits about you these days...so many deeply disturbed, alienated and angry people out there - sigh, a true recipe for violence.

03-07-2008, 02:55 AM	#1
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	Man Dies After Trying to Stop Thieves Stealing a Starbucks $5 Tip Jar Police have asked for the public's help in identifying the suspects, above. There is a $20,000 reward for information leading to their conviction, half from Starbucks Corp. and half from an anonymous donor. Source: AP Watch Video: Tragedy at Coffee Shop Man Dies After Trying to Stop Thieves CRESTWOOD, Mo. (March 6) - Surveillance video from a Starbucks in a St. Louis suburb captures how Roger Kreutz's life changed in an instant. He stands in line behind a young man and woman at the coffee shop, where he's a regular customer. The young man fiddles with items on the counter while she orders a coffee, pays and heads out the door. The young man swipes the tip jar, and Kreutz, in the spur of the moment, gives chase. What happened next is not caught on tape. Police say the two suspects, with the young man behind the wheel of a 1990s white Ford Taurus, ran over the Good Samaritan in the parking lot. Kreutz, 54, died Wednesday at a hospital, two days after he was struck. "I don't claim to understand it," police Chief Mike Paillou said at a news conference. He said detectives are following up on leads but asked for the public's help in identifying the suspects. He did not know what provoked them - "fear, confusion, being young?" It's believed there was about $5 in the tip jar. Family members weren't surprised Kreutz went after the suspects. "He was just caring, loving, witty and extremely loyal," said his youngest brother, Chris Kreutz, 42. "That's how my brother is. I would have done the same thing." The Kreutz family owns the Holiday Inn and Viking Conference Center down the street from the Starbucks. Roger Kreutz was the oldest of five brothers, and he and Chris lived in separate, converted quarters inside the hotel. Roger often worked early and late hours, and took time in the afternoon to exercise with his brother, Chris Kreutz said. Their habit was picking up drinks at Starbucks. Chris Kreutz said he usually drank his iced latte before his workout, while his older, responsible brother waited until after he exercised. On Monday, he wondered what was keeping his brother, who had gone for the drinks. That's when he was called to the hospital. The brothers' father, Edward Kreutz Sr., was vacationing in Florida and hurried back to Missouri, fighting through a snowstorm on Tuesday to get here. His son was in a coma. "I kind of feel he kept alive so I could get back to see him," the elder Kreutz said Wednesday. Chris Kreutz said those who ran over his brother should turn themselves in. A $20,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the conviction of the suspects. Starbucks Corp. contributed $10,000, which an anonymous donor matched. The Seattle-based company said in a statement that Roger Kreutz "was a longtime regular Starbucks customer whose daily presence will be sorely missed by the many Starbucks partners who knew him." A single rose, with a note offering prayers, stood in a vase on the coffee shop counter. Disbelief reverberated throughout Crestwood. Nate Van Laere, co-owner of the Panchero's Mexican Grill restaurant in the same shopping plaza as the Starbucks, called Kreutz's death "a fluke incident and a real tragedy." "It just doesn't make any sense, and hopefully they'll get prosecuted," he said of the suspects.

03-07-2008, 03:49 AM	#3
InspectorExstead Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Oct 29, 2001 Location: The Golden State Posts: 12,902	how tragic. this man goes in to get some coffee and loses his life. all over $5 worth of tip money? oy. such a shame. i feel so bad for his family. they didn't even get a chance to say goodbye to him. i hope they catch the guy.
	__________________ They killed my sister because she asked: "Where is my vote?" http://sosiran.com/ http://tapeshhd.com/index.php Last edited by InspectorExstead; 03-07-2008 at 04:22 AM.

03-07-2008, 09:16 AM	#6
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	What a tragedy...all over 5 bucks. I admire the man for trying to be a good samaritan though. It reminds me of a story that happened in my old neighborhood in Brooklyn. A couple of men robbed a Bodega and a man tried to stop the theft and wound up in a struggle with one of the thieves. The thief's gun went off and killed the good samaritan. You just don't know what a robber has with him.
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

03-07-2008, 04:18 PM	#8
coffield3 <3 Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 23, 2006 Location: England Posts: 7,379
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03-07-2008, 02:59 AM	#2
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	AP Roger Kreutz, left, appears in a surveillance video from a Starbucks in Crestwood, Mo., Monday. Moments later, the man on the right grabbed the tip jar from the counter and ran out the door, just behind a woman he was with in the shop. There was about $5 in the tip jar.

03-07-2008, 04:18 AM	#4
Mikado Main st bridge Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 06, 2005 Posts: 25,892	Is that what a human life is worth, $5? Sickenning! It's time that the gvmt cracked down on violence in movies and TV and started teaching these kids about the consequences of their actions (Since it seems their parents arent doing it).

03-07-2008, 06:47 AM	#5
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	The poor man gave his life up, for what, nothing. I'm guessing that it was just an impulsive reaction on his part, and it happened so fast. Still, there's not a situation in the world where I would put up a struggle for money, and I certainly wouldn't chase the bad guys. Just hand it over. If I worked in a store, bank, whatever, hand it over, even if I owned the store. Robbed at gunpoint, take my diamond, my purse, my car. Money or material goods are not worth jeopardizing your life over. There's so many nuts out there. Get out of their way. You run in the opposite direction of danger, unless of course, they've grabbed your child or something.

03-07-2008, 03:22 PM	#7
junecleaver Member Senior Member Join Date: Jun 28, 2003 Location: i'm a southerner! :D Posts: 1,298	Thats so sad. You'd never expect anyone to kill you over $5. Its a shame, but now days we can't even be a good samaratin without fearing our life or getting beat up.

03-07-2008, 05:16 PM	#9
AB Member Eternal Member Forum Icon Join Date: Dec 26, 2006 Location: The South Posts: 59,428	So very sad.