BROOMFIELD, Colo. -- Two college students who tackled a shoplifter at a Best Buy in Broomfield, Colo., have been fired.

Jared Bergstreser, 20, and Colin Trapp, 23, were fired Sunday, two weeks after they tried to stop a man fleeing the store at the FlatIron Marketplace, reported KMGH-TV in Denver.

"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," Trapp said.

"I just kind of reacted. I wasn't thinking about it and followed the guy out the front door and tackled him," Bergstreser said.

As Bergstreser was struggling with the thief on the ground, 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," Trapp said.

The man broke free and cut the store manager, who had come out to try to calm things down.

Witnesses saw the man with the knife and an accomplice get into a green car with a temporary tag.

No arrests have been made in connection with the theft, which occurred Aug. 1.

Trapp and Bergstreser said they feel they were wrongfully terminated for their actions on that day.

"It was just completely demoralizing," Trapp said. "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."

"I think I did what I believed was right," Bergstreser added.

Best Buy spokesperson Kelly Groehler told KMGH that the company won't talk about the termination of any employee.

Groehler did say "... that employees who work 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."

Groehler said the procedures are in place foremost for the safety of employees.

Bergstreser, who suffered minor cuts and bruises during the scuffle, had worked at the store for nearly three years.

He said he understands the company's concerns.

"By my doing that, it put other people in danger. Even myself. So I can definitely see why they would have reprimands for that," he said.

But Bergstreser said he doesn't think the reprimand should have been termination.

Police said that whenever you see a theft in progress, whether it's at a bank, a store or your own personal property, you shouldn't try to be a hero.

They said you should be the best witness you can be, get as much information as you can and call police promptly.