To be horrified that people steal from charity shops?

[namechangetocover]

I shouldn't be surprised, a neighbour used to steal from clothing banks but I am.

I started volunteering at a charity shop this morning - one that's got outlets nationally. Started talking with one of the more senior staff as I was sorting out clothing. She was talking about how they needed to get some menswear out on the front and I asked if people tend to donate less of that - I'd noticed endless ladies stuff but hardly anything for men, if at all.

She said they generally get less but when they do, it's all designer. "It flies out the door," she said. I remarked on how good that was - and then she said that it's only good when the stuff's been paid for..

She added that a few CDs had been taken the day before, only to be found dumped a few yards away - they were obviously a tad peeved to realise that the CD cases were empty!

I also had to read a wee guide to working in the shop - a section of which detailed how to cope with irate customers and how to deal with shoplifters, how to spot them.

I understand desperation to an extent, I grew up in a house where my father wouldn't allow us to buy clothing and we got access to "clothes grabs" from the social work, they'd tip out black bags on the floor in the social work dept. and encourage mums to take what they needed.

I can also understand people shoplifting food, drinks, etc.

But in this case - as my colleague told me - we are not talking about cheap stuff, food or baby clothes or anything like that. Rather, she said, the nice designer stuff and the video games go first.

What makes people do such a thing? I'm trying to imagine that people nick out of desperation and are taking the best thing that they can sell on but I think that's "wishful" thinking..

Am I daft/unreasonable to be horrified that people would take stuff from a charity shop?! I'm not even going to mention the fact that people were willingly donating soiled, stained, ripped and holey clothes...

[Babyroobs]

I work in a hospice and we had a charity collection stolen from the snack bar by a patient !!