Shoplifting..... So desperate at Christmas

[stubbs0412]

Not me btw
Whilst waiting in supermarket queue someone was escorted out by the police...."shoplifters" says the cashier. "Well, people are just so desperate this time of year aren't they?" Says the person in front of me. I could feel myself actually agreeing, is this u? R my morals slipping? I honestly don't think I would report someone I saw shoplifting food either.

Me neither, or toys. I'd probably offer to buy the items for them.

Some people will do it because they are desperate, others because they can make a fortune on the blackmarket, especially on meat...

I think some people are desperate and I don't think I would report them. I know it means we as shoppers absorb the cost, etc but I just couldn't do it.

On the other hand some low lives steal gammon, razors, batteries, etc to sell so they can buy drugs.

I see all the lamb in Sainsburys is security tagged now.

But for all you know that joint of beef or Barbie is being sold on to fund a drug habit.

Because people shoplift we all pay more. Including people who are struggling. Most shoplifters sell it on anyway. I'm finding it difficult to 'understand', we seem to have one burglary a week down this road and I know many shop workers who have been assaulted when confronting shoplifters.

It's the ones that do it out of desperation that break my heart. To be pushed to do that, to feel there is no choice.......

I think it always goes on and people do steal to order, especially high value items like meat and then sell it on. However, I agree that more people will be driven to it through need.

My GM was a store detective back in the 60's and she followed a student around the store on Christmas eve. He stole a small turkey, a few vegetables, a tiny christmas pudding some cream and hid the items under a huge overcoat he was wearing. She almost didn't have the heart to stop him.

I don't think I would have the heart to report someone I thought was stealing food for need OP, although I may be tempted to offer to pay for their items though.

I don't know. Someone stealing a gift for their child as they are skint and desperate is different to the person stealing to sell on at a profit. Obviously stealing is wrong but I can understand the desperation some people will feel.

How did she know he was a student anyway?
Blighter probably had frittered his grant away on be like I did.

Well to my mind stealing is wrong unless it is food basic cheap food and it's that or starve, however that is a tiny minority of cases. "This time of year" is an absolutely pathetic excuse, Christmas is not an excuse for gluttony or materialism that you can't afford, the world will not end if you can't celebrate Christmas in any other way than sharing your love with the people you care about most. I'm sure the "don't judge" brigade will come after me with pitchforks like usual though.

Don't kid yourselves, plenty of habitual offenders steal food goods such as cheese to sell on the black market.

She found that out afterwards moondog but said she felt he was taking the smallest of everything, just to feed himself. Her most frequent offender was actually the wife of the local bank manager who certainly didn't do it out of need. She was never prosecuted though as the police turned a blind eye to her 'habit' because of who her husband was.

Stealing is always wrong no matter what the reason. There are charities that provide food for free for people who have none, so there really isn't any need to shoplift.

I would have more sympathy for someone stealing because they needed to eat, although it's still wrong. But someone stealing toys for presents is no more morally ok than stealing to buy designer trainers.

Ah student poverty. I used my grant to go on a big jolly to Florida

I caught one a few weeks ago that walked out with a bag of groceries. She then came back in a few minutes later and went up to the cigarette counter to buy her fags. Security checked the camera and she was arrested. No sympathy at all for her.

I would report them. I'm sure I'll get flamed for that but I would. "This time of year" is not an excuse. If you can't afford expensive Christmas food or gifts, don't buy them.

I do feel for people who can't afford a lot at Christmas (or in general, of course) but I don't like that it's the other shoppers who suffer with higher prices etc. I also wouldn't offer to buy for them because you never know whether they're genuinely skint or stealing stuff to make a profit somewhere.

How do you tell whether they need the items through desperation or because they are funding a drug habit or selling the stuff on? I have only known shoplifters who fit the last category.

I was once in the queue at Greggs when a bloke barged in front and tried to make off with a sandwich. He got nicked by a plain-clothed police officer. I still think of that day and wish I had been quicker to react and just bought the bloody sandwich for him. No-one should be arrested for nicking a pissing Greggs sandwich.

Loads of people steal meat and cheese round here and go round the pubs trying to sell it.

Bleugh.

It's sad that they have become almost luxury items.

The stuff is over priced anyway and asda make a huge profit. Arguably it is because of corporations like that that some people are so poor (not singling out asda, as it is probably one of the more 'ethical' supermarkets) but the profit motive ensures that there will always be some people who do not have enough to live on.

Asda is owned by Walmart. Not ethical at all...

ITcouldbeworse Perfume is small and easy to conceal. One bottle would pay for a lot more formula than you could hide under your jacket.
Which reminds me, can you still get vouchers for free formula?