More consumers, workers shoplift as economy slows

[sabra]

Source: USA Today

Lessened spending power 'breeds a lot of temptation'

One morning last month, the manager of a Stop & Shop in Methuen, Mass., noticed a man, along with his young daughter, leave the store without paying for several bags of shrimp. When police arrived, they found something else on him, too: 20 cans of baby formula.

Call it a sign of the times. Steadily and alarmingly, shoplifting seems to be rising at many retail chains, and experts are pointing at a prime cause: the sputtering economy.

"Wages aren't keeping up with inflation, especially the price of food and energy," says Diane Swonk, chief economist at Mesirow Financial. "It just leaves less money for everything else, and that breeds a lot of temptation."

Retail and law enforcement experts agree that they've seen an increase in store theft during the current slowdown — and not only from customers.

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20080619/shoplifting19.art.htm

[pattmarty]

1. It's happening at the gas stations also, "drive offs". I really am.....

........surprised that "our side" can't get out info like that when the economy slows, bad things happen to not just poor people but the middle class also. The "other side" gets out stories that stick like Obama is a Muslim and the latest by George "I am both smart & honorable" Will about the Chinese drilling in the waters off Cuba. We can't get out simple truths, but "they" can lie their goddamn asses off. One small hope is that now it looks like the pendulum is swinging back to the left although it is very little so far.

[Carnea]

2. I have more sympathy for the baby formula than frozen shrimp.

But either way wrong is wrong...

THat said stores don't do themselves any favors. I can't tell you how many times I have walked into a CVS or Walgreens and there was not on Employee apparent in the store. It's like a zombie movie in those places (In more ways than one)

[Codeine]

15. Don't.

Chances are extremely high (especially considering the number of cans involved) that the guy was stealing them because they are easily resold on the street rather than as a way to feed a baby of his own.

People steal from the store I work at all the time, and they are almost always capable of paying for it -- they just don't want to.

[yardwork]

18. If there is really an increase in shoplifting, it probably has to do with fewer employees.

Most people don't shoplift because they're starving, and most poor people don't shoplift.

Shoplifting is usually done by people with a compulsion to steal or as part of a crime ring. Either way, the fewer employees in the store, the greater the opportunity. Stores are cutting back on employees and customer service, creating an environment that makes it easier for shoplifters to do their thing.

[Xenotime]

20. Why is it wrong when a baby is suffering?

I should think there should be a program to help people who are struggling

[montanto]

3. Its gonna lead to more crime in the streets,

more break-ins, etc.

[tomreedtoon]

4. Thieves at the top means thieves at the bottom.

It isn't exactly a Robin Hood situation, or a <i>Less Miserables</i> situation either. It's more like the leaders of the nation set the personal morality of the nation. If the guys at the top are unapologetic crooks, well...

[NJCher]

5. rich people are stealing, too,. And being nervy about it.

Here's a story I sent via email to some of my gardening friends:

I was at my client's yesterday and they told me about a shoplifter caught on the security cameras. They have various scenes that show up on their computer screens inside the office. Sometimes when I'm waiting for one of them, I sit there and watch them but for never more than a few minutes because it's so boring and nothing ever happens.

The woman who stole all the stuff had her car parked right in the center of the lot and the cameras were thus able to show her license plate quite clearly.

She went on quite the shopping spree, getting plants, bamboo clothing, home decor items, numerous water sprinkling cans, you name it. Well over $550 worth of stuff. She puts it all in her car and drives off without it being rung up. Of course, someone inside watching the security cams spots her. By the time she gets home, the police in her home town are waiting for her, LOL. And she gets indignant about it!

So, in a huff, she tells the police she's going to call her brother, a lawyer. Oh and btw, this woman is a doctor from one of NJ's wealthiest towns. So she calls the brother, who then makes some calls to find out what the story is, and then he gets back to his larcenous sister and asks what are you, crazy? They don't even want to press charges; they just want you to pay for the stuff. So on his advice she gives them the money for the items she stole.

Now get this--since that time, she has been back!! Yes!!! To complain!! She complained that the water sprinkling cans leak!

Can you believe this? I nearly fell over with laughter and shock!

Oh and when they were looking at the security cameras, a couple of the sales staff came in and said, "Oh yeah, I remember her. She tied me up for about 10 minutes asking questions!"

So she is apparently quite the discriminating thief.



Cher

[eilen]

10. I have seen the same thing happen,

I think it is some kind of psychosis. Many years ago, I worked at Adams Fairacre Farms, it started as a farm stand but evolved into a more upscale fresh and gourmet grocer and garden store in the Hudson Valley. They have a fishmonger, a meat dept. a cheese and gourmet shop and deli as well as fresh produce and garden stuff.

During the Clinton years, a lady was busted numerous times stealing groceries and other stuff. She drove a late model luxury car and frequented the dayspa adjacent to the store. She was very wealthy but apparently felt that a. she should not have to wait in line and suffer personal contact with a cashier or that b. we owed it to her to allow her to take what she wanted as she was clearly our superior. We would often get white haired snooty moneyed customers but she was particularly obnoxious and would go up one side and down the other of the hapless employee who busted her. It made me wonder how she kept any help at home.

I worked in the deli, everyone wanted their deli meat sliced almost transparent thin but not shredded. No one ever said thank you except my boss. I felt like the Hudson Valley was inhospitable to regular people, (if you did not have money)--there was this attitude I had not encountered before. I was very glad to move back upstate.

While I was there IBM was shutting down. Since they had already sold off their manufacturing years ago (outsourcing to Manpower) as well as their clerical, it was mostly middle and upper management at first that were losing their jobs with large severance packages. Then they stopped the packages. Then they closed their "country club".

[PhiBetaCretin1]

14. Yes, psychosis

Yes, I believe you're right about it being psychosis-related when it's done by "rich" people like these two examples. Could be there are problems going on at home, or just mental illness of whatever causality. It's fun to make fun of someone whose behavior seems wacko, but it's probably not a demonstration of selfishness or arrogance on their part. And in these two cases, I doubt it has anything to do with the economy (unless someone's executive husband just got pink-slipped, and panic took over...)

[Spock_is_Skeptical]

19. wow.... that is hilarious

what a sense of entitlement that woman has.

[kestrel91316]

6. I can see shoplifting baby formula. But SHRIMP???

Was he born with that sense of entitlement or did he have to take special lessons??

Jeebus H. Christ. I can't afford shrimp very often so I EAT OTHER STUFF.

[Lost4words]

7. If it was frozen pre-cooked shrimp, all that is needed is thawing.

so if you dont have access to a stove it can work out quite well. Like if your home is under a bridge.
If you have to steel to eat, might as well get something you enjoy, yes/no.

Dont be so quick to point the entitlement finger, you may be in his position before you know it!

I guess you feel the real victim here is the store owner.

8643

[Carnea]

8. Actuality the victim is regular people who have to pay more for food

because of these thieves.

And yes I too have not purchased shrimp recently because of the cost.

[slampoet]

12. I work in the food business. Spoilage is 100 times the losses compared to theft,

All this talk about theft is moot and designed to turn us against each other.


Those of you who are concerned about theft, How much do you donate to local food banks?

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure and i get a tax write off too.

[kestrel91316]

9. I own a business. I don't think highly of people who presume

wrongly that I am rich, and feel free to steal from me (by obtaining services and then bouncing a check, for instance).

[Codeine]

16. Absolutely.

Guess what, folks -- most little markets are having as much trouble making ends meet as you are right now. Ain't nobody in the grocery industry riding high right now.

[slampoet]

11. So you would go to jail for stealing RAMEN?

Stop being the kind of person who can't see others point of view.



When you are forced to steal for food like I was the 1989-1991- recession, you steal HEALTHY GOOD food.


What you can afford to buy has NOTHING to do with it.

[Codeine]

17. Shrimp is not healthy, good food. nt

[flashl]

13. America #2, the invisibles (yesteryears working-poor), pool is increasing and

claiming new citizens who still cling to the title of middle-class.