If you saw someone shoplifting..

[Rum]

..would you tell the store people or just ignore it on the basis that it was none of your business.

Or something else. And why?

[Animavore]

Ignore it.


None of my business.

[stripes4]

I would ignore it. Big stores are insured to the hilt and it's none of my business.

[electricwhiteboy]

Evil must be punished.

[maiforpeace]

..would you tell the store people or just ignore it on the basis that it was none of your business.

Or something else. And why?

If I saw someone shoplifting food I would offer to buy it for them.

Otherwise, for anything else, if I felt safe doing so I'd tell them that I saw them shoplifting something. That's it, no diatribe or opinions past that. Just knowing someone saw them might give them cause to think about what they are doing. Sure, the benefit is you can get something for free if you get away with it, but the penalty could turn your life into a nightmare. Getting arrested is fucked up and I don't wish misery on anyone. And, who knows, my mentioning it to them could be a turning point for them to not become a thief? Wishful thinking maybe, but I prefer to be hopeful.

I wouldn't go to the management about it though, I figure if they are stealing they already have enough issues to deal with, and getting them arrested is just making them more miserable than they already are unless they are psychopathic.

[Millefleur]

I tend to stay out of big chains, supermarkets etc so if I did see someone shoplifting it'd likely be from a small independent shop, market stall etc in which case I would say something IN A REALLY LOUD VOICE.

[Mallardz]

I think in most places such as supermarkets or large store chains. I wouldn't do anything it's not like they can't afford to take appropriate measures. In a smaller family or local store though I'd probably alert staff on hand if I could do so without being heard by the person doing it.

[Robert_S]

It depends on the store's relationship to the community. If the store is a big block on the edge of town that's killing the local businesses, then I'll do nothing except possibly block the camera if I feel like it.

If it's a locally owned store, especially an independent one, I'll either say something or give the person the most dismissive look I can muster.

[stripes4]

Actually, I think I would get them to pick something up for me too.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Costs are passed along to the consumer. You paid for that item. I don't care for freeloaders.

[devogue]

I would pull them about it. Always.

Having suffered at the hands of these vermin for the last 15 years I would like to see every last one of them prosecuted. The worst ever was a cunt who stole over £1,000 of high end stock from a business I ran five years ago - I had to replace it from my salary over a six month period before the next stock count.

As for the larger stores, their prices are genuinely inflated to cover the cost of shoplifting but who really pays? Not their shareholders, fuck no. Customers in the UK have to pay a premium, currently about £180 per family per year to cover the £4.4 billion cost incurred by these thieving bastards.

If you do see one - pull them about it. Honestly, they will do nothing to you because they are all opportunistic chicken-shit bastards, they are nothing like the really scary fuckers who commit armed robberies and the like.

[statichaos]

Nothing. I don't snitch under those circumstances.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Nothing. I don't snitch under those circumstances.

So where does the line get drawn for you? The thief doesn't play for the items, will you pay for yours?

[maiforpeace]

I'm sure if it was something of their own getting stolen, they might feel differently about 'snitching' or about someone else 'snitching' for them.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I'm sure if it was something of their own getting stolen, they might feel differently about 'snitching' or about someone else 'snitching' for them.

In point of fact, it is. The costs are passed on the consumer, so we pay for what is stolen and never get any benefit from it. This '60s hippie shit about "stickin' it to the man!" still doesn't work, the Man sticks it to someone else every time.