Neon ,

yes i did

dumbass ,
@dumbass@leminal.space avatar

I see people stealing food all the time at my work, I just give them a nod and mind my own fuckin business, I just want to go home.

Neon ,

believe it or not, but i have absolutely 0 Problems with that. If you wanna do that, then please do it.

But i won't do the same.

Kusimulkku ,

Here it's often junkies stealing expensive meats and cheese to sell. I probably wouldn't say anything but I don't really give a shit if they get caught either.

rockyTron ,

Who is buying expensive meats and cheeses from a junkie? That doesn't add up.

austinfloyd ,

Have you never been approached by a weird dude at a gas station who is selling "fresh" meat out of a cooler in the trunk of his car?

We live in very different places. (Not sarcasm, this has happened to me about a dozen times)

rockyTron ,

Lol no absolutely not, I would be so weirded out by that situation.

loudWaterEnjoyer ,
@loudWaterEnjoyer@lemmy.dbzer0.com avatar

Please tell me where you live lol this is so fucking weird

psud ,

I'm not in a position to tell if someone can afford to eat. They might look like they're employed or be dressed expensively, but people can fall on hard times suddenly

So I'm not going to report anyone for anything except crimes against individuals

FatCat ,
@FatCat@lemmy.world avatar

Thats what food banks are for. Theft is illegal and unethical.

GarlicToast ,

Letting people starve is worse, throwing food and faking shortages to raise prices should be punished by death.

Emerald ,

I agree as long as the death part is a joke

FlyingSquid ,
@FlyingSquid@lemmy.world avatar

Let's see... I'm starving and impoverished. I could steal some fresh, nutritious food or I could go to the food bank and have an expired can of creamed corn.

You're right, food bank.

FatCat ,
@FatCat@lemmy.world avatar

Choosing beggar hypothetical.

FlyingSquid ,
@FlyingSquid@lemmy.world avatar

Hypothetical? I take it you've never gotten food from a food bank.

FatCat ,
@FatCat@lemmy.world avatar

Sounds a lot like projection... How many times have you gotten food from a food bank? Very curious to know
🙂

FlyingSquid ,
@FlyingSquid@lemmy.world avatar

Let me go check my 'how many times in my life have I eaten food from a food bank' tally to make sure I have an accurate count and get back to you.

FatCat ,
@FatCat@lemmy.world avatar

Ahh so you will avoid the question. Good one buddy

FlyingSquid ,
@FlyingSquid@lemmy.world avatar

You asked me how many times and you don't want an accurate number?

FatCat ,
@FatCat@lemmy.world avatar

Well you could say a few or a couple dozen. But seeing you keep on doging the question I will assume you are just typing these comments for your own entertainment never having experienced food insecurity.

FlyingSquid ,
@FlyingSquid@lemmy.world avatar

I could, but you asked me how many times. Either you want to know how many times or you don't. If you don't, you shouldn't have asked.

FatCat ,
@FatCat@lemmy.world avatar

It's pretty messed up that you discuss and argue about poverty from your position of wealth and comfort, without actually experiencing any of those hardships firsthand. Check your privilege before you act like an authority on issues you've never actually faced.

FlyingSquid ,
@FlyingSquid@lemmy.world avatar

My position of wealth and comfort?

I think you have me confused with someone else.

I just checked my bank balance. It's $281.30. I suppose you could include my savings account though. That has $200. It's for emergencies.

webadict ,

The only way you think stealing to live is unethical is if you value property more than life.

linkhidalgogato ,

how is stealing from a corporation unethical exactly.

Trollception ,

What if they are stealing from a mom and pop farmers market?

linkhidalgogato ,

i presume u are admitting that stealing from a corporation is ethical then?

graymess ,

I agree with the titties.

Aggravationstation ,

All glory to the hypno tits!

Kolanaki ,
@Kolanaki@yiffit.net avatar

Shit if they're stealing a TV from major corporate retailer that has pushed out all the local competition: I didn't see that shit, either.

Oh and people who need baby formula from Walmart: The locks used on those cabinets use a universal key. Obtain one and even if they lock up the baby formula, you can still get it. Even if you intend to pay, it's a time saver if your Walmart is like mine and nobody ever shows up to assist you at the locked cabinets.

dubyakay ,

The health and baby stuff sections are like "am I even in the same store?"

damnedfurry ,

You think you're hurting the corporation, but you're hurting its employees. If a location becomes unprofitable because of too much theft, it just closes, and now all those people are out of a job because of entitled thieves' greed.

Also, the formula is locked up because people steal it to turn a profit fencing it, not to feed anyone who needs it out of the goodness of their heart.

Syltti ,

Those people being out of a job could very well be a blessing in disguise. If you work in retail long enough, you know what this means.

Blackrook7 ,

Oh yeah, I agree. Those "jobs" they provide are burden on the taxpayers, as well as driving out small businesses.

damnedfurry ,

Those people being out of a job could very well be a blessing in disguise.

I'd bet anything you don't have the guts to say this horseshit to one of their faces.

cae ,

He doesn't have to. I worked in retail before and I felt like celebrating after I quit.

Emerald ,

It's not the thieves fault that people need to sell their soul to a corporation to live.

FatCat ,
@FatCat@lemmy.world avatar

Ahh yes moral licensing. The finest of ethical theories...

RubberElectrons ,
@RubberElectrons@lemmy.world avatar

The rest of us proceed forward, and you are ignored, as usual. 😎

FatCat ,
@FatCat@lemmy.world avatar

When there are no real arguments to support your dribble 🙄😬

RubberElectrons ,
@RubberElectrons@lemmy.world avatar

😎

DrSteveBrule ,

I use to work at a grocery store and for every food item that was stolen, dozens more of the same product was thrown out for being past expiration. Like many companies they want the shelves to be full at all times, which means they over produce and order product. Nothing was recycled or donated, just straight into the trash. If I ever saw anyone stealing while I was working, I just saw it as less work I has to do with taking count and throwing out food later. Plus someone actually got to eat it!

EnderMB ,

What?

I've watched people shoplift food several times, and they weren't poor people just looking to eat. I watched someone run out of a M&S store and into an awaiting car with a huge bag full of meat around Christmas time, probably several hundred pounds worth.

If someone was stealing a loaf of bread or something for themselves, I didn't see a thing, but let's not pretend that people aren't stealing to make some money. Lots of people steal stuff to resell, or because they're just dicks...

SphereofWreckening ,

Don't really care about some corporations losing out on their margins after nickel and diming everyone as high as they possibly can. Especially if the end result is someone or multiple people eating.

Kusimulkku ,

Here they've had shittier protections against shoplifting, no bags to shops and whatnot because junkies kept stealing expensive meats and cheese to sell. It sucks. Here they're even given money to live on, housing, free food and whatnot. Hasn't stopped it.

SphereofWreckening ,

junkies

What a disgusting dehumanizing term. Drug addiction is a much greater issue that needs more than reactionary remarks and actions to solve. A good number are literally that desperate for money because they'll literally die from withdrawals without whatever it is they're addicted to. And so long as they're being non-violent then I empathize with their struggle.

Again, I don't at all care about some large corporate store getting stolen from. Actions like banning bags and whatnot mean little in the face of human suffering.

Kusimulkku ,

Narkomaani -> narkkari, narkkari -> junkie. For me it's a shorthand rather than an attempt to make them feel bad about it.

A good number are literally that desperate for money because they’ll literally die from withdrawals without whatever it is they’re addicted to

We have fairly extensive benefits programs (money, housing, programs for addiction, mental health, many sorts) but the thing about drug addiction is that it drains all the money you have. That's why so often addicts are also stealing stuff to get more money for drugs. Sucks for them but also sucks for others who get their shit stolen. Especially bikes get stolen a lot by junkies. And sucks that because of the stealing some stores are having harder time justifying the expenses, which can lead to shops closing. I don't think it's ever been the sole reason here but it has been one of the reasons.

Again, I don’t at all care about some large corporate store getting stolen from. Actions like banning bags and whatnot mean little in the face of human suffering.

It sucks as a shopper that things are worsening because of stealing. And it's a co-op I was thinking of so it's not really that sort of faceless corporation. I just voted in the co-op elections, actually.

It would be easier to empathize if they were stealing to eat instead of getting more money for drugs. Or if we had the US style system where benefits and social programs barely exist. But that's not the case.

SphereofWreckening ,

If people are stealing for drugs then it means that the system in place isn't meeting their current needs. The problem for a lot of addicts is that they either steal and cheat for drugs or die. Withdrawals literally have the capability to kill addicts. I don't believe in any circumstance we should be holding money ahead of human lives.

It's a shame when people are stolen from, but it's a tragedy when people die. And a system that doesn't allow an avenue for actual recovery is a failed system.

Kusimulkku ,

If people are stealing for drugs then it means that the system in place isn’t meeting their current needs.

I don't know what I'd honestly add on top of what we now have in Finland. Housing, money, food programs, clean needles, addiction programs, programs to manage your life, all sort of stuff. What would you change or add?

The problem for a lot of addicts is that they either steal and cheat for drugs or die. Withdrawals literally have the capability to kill addicts.

We have free replacement drugs available to addicts. So you could get that for your withdrawals without having to steal. But many steal instead. Not sure how I'd change the system to get them to pick the replacement drugs instead of stealing.

And a system that doesn’t allow an avenue for actual recovery is a failed system.

What about the system in Finland doesn't allow for actual recovery?

SphereofWreckening ,

Drugs in general are still illegal to possess and use under Finnish law. You need to decriminalize drug use before you can actually tackle it since it's a health/psychology issue when it comes to the individual.

It's hard to seek out proper help when you're worried that you'll be arrested/fined just for being an addict.

EnderMB ,

This isn't Robin Hood. These are two guys that clearly wanted to steal food at a peak time to sell it elsewhere. The same number of people are eating, possibly less so because these guys are probably flogging their stolen shit in a pub somewhere and will likely dump what they can't sell.

This place is so weird sometimes. I don't know if it's a Lemmy or American thing, but this kind of stuff is pretty common in the UK...

SphereofWreckening ,

Grocery stores dump hundred of pound of still edible food into the garbage each and every day. And no one is eating less because of thefts from the grocery store. The main reason people are starving right now is because their grocery bill spiked and extra $100-200 for absolutely no reason other than pure greed that they were able to blame on "inflation".

Your problem isn't with the addicts, its with the system that is ever antagonistic towards its people. Addicts can be hard people to deal with, but they're still people. Now obviously if they're acting violently there's no excuse for action like that. But if they're just taking food why should I care?

UnderpantsWeevil ,
@UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world avatar

let’s not pretend that people aren’t stealing to make some money

When you rob one grocery store of a 10 lb brisket, its called shoplifting.

But when you rob every grocery store of 10% of their net revenue, its called paying your shareholders a dividend.

Kusimulkku ,

You can give a shit about two things at once. Imagine that lol.

UnderpantsWeevil ,
@UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world avatar

Both the mountain and the mole hill are important features of the landscape

art ,
@art@lemmy.world avatar

but let’s not pretend that people aren’t stealing to make some money.

Perhaps it's safe to say they're poor. Poor people often don't have enough money. Still sounds like a job of desperation.

damnedfurry ,

Desperation to avoid getting a real, legal job, maybe.

Perhaps it’s safe to say they’re poor.

It is not. I've seen these scumbags' subreddit, I've seen their Tumblr tags. They're not poor, they're just scumbag thieves.

An actual poor person stealing necessities because they have no other choice does NOT have this ridiculous entitled mindset.

FlyingSquid ,
@FlyingSquid@lemmy.world avatar

You believe in "welfare queens," don't you?

FuglyTheBear ,

"avoid"

FlyingSquid ,
@FlyingSquid@lemmy.world avatar

It's amazing, isn't it, that there are people out there who think that poor people enjoy it for the benefits...

damnedfurry ,

Please, everyone knows the vast majority of you thieves and those cheering them on aren't even poor, you're just immoral scumbags who feel entitled to the things you steal. I've seen the subreddit, I've seen the Tumblr tags. You're not fooling me, trying to mix yourselves in with those stealing because they have no other way to survive.

FlyingSquid ,
@FlyingSquid@lemmy.world avatar

Very immoral, unlike those huge moral corporations who just want what's best for everyone...

GarlicToast ,

You don't know that the person owned the car. Breed is not nutrients rich. People can't live on breed.

FlyingSquid ,
@FlyingSquid@lemmy.world avatar

I watched someone run out of a M&S store and into an awaiting car with a huge bag full of meat around Christmas time, probably several hundred pounds worth.

And yet Google tells me that M&S has a revenue of £11.93 billion.

So why are you caring about them losing a few hundred of that?

EnderMB ,

Because others can't buy meat because some bellends wanted to steal it to sell during Christmas?

I don't give a fuck about M&S losing profit. I do give a fuck about obvious crime that puts people out...

KairuByte ,
@KairuByte@lemmy.dbzer0.com avatar

Are you unaware of the amount of meat that gets thrown out by grocery stores? In the US, it’s billions of pounds a year.

I highly doubt they ran out of the store with an amount that did more than make someone’s job easier that night, or force someone to pivot their dinner to a different cut of meat.

Like, I get it. I do. It’s a lot of money, and it’s against the law. But the idea that someone is going to go hungry because of the action is ridiculous.

GlitterInfection ,

Unless you live where I do, where people steal mass amounts of junk food from convenience stores and then resell it at the nighttime markets to our struggling, marginalized, population of unhoused folks at an exploitative mark-up.

Because that is actively harming me, and the community I live in.

Though even with all that, confronting or reporting them isn't helpful. But if asked, and I saw it, I would say so.

melpomenesclevage ,

nah still fine. if its cheaper than corpo prices, and nobody but corporate ghouls loses, why risk hurting someone over that?

GlitterInfection ,

They sell it at higher prices to the mentally ill and drug addicted people who are at those markets which are usually referred to as "open air drug markets." I don't like that term but it may give you reference to how this harms the community, though.

melpomenesclevage ,

what's wrong with drugs?

UnderpantsWeevil ,
@UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world avatar

Hey, this is a thread about supporting shoplifters not price gougers.

WamGams ,

In the self checkout I watched a man with his children have his card rejected, so he just walked out with the food.

The security guards came up to ask me if I knew what way the man went.

I pointed up in the air to the security camera dome and said, "he sort of went that way, boys."

BonesOfTheMoon OP ,

Can't jack the prices and not expect consequences.

Xtallll ,
@Xtallll@lemmy.blahaj.zone avatar

If you see someone shoplifting, remember it isn't your job to deal with it, stores pay security for that. getting involved is providing free labor to the company, and they get enough of that through wage theft.

masquenox ,

If you see someone shoplifting food anything, no you didn't.

FTFY.

stebo02 ,
@stebo02@lemmy.dbzer0.com avatar

even if you did, what would you gain from reporting it? triumph?

masquenox ,

If I wanted to victimize poor people to protect billionaire parasites I'd join their taxpayer-funded gang of rapists, murderers and torturers over at the local cop-shop.

frickineh ,

None of these companies are worried about me when they jack their prices up while people are struggling. I don't know why I would ever give a shit about them. I'm just here to buy moisturizer and stay in my lane.

LaLuzDelSol ,

Theft does make prices go up though, you know? It also makes stores close in underserved communities.

frickineh ,

Cool, still not my problem. They can hire people to care about it, I'm not ratting people out. And let's be real, a lot of those companies lie and blame theft for higher prices and store closures and then it turns out they're actually full of crap. Target got caught doing that like 5 minutes ago.

Riven ,
@Riven@lemmy.dbzer0.com avatar

See you're assuming they wouldn't jack up the prices even without theft, as someone who studied business it's literally taught to see how far you can push before the breaking point. line go up. It does suck in undeserved communities but there's not much we can do, people in those communities often vote against their best interest.

LaLuzDelSol ,

The breaking point, though, is the point when consumers will look to alternatives, e.g. a different store. As long as there are other options available, competition does usually do a decent job of keeping prices down.

voracitude ,

And companies in a free market would never, ever collude to keep prices high in the face of that very competition you think will keep prices down, right? In fact that's exactly what we're seeing right now, is prices being kept down by the absolutely healthy competition in the Canadian grocery market, right?

Grimy ,

Prices go up regardless of wage increases or thefts. Prices are coupled with only one thing and that is corporate greed.

melpomenesclevage ,

if the community couldn't afford it, they were being exploited not served. dont pretend these people are being supported by these corporations.

if the prices go up, you should steal too. market pressures, babe.

if this isnt sustainable, then let's build guillotines and do something else.

BonesOfTheMoon OP ,

Here is some of the Loblaws grocery store markup that was leaked. https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/cb7dc4c5-a9c3-48c0-86cf-f055c6080fed.jpeg

Roldyclark ,

If I saw someone shoplifting anything I wouldn’t lol none my business

breadsmasher ,
@breadsmasher@lemmy.world avatar

devils advocate: what if that person stealing a sandwich turned out to be convicted murderer Robert Durst

On November 30, Durst was caught inside a Wegmans supermarket in BethlehemPennsylvania, after trying to shoplift Band-Aids, a newspaper, and a chicken salad sandwich, despite having $500 in cash in his pocket.

Pulptastic ,

I am less inclined to confront an actual murderer. So my answer is nope and noper.

Skua ,

Then I sure as fuck don't want to risk a confrontation with a murderer over a supermarket sandwich

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