Why Do People Steal?

I work in a large grocery store and am constantly amazed at how many people steal from us. Thieves transcend ethnic, age, and socioeconomic bounds, but I would say that the vast majority of them are poor.Whats wrong with these people? Even if they believe that Robin Hood would do the same thing to corporate behemoths, they need to realize that some of us depend on our livelihood from these giant Corporations, and that they are essentially stealing from us.Note: I am assuming for the sake of this topic that any of us at EvC could be secret shoplifters...so speak out as if you were one. Tell me what got inside your head that said that it was ok to steal?
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The store I work at loses $300.00 a day, and we estimate that its probably a core group of 30 people or so that steal most of it. I can't wait until they get caught! Edited by Phat, : added features

Fun & Profit.

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Anyone so limited that they can only spell a word one way is severely handicapped!

You think stealing from grocery stores is evil, how about libraries? Last I checked we lost between 50 and 100 books a year where I work now and almost 400 a year at New Mexico Tech. What the hell? we loan them for free.It's like stealing from a church or orphanage to me, but I guess some have a different outlook on things.ABE - last year someone swiped our KJV Bible right out of reference.Edited by anglagard, : No reason given.

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Read not to contradict and confute, not to believe and take for granted, not to find talk and discourse, but to weigh and consider - Francis BaconThe more we understand particular things, the more we understand God - Spinoza

I've (alone or with other coworkers) personally caught or deterred about 6-8 shoplifters or scammers.Most people steal because they want stuff and don't want to pay for it, or they want to run a scam of returning product that they didn't pay for to get money. The latter seem to be people wanting money for drugs, alcohol, or gambling.The former are simply selfish opportunists who don't think about how they hurt other people by their actions.The shoplifters' behavior is no different, in my mind, that the behavior of WalMart executives towards their employees.

Does the "we" that does the estimating do their share of stealing too?

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“If you had half a brain, wouldn't you have realized after the second time, that it was you, not God?” -- riVeRraT (see context here)“The endearing controvertist! One needs to become acute in the ploys of his kind.” -- ThreeDogs

They aren't stealing from you for political reasons, Phat. They are stealing from you so they can have something for nothing, like all thieves. When I was about 12-14 years old, I used to shoplift small items routinely from a certain store. I did it because I was young and stupid, and did not understand the full scope of what I was doing.But I certainly still knew that it was wrong, and so does every one else, which is why they try and conceal their actions.I, personally, knew that nothing was "ok" for me to steal.

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“First dentistry was painless, then bicycles were chainless, and carriages were horseless, and many laws enforceless. Next cookery was fireless, telegraphy was wireless, cigars were nicotineless, and coffee caffeineless. Soon oranges were seedless, the putting green was weedless, the college boy was hatless, the proper diet -- fatless. New motor roads are dustless, the latest steel is rustless, our tennis courts are sodless, our new religion -- Godless” -Arthur Guiterman

I think the more interesting question is "why do people not steal?"

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Let's end the political smears

How much do you folks charge for a gallon of milk? Loaf of bread? Can of soup?

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Beware the Jabberwock, my son!

Tell me about? I just spent like 30 dollars this morning for those 3 items. But then again, I do live in Southern California, so... I guess that's the price I pay for a temperate climate.

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“First dentistry was painless, then bicycles were chainless, and carriages were horseless, and many laws enforceless. Next cookery was fireless, telegraphy was wireless, cigars were nicotineless, and coffee caffeineless. Soon oranges were seedless, the putting green was weedless, the college boy was hatless, the proper diet -- fatless. New motor roads are dustless, the latest steel is rustless, our tennis courts are sodless, our new religion -- Godless” -Arthur Guiterman

No one thinks of the little stuff taken home from the office as stealing.It is amazing what people will take instead of just buying their own.I tend to take my own stuff to the office. (They never buy purple stuff. )

Inspector Javert, I presume?

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I know a lady who admits to stealing from the same supermarket for at least ten years; from steaks to cigarettes. She is affluent and considers shoplifting a challenge and not a moral issue. After ten years she finally got caught stealing cigarettes. She is banned from the store forever and claims to feel humiliated for getting caught.Then there is the ex-owner of the Los Angeles Kings - Bruce McNall. He served several years in a federal prison for stealing 70 to 100 million dollars from the Bank of America. Since he stole from the Bank of America I do not view him as a thief since the Bank of America steals from us legally every single day. But McNall is repentant.From time to time you will see a cable documentary about persons who steal from Las Vegas casinos. Absolutely fascinating program! The ruses and tricks used to beat the house is almost unbelievable to say the least. It appears that these persons feel that stealing from the casinos is a challenge and the same is not a moral issue.Then we have Darwinists who think it nothing to steal the credit of creation and appearance of design and give it to their wacko ideas (natural selection). Again, these thieves have no conscience whatsoever.Theft and its rationale is everywhere.Ray

How could one steal "the appearance of design?" This may be the stupidest thing I have ever seen posted in this forum.Edited by anglagard, : caps

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Read not to contradict and confute, not to believe and take for granted, not to find talk and discourse, but to weigh and consider - Francis BaconThe more we understand particular things, the more we understand God - Spinoza

Darwinists say their idea (natural selection) produces the appearance of design, not invisible Designer (= theft & plagiarism).Ray

I'm just gonna go ahead and say what I know we are all thinking:

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Beware the Jabberwock, my son!