My son dropped by for lunch today.
He told me he saw a lady at Times Supermarket Kaimuki shoplifting food.
He didn't say anything.  He gave me a good reason why he didn't say anything.

What would you do?

My son dropped by for lunch today.
He told me he saw a lady at Times Supermarket Kaimuki shoplifting food.
He didn't say anything.  He gave me a good reason why he didn't say anything.

What would you do?

Sorry, but as a citizen of the community where the store operates, it's our duty to help the stores survive this economy, too.  Additionally, that woman's freebies drive up the prices for the paying customers.

I would let the manager know and let them deal with it.

It's always easier to turn a blind eye, especially when it involves food.  But considering the amount of money the Gov't gives out for food, not to mention WIC and local missions and shelters, food banks and so on, it's hard to convince me someone is unable to find legit sources of food.

There is massive fraud and abuse of gov't systems.  People sell their Food Stamp/EBT credits for cents on the dollar so they can spend the cash on their favorite vice.  Then they steal food?  No thanks.  I have no sympathy when it's my taxes being used this way when the intention was to provide food.

Many businesses would actually give away their food to the hungry for free if the ones in need would simply ask.  Stealing is a crime and a sin, no matter ones rationalizations.

Google "restaurants offer free food for needy", and you'll see article after article showcasing the variety of places offering free or discounted food.  Chick-fil-A has a seat set aside for anyone, homeless or not, who can't afford a meal.  They can sit and enjoy their meal and experience the same courteous service every customer receives.  Of course, that's small compared to the other things CFA does to give back.

https://www.chick-fil-a.com/about/giving-back


When someone gives something they earned to another in need, that's charity.  When someone in need takes from those who earned it, that's theft. 

Give people the choice to do the right thing, and stealing is unnecessary.  Nobody owes anyone anything.

It's a slippery slope. Allow 1 person to shoplift, 2, 3...it adds up. not only in cost but our moral and ethical guidelines.

I’ve been noticing a lot more trails (as opposed to evidence) of what looks like people eating stuff inside the store and stashing the wrappers.

I’ve been noticing a lot more trails (as opposed to evidence) of what looks like people eating stuff inside the store and stashing the wrappers.

Yep. This has been a "thing" for decades.  I think it escalated from some people eating in the stores, then paying for what they took.  Once the shoppers figured out they weren't getting caught, paying became optional.

This was 9 years ago, but apparently happened at a Honolulu Safeway.  A stolen sandwich resulted in the couple's 2yo child being taken away.  Oh -- the woman that couldn't wait to pay before eating was pregnant and just "forgot to pay".   

https://jezebel.com/does-eating-in-the-grocery-store-count-as-stealing-5856328

I've seen people walking through grocery stores with produce that's sold by the pound, like grapes and bananas.  By the time they pay, the product is 1/2 the weight it was -- now 50% off $.

I bet the produce thieves never heard of rat lung worm, e coli  or pesticides.

My son dropped by for lunch today.
He told me he saw a lady at Times Supermarket Kaimuki shoplifting food.
He didn't say anything.  He gave me a good reason why he didn't say anything.

What would you do?

I grow food and give much of it away
or barter for "stuff".
The store cannot survive with a lot of "shrinkage".
Part of the reason our prices are so high is
people stealing stuff.
In America today nobody should
go hungry. 
The fact that you'd rather have a Pizza, rather
than scrambled eggs and fried potatoes
makes the difference between a hungry
person and a thief.

In America today nobody should
go hungry.  pay for stuff

Everyone regardless of race or the desire to earn - is entitled to free stuff - because America!

My son dropped by for lunch today.
He told me he saw a lady at Times Supermarket Kaimuki shoplifting food.
He didn't say anything.  He gave me a good reason why he didn't say anything.

What would you do?

Long ago when I was a teenager I worked at Foodland.  One day I was walking past the breakroom in the back and I saw our plain clothes security officer and he was with an old lady that he caught stealing.  The lady looked the same age as my mother.

I looked at the items she stole:  Rib-eye steaks and Lobster tails.

She was beyond embarrassed and I walked quickly away, trying to hide the tears welling up in my eyes.

I couldn't help but think that she had food to put on the table.  But maybe she was tired of the same old, same old but couldn't afford things that she longed to have.  Maybe it was one of her children's birthdays and she wanted something special.  Maybe she wanted to cook something wonderful for her husband, working 2 jobs to make ends meet.

I dunno what her reasons were for her to steal.  It's the items she stole that bothered me.  And my wild imagination.  Sometimes we are so desperate for things we cannot have or can't afford.

Anyway, stealing is wrong.  I'm the one that gets messed up when it comes to people stealing food.

  If it was something "modest" like bread, lunch meat aka a basic meal, I might talk to the person first and see why and for whom they are doing this and if truly a legit need, I'd probably pay for it and then some.
If it was "Rib-eye steaks and Lobster tails" definitely turn them in. 
   These are tough times for some and if you've been there you know that.
I always think of Hugo's Jean Valjean, one of my favorites. 

(Rant begins)
     But I've worked a few "Free Food for the Needy " and it pisses me off to see someone roll up in their brand new $60k-$70k Audi/Lexus etc... with the tinted windows rolled up or windows open so you can see the $1,000's of Hawaiian gold bracelets take a box of food     while the next vehicle, a rusted out 1995 corolla with a trunk that won't close rolling on a temp spare with 2 kids in ratty clothes in the back seat  and mom looks at you with true shame, humiliation and sincere gratitude.

Yep. This has been a "thing" for decades.  I think it escalated from some people eating in the stores, then paying for what they took.  Once the shoppers figured out they weren't getting caught, paying became optional.

This was 9 years ago, but apparently happened at a Honolulu Safeway.  A stolen sandwich resulted in the couple's 2yo child being taken away.  Oh -- the woman that couldn't wait to pay before eating was pregnant and just "forgot to pay".   

https://jezebel.com/does-eating-in-the-grocery-store-count-as-stealing-5856328

I've seen people walking through grocery stores with produce that's sold by the pound, like grapes and bananas.  By the time they pay, the product is 1/2 the weight it was -- now 50% off $.

I bet the produce thieves never heard of rat lung worm, e coli  or pesticides.

Yeah, I noticed it being a "thing" for decades as well.  I do think it's more common, or maybe I'm just more aware of the trails and evidence of it.  That and also see it outright happening.  When certain "types" come into the grocery stores, walk around for while, and then just walk out. 

  If it was something "modest" like bread, lunch meat aka a basic meal, I might talk to the person first and see why and for whom they are doing this and if truly a legit need, I'd probably pay for it and then some.
If it was "Rib-eye steaks and Lobster tails" definitely turn them in. 
   These are tough times for some and if you've been there you know that.
I always think of Hugo's Jean Valjean, one of my favorites. 

(Rant begins)
     But I've worked a few "Free Food for the Needy " and it pisses me off to see someone roll up in their brand new $60k-$70k Audi/Lexus etc... with the tinted windows rolled up or windows open so you can see the $1,000's of Hawaiian gold bracelets take a box of food     while the next vehicle, a rusted out 1995 corolla with a trunk that won't close rolling on a temp spare with 2 kids in ratty clothes in the back seat  and mom looks at you with true shame, humiliation and sincere gratitude.

The one's that bother me are the women in the new $60,000 4WD diesel crew cab trucks, wearing $1,000's in Hawaiian gold
bracelets using an EBT card in Foodland.

The fictional police Inspector Javert, is why most people don't like cops.
it just takes one to ruin trust.
Good book, Les Misérables.

  If it was something "modest" like bread, lunch meat aka a basic meal, I might talk to the person first and see why and for whom they are doing this and if truly a legit need, I'd probably pay for it and then some.
If it was "Rib-eye steaks and Lobster tails" definitely turn them in. 
   These are tough times for some and if you've been there you know that.
I always think of Hugo's Jean Valjean, one of my favorites. 

(Rant begins)
     But I've worked a few "Free Food for the Needy " and it pisses me off to see someone roll up in their brand new $60k-$70k Audi/Lexus etc... with the tinted windows rolled up or windows open so you can see the $1,000's of Hawaiian gold bracelets take a box of food     while the next vehicle, a rusted out 1995 corolla with a trunk that won't close rolling on a temp spare with 2 kids in ratty clothes in the back seat  and mom looks at you with true shame, humiliation and sincere gratitude.

.....
This is why my son did not say anything. He figured it was a small amount of food, not a iPad. She probably needed it.
He also observed a guy snacking while walking around.
FYI, my boy used to work Safeway loss prevention.
My coworker used to be an HPD dispatcher.
He said the stores don't really want to prosecute shoplifters because it's not worth the trouble.

The perceived desire of store owners/managers to prosecute shoplifters is neither here nor there.  At least give THEM the chance to make that call instead of making it for them.  Report the thief, and let the store handle it.

As I said, the paying customers wind up paying for the thefts.  As a matter of statistical fact, most people who get caught shoplifting had the money to buy what they stole on them.  So, it's difficult to claim poverty when it's obviously more about choices.

Tell whoever, the next time they see a shoplifter and decline to report it, just ask the person to put what they need in a basket and PAY FOR IT THEMSELVES.  It's always much easier to give away someone else's stuff/money than your own. 

As I said already, when you give something you own to the needy, that's charity.  When you take from someone without permission to give to the needy, that's theft. 

Situational ethics really bothers me sometimes.  Either you believe in not stealing, not killing and not lying, or you don't.  Witnessing a crime you don't report, no matter how small, is acting as an accomplice.  That's how people continue to get away with crap.  Few have the courage to stand up for the real victim.

Also, anyone stealing lobster and high-end cuts of meat may be planning to sell it and use the money for something besides food.  I'm sure the neighbors wouldn't mind a deep discount on some nice eats!

"Hey.  I bought some nice steaks for a birthday dinner tomorrow night but had to cancel.  Maybe you could help me out?"

I don't know how people who are not disabled use handicap parking stalls when they see people in wheel chairs missing legs and sh1t. No shame

I would like to think I would stop them but I think I would at the very least inform an employee.

I was once in Safeway and a kid about 12 years old tried to trip an old lady (she stumbled but recovered). I never yelled at the kid or even told the mother and now, years later, I still regret not saying something.

I would like to think I would stop them but I think I would at the very least inform an employee.

I was once in Safeway and a kid about 12 years old tried to trip an old lady (she stumbled but recovered). I never yelled at the kid or even told the mother and now, years later, I still regret not saying something.

The kid needed a good boot up his arse! Too bad it ain’t the old daze!

The kid needed a good boot up his arse! Too bad it ain’t the old daze!

I'm reminded of the old joke, "Oh, see that guy over there waving at us -- he's paying for both of us", then leave after waving at the shoplifter -- and getting him to wave back!   

I would like to think I would stop them but I think I would at the very least inform an employee.

I was once in Safeway and a kid about 12 years old tried to trip an old lady (she stumbled but recovered). I never yelled at the kid or even told the mother and now, years later, I still regret not saying something.

Are you a cop?

I would like to think I would stop them but I think I would at the very least inform an employee.

I was once in Safeway and a kid about 12 years old tried to trip an old lady (she stumbled but recovered). I never yelled at the kid or even told the mother and now, years later, I still regret not saying something.

One of my first memories of moving to Hawaii, was at a stop light.
a couple of kids were trying to jaywalk and screw with Traffic.
A Momma-san( Auntie) walked up and gave them a verbal "dressing down",
better than I could do.  I was prepared to react if the kids did
anything wrong.
They backed down, apologized, and behaved.
That was the day I knew I selected
a good place to spend my remaining days.
BI.

Are you a cop?

He can neither confirm nor deny ...