Shoplifting Soars As Economy Tumbles

Richard R. Johnson is the first to admit it was a bad idea.

Recently laid off from a job building trailers in Elkhart, Ind., Mr. Johnson came up a dollar short at Martin's Supermarket last month when he went to buy a $4.99 bottle of sleep medication. So, "for some stupid reason," he tried to shoplift it and was immediately arrested.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[bittertooth]

My wife was arrested on shop-lifting charges in Beverly Hills, California. My wife, in a desperate attempt to illustrate the, "Hard-Goth Life" (R), 2001, of the people of Spokane; she, Ms. One, made a desperate plea, to improve her self image.

She stood accused of stealing $5,500 worth of designer clothes and accessories at a Saks Fifth Avenue stores.

[Fabini]

Psst...I didn't pay a dime for this blog...

[Retrofuturistic]

I was driving down the street with a child's plastic swimming pool tied to the top of my car. The wind blew it off and some guy in a pickup truck stopped and picked it up. I thought he was going to help me, but then he threw it in his truck and sped off.

[Retrofuturistic]

What about the stealing that our own government is doing, in terms of the bailout? Huh?

I do not happen to be a shoplifter, but I am sick of all the social engineering and behavior modification I am subjected to when I shop. In one store I was "greeted" 23 times. It's very disgusting when 23 people say, "Hello, how are you?" and you have to answer them all, when you know what they're really saying is "Are you stealing something?" or "I am watching every move you make".

Shopping used to be fun. Now it's an ordeal I do not want to endure. I think I will just keep my money, what's left of it. Why should I give it to a robbing corporation anyway?

[poster1122]

You can blame the economy for people who steal food and other essentials. Fine. I'd tend to be lenient with those folks too.

But for stealing CDs and designer clothing?

[poster1122]

Shoplifting food, essentials is one thing. I'd tend to be rather lenient on those.

But CDs and designer clothing? The economy is rough and so I can't afford these things anymore. So, it's now the economy's fault that I choose to steal them instead of going without? Or George Bush's fault? WTF?

[devans00]

No one should be surprised at the topic of this article. Everywhere you look, we are bombarded with ads to buy more material goods. So when people can no longer afford to participate in buying stuff, they feel desperate enough to take it.

[BPCentrisAmerican]

Merry Christmas in George Bush's America, theft up, abortion up, unemployment way up, foreclosures up, homelessness up, lack of confidence in government and financial systems up, violent death up, national and public debt up, anxiety about the future up, business failures up, etc. etc. etc.

[dagnome27]

Heckuva job, Bushie! NOT!

[kimleehan]

I remember when the security guards in Houston chased the shoplifter out into the street were he was hit and killed, for stealing pampers for his baby, but look at the good side, the baby never has to go without after the baby's mother sued the mall.

[poster1122]

I'm sorry for the mother's loss, but I hope she lost the suit.

As a matter of principle, the victim of a crime should be able to give chase to the criminal. What are victims supposed to do, let all theft go because some victims might have sympathetic stories?

Moreover, the thief was the one who ran into the street. He not only endangered himself but also the other people in traffic and on the street. What if some driver had swerved to avoid him and hit you or your loved ones instead?

[JRsNana]

Inevitable.

[kimleehan]

Their just looking for a little five finger discount.

[Gumby123]

Thank God we're not in Saudi Arabia where they cut off hands for shoplifting.

[bbridges1962]

Yes, when I was in Jubail, I witnessed a public lashing on the town square. All of the local natives were dressed in their best sheets and veils.

[Rog49Thomas]

Security warning: Jean Valjean spotted in Mall of Americas.

Use all means, including deadly force, to apprehend.

[loki]

But if you listen to the Ivy Greed "experts" dribble , there is no direct corolation between loss of jobs , a poor economy and theft.

[KarateKid]

I guess someone who shoplifts has answered the question in his/her mind, but I wonder what they're thinking while their kids open the presents they stole......?

[loki]

maybe they are thinking. At least my kids will have christmas this year. You could always think of it as a bail out program for the poor.

[poster1122]

Apparently, they think their kids getting a few toys that they'll forget soon enough is more important than teaching them about ethics for Christmas.