'Extreme Couponing' Spurs Rise In Newspaper Thefts

The popularity of "extreme couponing" is contributing to a rise in newspaper thefts across the country, according to Romenesko.

Police, supermarkets and newspapers have reported thefts of newspapers and weekly inserts in Arkansas, Idaho, Texas, Alabama, Florida and California. They have attributed the thefts to extreme couponing, as coined by the TLC reality show. The program, which debuted in April, shows people cutting their grocery bills by hundreds of dollars through the strategic use of coupons.

Most recently, a 34-year old woman in Arkansas stole 185 copies of the Springfield Morning News that were left outside of a grocery store for pick-up. The woman, who is a member of a coupon club, claims she didn't know she was doing anything wrong.

In Alabama, the Cullman Timess has also seen an increase in the number of newspapers and inserts stolen. Sam Mazarra, the newspaper's circulation manager, said, "Over my 31-year career as circulation director, it has never been this bad." The newspaper has issued a $500 cash reward for tips leading to the arrest and conviction of someone stealing newspapers.

Comments

[Rich Gustafson]

09:26 AM on 08/12/2011

You can also get discount coupons for many online retailers.
Free printable grocery coupons are available online too.
http://www.CouponCorner.com

[walkinthedogdude]

11:54 PM on 08/11/2011

She's not only a bad thief; she's also a bad liar.

[Comeplayinmyreality]

01:39 PM on 08/11/2011

LOL - the lady from Arkansas didnt realize she was doing anything wrong, are you fricking kidding me.

[mcartri]

06:53 PM on 08/10/2011

The Arkansas woman who stole 185-papers for the coupons in them said she did nothing wrong. We may be looking at the next U. S. Senator from Arkansas. Fits the job description.

[Sasa Milosevic]

09:34 AM on 08/10/2011

Misery ! As they live in Somalia, not in USA. Their freeze and stomachs are full, but their eyes are hungry. It is a fallen human nature....

[Grannyover70]

05:09 AM on 08/10/2011

Grocery coupons are an abomination in the first place. If you can sell something at a lower price, then do it.

I thought the people that foisted this on us was trying to stop the extreme couponers.

[ummm]

08:22 PM on 08/09/2011

stealing newspapers for coupons to put into a pool for what? coupons? trading learned from the masters used for survival in the economy created the same way-that's circular

[MichaelMcKLA]

08:13 PM on 08/09/2011

Most recently, a 34-year old woman in Arkansas stole 185 copies of the Springfield Morning News that were left outside of a grocery store for pick-up. The woman, who is a member of a coupon club, claims she didn't know she was doing anything wrong.

Yeah right. Here in the San Fernando Valley part of Los Angeles, we have iddyit drivers on their cell phones while running red lights at Orange Line bus paths...then slamming into the busses...and blaming it all on "brake failure."