What would you have done?

[Stina]

I was at a health food store yesterday and saw a woman steal something. It was a bottle in the supplement department. I was stunned and she saw me looking at her. I'm sure she was shoplifting. It was so awkward. I didn't do anything about it. Would you have?

[freshlight]

I probably wouldn't have done anything either.....I'm sure she felt awful enough doing it, especially when she noticed that you saw everything....She's (hopefully) learned her lesson.

[Stina]

I probably wouldn't have done anything either.....I'm sure she felt awful enough doing it, especially when she noticed that you saw everything....She's (hopefully) learned her lesson.

Yeah, hello there my German friend!

I believe very, very few people truly don't have a conscience. I think most people know when they're doing something wrong and feel guilt about it, and the behavior that results from that is much of what is wrong in society. I don't know if many would understand this, but I often feel compassion for people doing really bad things, like a man who beats up his wife. Not many people think about how much pain that guy's inner child is in to produce such bad behavior.

[HolyGuacamole]

I don't know if many would understand this, but I often feel compassion for people doing really bad things, like a man who beats up his wife. Not many people think about how much pain that guy's inner child is in to produce such bad behavior.

I was this very morning talking with a friend about this very thing, and I totally agree with you.
It makes me glad to know that I am not alone in this.

I am sure I wouldn't have done anything either, but I'm sure I would have been shocked.
I'm not sure there is anything you can do about it, actually.
When I was working in retail (supplements and books) even if we saw someone shoplift, we couldn't personally do anything about it - and I was usually the store manager in these situations, so it's not like there was someone higher up to whom we would need to defer.
We were to call the police and let them deal with it. If the person left the store before the police arrived, then so be it. And if a customer had ever reported that they'd seen shoplifting... Well, I don't know that we would have done anything other than thank them and send someone to stick close to that person to make sure they didn't take anything else.
I haven't worked retail in years, though, so maybe someone more familiar will correct me if I'm remembering wrong.

In any case, it actually breaks my heart to think of people's lives potentially getting even more screwed up because of getting caught doing something stupid like shoplifting.

Maybe having been spotted by you will scare that person straight. That's really the best case scenario.

[Stina]

Yeah, and I'll put a prayer out for her. maybe it was greed, maybe it was desperation.

[freshlight]

I'm not sure there is anything you can do about it, actually.When I was working in retail (supplements and books) even if we saw someone shoplift, we couldn't personally do anything about it - and I was usually the store manager in these situations, so it's not like there was someone higher up to whom we would need to defer.
We were to call the police and let them deal with it. If the person left the store before the police arrived, then so be it. And if a customer had ever reported that they'd seen shoplifting... Well, I don't know that we would have done anything other than thank them and send someone to stick close to that person to make sure they didn't take anything else.
I haven't worked retail in years, though, so maybe someone more familiar will correct me if I'm remembering wrong.
It's different in Germany. Last winter I went to the supermarket and tried a grape before buying some. I liked the taste of it and took a huge portion of them. When I was on my way to the counter a man stopped me, saying :"You probably know why I'm here?" Nope, no idea! All I knew was that I was in a different town and that my concert was going to start in an hour, so I had to get back to the hall as soon as I could.
He then showed me the video: it was me, trying that one and only grape........
"We have to call the police and you have to pay €100,- !!!
I was shocked. "How am I going to manage to get to the concert in time? And why am I not allowed to try a grape before buying some?
In our supermarket I did even ask the manager and he did agree with me doing it all the time,-I'm a very good customer :)
So they decided to "let me go" but I had to give them €50,- without signing anything....so that basically that money would go into their pocket.
I was happy enough to do that because I was in a hurry but it was definitely a very strange experience indeed.
Perhaps I was wrong doing it.....but still,-the punishment seemed to be so ridiculous!
Well, now I don't try anything at all without asking for permition in advance. Usually I don't try things anyway, but sometimes it's nice to be able to do that.
How would be the outcome of all this in the States? just curious

[freshlight]

Yeah, hello there my German friend!

I believe very, very few people truly don't have a conscience. I think most people know when they're doing something wrong and feel guilt about it, and the behavior that results from that is much of what is wrong in society. I don't know if many would understand this, but I often feel compassion for people doing really bad things, like a man who beats up his wife. Not many people think about how much pain that guy's inner child is in to produce such bad behavior.

This is exactly how I feel about those people! Wow.

They don't know that all that violence will come back to them and then they'll have to go through hell.
May God bless everyone.

[Stina]

My goodness!

Most supermarkets here like Fred Meijers and Safeway actually tell their customers they are welcome to taste test. I've seen some health food stores have signs up though that say, "No grazing." Really, here the culprit would get a stern look or asked not to.

People can be silly though, huh?

[freshlight]

Yeah, and I'll put a prayer out for her. maybe it was greed, maybe it was desperation.

Dear Stina, we seem to have the same thoughts! amazing.

Exactly: you never know her reasons,-perhaps she is in a terrible situation and can't deal with it. In such cases we can send lots of love to those people. Love is always there, for each of us.
Isn't that great news? :)

Take care, Eva

[freshlight]

My goodness!

Most supermarkets here like Fred Meijers and Safeway actually tell their customers they are welcome to taste test. I've seen some health food stores have signs up though that say, "No grazing." Really, here the culprit would get a stern look or asked not to.

People can be silly though, huh?

absolutely!
There were no signs at all. I did actually tell them to put one up, so that the same thing wouldn't happen to the next rawie ;)

[Ginger]

What would I have done? Nothing, no need to. I would not judge or feel bad, I would remember that we are all one, there are no victims nothing can be done to anyone without their consent on a vibrational level, everything is co-created, everyone attracts EXACTLY what they offer vibrationally and everything is PERFECT. I would simple smile and see that (and every) person as their higher self see's them and know that all is well. But that's just me :)

[shine72]

This is just me....

But, I would've offered the person to buy it for them. To me, people have to be in a really bad place (and it doesn't always have to be financial) to steal things. The only way I wouldn't have offered to buy it is if I had $0 everywhere (and then I wouldn't be shopping anyway, would I?). Here's my reasoning behind this. Here they are, in a place in their life, that for WHATEVER reason (& that reason is no business of mine), they feel the need/compulsion to steal. If they get caught, they could be prosecuted, which does nothing to help the place they're in.

However, by someone else stepping in and buying it for them, a complete stranger, you have no way of knowing what kind of impact/healing you could have started somewhere, possibly deep within them. You could be restoring hope to someone who may have lost theirs. You could be restoring faith in their fellow man. You have no way of knowing how you may have helped them buy being a good samaritan. And that's part of the beauty of it. :) Someone in that situation needs compassion, empathy, and a small miracle. You can be that small miracle. We all can really. :)

[MelissaO]

I live in IL and at our local Walmart I have seen on many occasions people being stopped before they leave the store to have their bags searched and compared to the receipt with police present. I remember when we were my little baby brother picked up something at the local K-Mart and put it in the stroller without my mother noticing it - when we were leaving the in store security police pulled us to a back room and accussed my mother of having her toddler steal for her....insane! After that we never went to K-mart again.

I have never personally shop lifted anything. These are some desperate times :(- I do not have much myself but feel for those who have even less.

[Stina]

Several weeks ago I heard on NPR that shoplifing has risen 60% in just months! so sad

[ViolinCyndee]

Yeah, hello there my German friend!

I believe very, very few people truly don't have a conscience. I think most people know when they're doing something wrong and feel guilt about it, and the behavior that results from that is much of what is wrong in society. I don't know if many would understand this, but I often feel compassion for people doing really bad things, like a man who beats up his wife. Not many people think about how much pain that guy's inner child is in to produce such bad behavior.

Can't say that I can have such compassion for a man who beats his wife. Then again, I have been on the receiving end in this situation. My ex seemed to get a great deal of joy in diminishing me to nothing. :(

[Stina]

Can't say that I can have such compassion for a man who beats his wife. Then again, I have been on the receiving end in this situation. My ex seemed to get a great deal of joy in diminishing me to nothing. :(

I'm truly sorry you experienced that. Have you had some level of healing from that? If you were ever faced with another abusive partner, could you walk away from the relationship now?

[ViolinCyndee]

I'm truly sorry you experienced that. Have you had some level of healing from that? If you were ever faced with another abusive partner, could you walk away from the relationship now?

Thank you... And yes, I could walk away from an abusive partner, as I did with my ex. I guess it made me stronger, to go through that. I was so utterly trusting of everyone before then, and would put myself last all the time. I don't put up with disrespect anymore, in any way. So yeah, I guess it was kinda what I 'needed' at the time, in a way.. :confused:

Btw.. my current husband wouldn't hurt a fly. :D

As far as the shoplifter, I think I would alert the store manager.

[Coolexplosion]

I live in IL and at our local Walmart I have seen on many occasions people being stopped before they leave the store to have their bags searched and compared to the receipt with police present. I remember when we were my little baby brother picked up something at the local K-Mart and put it in the stroller without my mother noticing it - when we were leaving the in store security police pulled us to a back room and accussed my mother of having her toddler steal for her....insane! After that we never went to K-mart again.

I have never personally shop lifted anything. These are some desperate times :(- I do not have much myself but feel for those who have even less.

Just one of the millions of reasons I will never, EVER shop at a Walmart and I believe that no one should ever shop there unless it is the only store within miles. It is actually unconstitutional for the security people to search bags of purchased merchandise. If there's no police there, just walk right on by. You didn't steal anything. Usually the person checking bags will say something such as "sir, sir!" And 30 seconds later they just forget about it and move on.

Freshlight: Germany is apparently much more fascist than I thought. I had no idea that if person said "Did 6 million Jews really die in the Holocaust?" that they could legally be sent to prison.

On the whole: Stealing from a farmer's market or any operation that is just a couple of people or a small town deal is inexcusable. Stealing from Walmart is a MUCH different scenario. I am not promoting theft of any kind but, those are two very different crimes.

[freshlight]

Freshlight: Germany is apparently much more fascist than I thought. I had no idea that if person said "Did 6 million Jews really die in the Holocaust?" that they could legally be sent to prison.

wow :eek:
this sounds like a very bad joke. I would never generalise like this, doesn't matter which country we are talking about. Have you ever been to Germany?
anyway: this thread is about s-ing completely different, so let's not hijack it.

[freshlight]

I would've offered the person to buy it for them.


you are so beautiful, shine!
This is a great idea.
Thank you so much.
Eva xx

[Veganforlife]

I really don't know what I would have done. BUT being an employee of the HFS puts a whole different aspect on it. But if I were to see someone steal something, I really do not know what I would do...isn't that weird?

[Coolexplosion]

wow :eek:
this sounds like a very bad joke. I would never generalise like this, doesn't matter which country we are talking about. Have you ever been to Germany?
anyway: this thread is about s-ing completely different, so let's not hijack it.

From what I heard, that's no joke. I wouldn't recommend you try it though to verify.

As per the topic: I would have done nothing.

[HolyGuacamole]

This is just me....

But, I would've offered the person to buy it for them. To me, people have to be in a really bad place (and it doesn't always have to be financial) to steal things. The only way I wouldn't have offered to buy it is if I had $0 everywhere (and then I wouldn't be shopping anyway, would I?). Here's my reasoning behind this. Here they are, in a place in their life, that for WHATEVER reason (& that reason is no business of mine), they feel the need/compulsion to steal. If they get caught, they could be prosecuted, which does nothing to help the place they're in.

However, by someone else stepping in and buying it for them, a complete stranger, you have no way of knowing what kind of impact/healing you could have started somewhere, possibly deep within them. You could be restoring hope to someone who may have lost theirs. You could be restoring faith in their fellow man. You have no way of knowing how you may have helped them buy being a good samaritan. And that's part of the beauty of it. :) Someone in that situation needs compassion, empathy, and a small miracle. You can be that small miracle. We all can really. :)

Yeah.
Thank you for that.

[Amberly]

Funny story:

My dad owns a bait store (fishing) and he has a customer who is known all over town to steal things large and small all the time. This guy was leaving his truck at the store and going fishing with someone else. When he left the store my dad saw some lures missing, and the guy put something in his truck before he left. When he left my dad went to the guys truck and there were the lures, so he got them back. Then the guy came back in and my dad watched him closely but when he left again the lures were gone again!

My dad is friends with the guys brother and so he asked where the guy was going fishing. So my dad drives all the way to where they are fishing and sees the guys car and gets the lures back!! So funny.

[Emma-Liza]

I wouldn't tell anyone at the store or anything, but what popped in my head was to speak to the person. Say something like when she does something like that, it affects everybody because it makes prices go up, times are already hard, so why not give us all a break --herself included-- by paying for it?

She'd probably walk off, but maybe she'd think about it. Whatever she replied, if she told me to go do something unmentionable to myself, I'd just let it go. :rolleyes: But I think I'd have to say something to her. I don't consider such connections, however momentary, to be coincidental. At the same time, I do think one's choices are ultimately one's own.

I have no desire to be anyone's conscience; but I'd probably speak up about the part where it affects me (and my pocketbook).

[RawHeaven]

Shoplifting is on the rise because of the economic situation no doubt. No excuse, but people are probably taking desperate measures.

What would I have done? Nothing. I would not judge her....you never know what circumstances bring people to certain acts. She could've had a sick child at home & exhausted all of her resources, someone stole from her & left her broke....you just never know. Even if she were a cleptomaniac, I wouldn't judge her....would just send her a prayer.

We are all capable of everything given the right circumstances and conditions.

Part of the spiritual experience in a human body.

[Stina]

wow :eek:
this sounds like a very bad joke. I would never generalise like this, doesn't matter which country we are talking about. Have you ever been to Germany?
anyway: this thread is about s-ing completely different, so let's not hijack it.

I'm too busy observing the numerous ways the United States is fascist to take another's inventory. (hint: F.D.A.)

[Stina]

Funny story:

My dad owns a bait store (fishing) and he has a customer who is known all over town to steal things large and small all the time. This guy was leaving his truck at the store and going fishing with someone else. When he left the store my dad saw some lures missing, and the guy put something in his truck before he left. When he left my dad went to the guys truck and there were the lures, so he got them back. Then the guy came back in and my dad watched him closely but when he left again the lures were gone again!

My dad is friends with the guys brother and so he asked where the guy was going fishing. So my dad drives all the way to where they are fishing and sees the guys car and gets the lures back!! So funny.

Ha ha. Last summer I stole back my bicycle in the small town I was living in. Later I tracked down the guy and told him and he gave me the key to the lock left on the bike!

[jgunn]

i wouldnt have done anything .. if she was that desperate to steal supplements then she may have felt she desperately needed them for whatever reason

i wouldnt be shocked either .. the economy is making good people do not so good things

[freshlight]

From what I heard, that's no joke. I wouldn't recommend you try it though to verify.

From what you heard? Try to get as much information as possible, go to the country you are talking about, live there for a long time. Then you might be able to see the true picture and the whole truth.
Everything else is either gossip or a waste of time.
Cheers from Eva

[Coolexplosion]

From what you heard? Try to get as much information as possible, go to the country you are talking about, live there for a long time. Then you might be able to see the true picture and the whole truth.
Everything else is either gossip or a waste of time.
Cheers from Eva

...Awkward response...

Do you know for a fact that my statement is false then?

[Raw Jewelrylady]

I was at a health food store yesterday and saw a woman steal something. It was a bottle in the supplement department. I was stunned and she saw me looking at her. I'm sure she was shoplifting. It was so awkward. I didn't do anything about it. Would you have?

Stealing is wrong & if you know that she saw you & she had the opportunity to put the item back I would have turned her in.

I own a shop & I've had it happen to me numerous times. I even had it happen to me from those I *trusted* the most. It's a terrible feeling that others don't seem to care & just to make this a little more personal to you~how would you feel if someone came into your home & took from you? What if the neighbors saw them & did nothing.

Do you realize that shop owners have to purchase everything they supply to their customers. It doesn't come in from the sky without being paid for. This affects us all in higher prices-etc. & is a lack of respect to others. In today's society, it is time for those to give/help & not take.

Don't mean to sound harsh but this did hit a nerve with me.

Lana