If you see someone shoplifting, remember it isn't your job to deal with it, stores pay security for that. getting involved is providing free labor to the company, and they get enough of that through wage theft.
I use to work at a grocery store and for every food item that was stolen, dozens more of the same product was thrown out for being past expiration. Like many companies they want the shelves to be full at all times, which means they over produce and order product. Nothing was recycled or donated, just straight into the trash. If I ever saw anyone stealing while I was working, I just saw it as less work I has to do with taking count and throwing out food later. Plus someone actually got to eat it!
Similarly- my daughter's last science unit (for some reason) had a big thing about how you shouldn't waste food to help the environment. And I'm fine with telling kids not to waste food to help the environment. But maybe it should also mention that McDonald's throws out every perfectly edible burger that's sat under a heat lamp too long and maybe that should be a bigger concern if we're talking about food waste and the environment.
Even at the middle school level, they're blaming the individual when the corporation is so much worse.
What?
I've watched people shoplift food several times, and they weren't poor people just looking to eat. I watched someone run out of a M&S store and into an awaiting car with a huge bag full of meat around Christmas time, probably several hundred pounds worth.
If someone was stealing a loaf of bread or something for themselves, I didn't see a thing, but let's not pretend that people aren't stealing to make some money. Lots of people steal stuff to resell, or because they're just dicks...
let’s not pretend that people aren’t stealing to make some money
When you rob one grocery store of a 10 lb brisket, its called shoplifting.
But when you rob every grocery store of 10% of their net revenue, its called paying your shareholders a dividend.
Don't really care about some corporations losing out on their margins after nickel and diming everyone as high as they possibly can. Especially if the end result is someone or multiple people eating.
but let’s not pretend that people aren’t stealing to make some money.
Perhaps it's safe to say they're poor. Poor people often don't have enough money. Still sounds like a job of desperation.
None of these companies are worried about me when they jack their prices up while people are struggling. I don't know why I would ever give a shit about them. I'm just here to buy moisturizer and stay in my lane.
Here is some of the Loblaws grocery store markup that was leaked. 
The figures in the screenshot are too small to see clearly; not wanting to be "that guy" who just says so and buggers off, I found an article that has the full-size copy of each page: https://thedeepdive.ca/selling-butter-at-54-profit-leaked-docs-show-loblaws-exorbitant-markups/
If I saw someone shoplifting anything I wouldn’t lol none my business
Yeah, I'll start caring about shoplifting as soon as it becomes remotely the same magnitude of a problem as wage theft.
Only time I'll say something is a mom and pop store. Then the thief is being shitty. Go steal from a Walmart, not here.
The right answer. You never know what people have on them. I personally don't want to get shot or stabbed. Corporations have insurance, AND make enough profit for me to care.
Unless you live where I do, where people steal mass amounts of junk food from convenience stores and then resell it at the nighttime markets to our struggling, marginalized, population of unhoused folks at an exploitative mark-up.
Because that is actively harming me, and the community I live in.
Though even with all that, confronting or reporting them isn't helpful. But if asked, and I saw it, I would say so.
Hey, this is a thread about supporting shoplifters not price gougers.
devils advocate: what if that person stealing a sandwich turned out to be convicted murderer Robert Durst
On November 30, Durst was caught inside a Wegmans supermarket in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, after trying to shoplift Band-Aids, a newspaper, and a chicken salad sandwich, despite having $500 in cash in his pocket.
Ok, if you see Robert Durst stealing a sandwich, report him immediately. Otherwise, don't.
I am less inclined to confront an actual murderer. So my answer is nope and noper.
Here it's often junkies stealing expensive meats and cheese to sell. I probably wouldn't say anything but I don't really give a shit if they get caught either.
I'm not in a position to tell if someone can afford to eat. They might look like they're employed or be dressed expensively, but people can fall on hard times suddenly
So I'm not going to report anyone for anything except crimes against individuals
Thats what food banks are for. Theft is illegal and unethical.
The only way you think stealing to live is unethical is if you value property more than life.
Letting people starve is worse, throwing food and faking shortages to raise prices should be punished by death.
Shit if they're stealing a TV from major corporate retailer that has pushed out all the local competition: I didn't see that shit, either.
Oh and people who need baby formula from Walmart: The locks used on those cabinets use a universal key. Obtain one and even if they lock up the baby formula, you can still get it. Even if you intend to pay, it's a time saver if your Walmart is like mine and nobody ever shows up to assist you at the locked cabinets.
You think you're hurting the corporation, but you're hurting its employees. If a location becomes unprofitable because of too much theft, it just closes, and now all those people are out of a job because of entitled thieves' greed.
Also, the formula is locked up because people steal it to turn a profit fencing it, not to feed anyone who needs it out of the goodness of their heart.
In the self checkout I watched a man with his children have his card rejected, so he just walked out with the food.
The security guards came up to ask me if I knew what way the man went.
I pointed up in the air to the security camera dome and said, "he sort of went that way, boys."
Can't jack the prices and not expect consequences.
If you see someone shoplifting ~~food~~ anything, no you didn't.
FTFY.
Not my circus, not my problem.
Stock shrinkage is expected and baked into the markup you are paying.
yes i did
I see people stealing food all the time at my work, I just give them a nod and mind my own fuckin business, I just want to go home.
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