How would you react?

[Ashoka]

You're at the grocery store and you see a young woman walk into the store. She looks worried and anxious and is wearing a large trenchcoat.

You notice that she is taking food and placing it in her coat. She starts to walk out without paying.

What do you do?

Personally, I'm of the opinion that, if you see someone stealing food, no you don't. If someone is so hungry and desperate to feed themselves and their kids that they steal, just let it go.

 

[VoidCat]

Let them steal. Same if you see a person stealing diapers or baby formula.

 

[VoidCat]

Let them steal. Same if you see a person stealing diapers or baby formula.

If i have the money i might stop her and offer to buy her more food

 

[Watchmen]

Why doesn’t she get government assistance and get her food through legal means? Yes, there are some people who may need to steal to survive, but there are plenty of brazen thieves out there taking advantage of the current mentality.

 

[The Sum of Awe]

Why doesn’t she get government assistance and get her food through legal means? Yes, there are some people who may need to steal to survive, but there are plenty of brazen thieves out there taking advantage of the current mentality.

Maybe she's an American.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Why doesn’t she get government assistance and get her food through legal means? Yes, there are some people who may need to steal to survive, but there are plenty of brazen thieves out there taking advantage of the current mentality.

Yep. I'd report it to management. Never make assumptions.

Even if arrested, her situation will be revealed and maybe assistance afterwards to put her on the right track will be provided.

Stealing may lead to more serious crimes if unchecked and can result in tragedy.

 

[Tinker Grey]

Why doesn’t she get government assistance and get her food through legal means? Yes, there are some people who may need to steal to survive, but there are plenty of brazen thieves out there taking advantage of the current mentality.

Citation required.

 

[Sgt. Pepper]

You're at the grocery store and you see a young woman walk into the store. She looks worried and anxious and is wearing a large trenchcoat.

You notice that she is taking food and placing it in her coat. She starts to walk out without paying.

What do you do?

Personally, I'm of the opinion that, if you see someone stealing food, no you don't. If someone is so hungry and desperate to feed themselves and their kids that they steal, just let it go.

I've let it go before, and I've purchased food for others in similar situations at a supermarket and a convenience store.

 

[Stevicus]

You're at the grocery store and you see a young woman walk into the store. She looks worried and anxious and is wearing a large trenchcoat.

You notice that she is taking food and placing it in her coat. She starts to walk out without paying.

What do you do?

Personally, I'm of the opinion that, if you see someone stealing food, no you don't. If someone is so hungry and desperate to feed themselves and their kids that they steal, just let it go.

This reminds me of a time I was about to go into a Walgreens, and as I was walking towards the front entrance, this woman came out and was walking rather fast in my direction. She walked past me and ran across the street, while these three burly-looking employees came out after her. Although she had pretty much gotten away at that point, and they did not pursue.

I'll admit to having mixed feelings about this. Sure, it's easy to sympathize with someone who might be hungry and desperate so as to resort to theft, but then, if it goes on long enough, stores shut down, and food deserts are created.

 

[syo]

You're at the grocery store and you see a young woman walk into the store. She looks worried and anxious and is wearing a large trenchcoat.

You notice that she is taking food and placing it in her coat. She starts to walk out without paying.

What do you do?

Personally, I'm of the opinion that, if you see someone stealing food, no you don't. If someone is so hungry and desperate to feed themselves and their kids that they steal, just let it go.

I'd tell her I'll buy her what she needs

 

[vulcanlogician]

My brother in law and I once saw a homeless dude roll up into a beer truck and snatch two 30 packs and walk off down the street. That was pretty much cool with me. I wasn't gonna go alert the truck driver or anything. In fact, we thought it was pretty funny.

Same goes for food theft. Maybe even doubly so. But, admittedly, not as funny.

Personally, I don't roll that way; I don't steal. Like I'd never snag a 30 pack off a beer truck, even if it was 100% guaranteed I'd get away with it. But I bet that homeless dude enjoyed that beer more than the beer company was bothered by its loss of profits.

 

[Stevicus]

My brother in law and I once saw a homeless dude roll up into a beer truck and snatch two 30 packs and walk off down the street. That was pretty much cool with me. I wasn't gonna go alert the truck driver or anything. In fact, we thought it was pretty funny.

Same goes for food theft. Maybe even doubly so. But, admittedly, not as funny.

Personally, I don't roll that way; I don't steal. Like I'd never snag a 30 pack off a beer truck, even if it was 100% guaranteed I'd get away with it. But I bet that homeless dude enjoyed that beer more than the beer company was bothered by its loss of profits.

I've seen some carrying signs like this on occasion, though not for quite a number of years:

 

[Mock Turtle]

I'd mostly not do anything in such circumstances, although I might offer to pay if the amount wasn't too much. I think the only time I might intervene would be when someone was being abused or similar, but I've often remained silent when a mother was being nasty to a child - just too much aggro likely to intervene.

 

[Hermit Philosopher]

taking advantage of the current mentality.

What does this mean?

 

[SalixIncendium]

You're at the grocery store and you see a young woman walk into the store. She looks worried and anxious and is wearing a large trenchcoat.

You notice that she is taking food and placing it in her coat. She starts to walk out without paying.

What do you do?

Personally, I'm of the opinion that, if you see someone stealing food, no you don't. If someone is so hungry and desperate to feed themselves and their kids that they steal, just let it go.

If she's worried and anxious, she clearly knows what she's doing is wrong, and she's doing what she's doing out of desperation.

Personally, I'd confront her, ask her why she is stealing food, and if the reason is legitimate, I'd tell her to go get whatever she needs that she couldn't fit in her coat, pay for her groceries and offer her advice on how to go about getting food without stealing...programs like WIC, etc.

 

[SalixIncendium]

Why doesn’t she get government assistance and get her food through legal means?

Maybe she's unaware of such programs.

 

[RestlessSoul]

My brother in law and I once saw a homeless dude roll up into a beer truck and snatch two 30 packs and walk off down the street. That was pretty much cool with me. I wasn't gonna go alert the truck driver or anything. In fact, we thought it was pretty funny.

Same goes for food theft. Maybe even doubly so. But, admittedly, not as funny.

Personally, I don't roll that way; I don't steal. Like I'd never snag a 30 pack off a beer truck, even if it was 100% guaranteed I'd get away with it. But I bet that homeless dude enjoyed that beer more than the beer company was bothered by its loss of profits.

Let’s hope the truck driver didn’t get penalised by his employer when they discovered the theft.

 

[SalixIncendium]

...if it goes on long enough, stores shut down, and food deserts are created.

^THIS^

It's easy to forget that if a store's shrink becomes so bad that it's not longer profitable to keep the store open, the store will go away.

 

[SalixIncendium]

Let’s hope the truck driver didn’t get penalised by his employer when they discovered the theft.

Depending on the delivery company's policies, a penalty might be warranted. Most companies require drivers to secure the vehicle before walking away from it.

 

[Twilight Hue]

If she's worried and anxious, she clearly knows what she's doing is wrong, and she's doing what she's doing out of desperation.

Personally, I'd confront her, ask her why she is stealing food, and if the reason is legitimate, I'd tell her to go get whatever she needs that she couldn't fit in her coat, pay for her groceries and offer her advice on how to go about getting food without stealing...programs like WIC, etc.

That would be a compassionate way of handling it.