If you had seen someone shoplift, would you report them?

@rosekiss (30414)
Eugene, Oregon
September 1, 2015 8:29pm CST
I think I would, as shoplifging costs all of us. I don't really think those that shoplift realize how they are affecting everyone else. They are in their own little world, where they will do anything they can to get something for nothing, and it just isn't right. The rest of us have to pay, so what makes them any different? I just wish they would stop, and take a step backward, and think about what they are doing before they do it. More than likely, they weren't brought up right, so they don't know right from wrong.Or if they know right from wrong, they really don't care.
9 people like this
12 responses
• China
2 Sep 15
I think I would too. Detering him from crime or illegal activities, as you say, is potentially beneficial to the other people and society. According to sociological research, seeking privileges or breaking rules may bring convenience to some particular person in the short term, but definitely will cause the inefficiency of whole society in the long term. " Do not do evil things though they may be insignincant. Do not given up good things though they may be minor matters. " share with all my friends.
4 people like this
@rosekiss (30414)
• Eugene, Oregon
2 Sep 15
Wow, I couldn't have said that better myself. what a great response. Thank you for responding, and happy mylotting.
2 people like this
@rosekiss (30414)
• Eugene, Oregon
2 Sep 15
@besweet yes, his response was spot on. We are living in a society where things like this happen to often, and we need to take action to stop others from doing the same thing. Thank you for your response, and happy mylotting.
1 person likes this
@besweet (9859)
• Ireland
2 Sep 15
This is a very interesting approach, I never thought about this aspect of stealing in relation to the society. Thanks for giving a new perspective.
1 person likes this
• United States
2 Sep 15
Hmmm I guess it would depend on the circumstances. If I saw a homeless person swipe a piece of fruit, such as a grape. I don't think I would, I would probably buy the bag of grapes for them. However, if it's someone swiping clothes, jewelry, etc, just for the fun of it, cause you can see they are wearing name brand clothing. Then yes, I would report them in a heart beat.
2 people like this
@rosekiss (30414)
• Eugene, Oregon
2 Sep 15
I wouidn't report a homeless person either, as they are just trying to find something to eat, but like you said it it is someone who can afford to buy something but instead shoplifts it, then yes I certainly would. Thank you for your response, and happy mylotting.
2 people like this
@rosekiss (30414)
• Eugene, Oregon
2 Sep 15
@TexanTornado Yes it is, and those are the ones that definitely need to be reported. I don't think they really care how much it hurts others. They need to have things taken from them to see how it feels, which I realize wouldn"t be right either, but it would get them to thinking about what they are doing.
1 person likes this
• United States
2 Sep 15
@rosekiss Exactly. There are some people who shoplift just for the fun of it. They will try and see if they can get away with it, even will go as far as to make a game out of it. Which I think is so wrong.
1 person likes this
• Preston, England
3 Sep 15
I was with some friends once when they did it, taking records from a record store, and I made them return the goods with a threat to report them. They didn't talk to me again as if I'd spoilt their fun.
@rosekiss (30414)
• Eugene, Oregon
3 Sep 15
You certainly did what you needed to do, and them not talking to you, is their problem, not yours. They will eventually realize that you did the right thing.
1 person likes this
@rosekiss (30414)
• Eugene, Oregon
3 Sep 15
@arthurchappell That is a long time ago, but they have grown up enough to learn right from wrong, you would hop anyway.
1 person likes this
• Preston, England
3 Sep 15
@rosekiss Hopefully. It was a long time ago - about 1978
1 person likes this
2 Sep 15
I think I probably would. I would like to say that it is none of my business, but at the same time, I would want someone to report it if it was my store. I try to put myself in the others shoes.
1 person likes this
@rosekiss (30414)
• Eugene, Oregon
2 Sep 15
I think I would too, but then I would probably end up getting cold feet as I wouldn't want to get involved, but then somebody has to get involved.
• Richmond, Virginia
3 Sep 15
No, I wouldn't report them. I might say something to them but I definitely would not report them. I would not know the particular circumstances. Suppose it's just a hungry person? . Stores hire security to watch for these things and it is their judgment call, not mine.
@rosekiss (30414)
• Eugene, Oregon
3 Sep 15
@IrisheyesI I agree with you that it would be their judgment call. It is really hard, as some don't want to get involved, and that I can certainly understand, as I kind of feel that way too.
@silvermist (19702)
• India
3 Sep 15
I agree with @TexanTornado.If it is a poor person stealing a fruit or some food,I may not report it.But a person stealing expensive jewelry or clothes then that needs to be reported immediately.
2 people like this
@rosekiss (30414)
• Eugene, Oregon
3 Sep 15
Yes thouse are the ones that probably have done it before, and just don't care how they are affecting other people. It becomes so easy, as they probably have never got caught, so they just keep shoplifing, hoping they never do get caught. it is so wrong. that is for sure.
@simone10 (54187)
• Louisville, Kentucky
2 Sep 15
I would like to think that I would report them. Stealing is wrong, no matter what the reason is behind it and it ends up costing all of us money.
1 person likes this
@rosekiss (30414)
• Eugene, Oregon
2 Sep 15
Yes it does cost all of us money, as the prices are raised to compensate for the losses. I think that reporting it is the right decision. Thank you for your response, and happy mylotting.
1 person likes this
@rosekiss (30414)
• Eugene, Oregon
2 Sep 15
@simone10 Yes it certainly could. It is bad on all businesses though, as I am sure they don't want to raise the prices, but they have no choice. Yes, Walmart can cover it, but it still shouldn't happen there either.
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54187)
• Louisville, Kentucky
2 Sep 15
@rosekiss Thanks! I have heard that shoplifting is a big problem with most businesses. For companies like Walmart, they make enough money to cover it but it is really bad on small businesses. It could potentially put them out of business.
1 person likes this
@SIMPLYD (90721)
• Philippines
2 Sep 15
I have just seen someone own up a cellphone left on the table as i have just posted yesterday . And i did my part of reporting it to the Management of the food outlet , but to no avail.
1 person likes this
@rosekiss (30414)
• Eugene, Oregon
2 Sep 15
You did what you could to help that lady get her cellphone back, and sure it never happened, but at least you reported it, and that is a good thing. Thank you for your response, and happy mylotting.
@besweet (9859)
• Ireland
2 Sep 15
I would report them too. I don't believe that their action will affect me but if I see something illegal I will report it anyway because they are breaking the law. I would also report if someone was stealing from another person, for example in the subway or a busy place. Some people mind their own business and don't say anything if they witness and incident like this.
1 person likes this
@rosekiss (30414)
• Eugene, Oregon
2 Sep 15
I think the reason that people won't report shoplifting when they see it, is because they feel it is none of their business, and they don't want to get involved for one reason or another. Thank you for your response, and happy mylotting.
1 person likes this
@jstory07 (139782)
• Roseburg, Oregon
15 Sep 15
Shoplifting is wrong but there are lots of people who just do not care they steal all the time everyday.
1 person likes this
@rosekiss (30414)
• Eugene, Oregon
15 Sep 15
I know, and the make it hard on everyone else, as it costs all of us when they do that.I have never seen anyone shoplift, and I hope I never do, as I would have to make a decidsion as to what to do about it, and I really wouldn't want to be put in that position at all.
@sofssu (23662)
4 Sep 15
I am sure I would. I have done it once. I saw a young man take a T shirt off a rack and shove it down his shirt front. I could see him through a mirror from another section of the store..I reported it to the manager and went away.
1 person likes this
@rosekiss (30414)
• Eugene, Oregon
4 Sep 15
You did what was right, but yet you didn't get involved, as you left, so the guy never really found out who reported it. That has to be hard to do, but when you see someone do that, that is the first instinct to tell the manager, or security.
@else34 (13515)
• New Delhi, India
3 Sep 15
@rosekiss,no,never.However once I had seen a woman with her daughter caught redhanded while shoplifting.Both were sitting on a chair,and the shopkeeper was informing police about the incidence.I don't know what happened to them.
1 person likes this
@rosekiss (30414)
• Eugene, Oregon
3 Sep 15
I have never seen anyone shoplift, but when my daughter was younger, she got caught shoplifting, and her dad and I were livid. We never brought her up that way. but she got involved with someone who shoplifts, so he talked her into it. She did learn her lesson though as the police came, and it was embarassing for sure.
• United Kingdom
2 Sep 15
Depends, I guess I would take into account the fact if the person looked like they really needed food...
1 person likes this
@rosekiss (30414)
• Eugene, Oregon
2 Sep 15
Well, if I saw a homeless person, then mabye I wouldn't report them, as being poor is an inconvenience, that I am sure they wish they didn't have. I would try to help them if I could. Thank you for your response, and happy mylotting.