Stealing bread
By suedarr
@suedarr (2382)
Canada
February 18, 2007 4:05pm CST
We just got back from our local No Frills, having endured that weekly soul-sapping grocery shopping experience that I'll leave for another discussion.
As we were leaving I did observed something that I can class as simply bizzaro.
An older, but not quite elderly couple were exiting at the same time we were. They were standing in the entrance when the female of the duo hopped the barrier over to the exit, in her hands she was clutching a baguette. She then proceeded to exit the No Frills, and stand on the automatic entranceway allowing her husband/partner/male companion to walk out. Both walked away rather nonchalantly with the lady still clutching that stick of bread.
It took a few moments for it to register in my noggin', but I turned to hubby and stated, "I think that couple just swiped that baguette!"
It did not appear that they were poor or down or their luck, in fact they looked very well put together and dressed. And certainly didn't appear as if they were going without meals. So why steal a two dollar stick of bread? I mean what possessed them to do it?
Anyone else ever notice such a thing?
9 people like this
20 responses
@rosie_123 (6113)
•
18 Feb 07
Oh - how strange. My first reaction is perhaps they did it for a joke or a dare. However, as you describe them, they do not strike me as the kind of age-group that would be indulging in scholchild, or student prabks. Maybe they really were hard-up, and just try every hard to dress, and appear as though they do not have any worries - a kind of pride thing. Or maybe they got to the check out, and found they didn't have quite enough cash on them, and did it rather than be financially embarrassed at the till. Strange story though.
@suedarr (2382)
• Canada
18 Feb 07
It was really odd, and no they were far too old to be playing a childish prank or to be involved in a gang of some sort. They were stylish dressed older couple, I would guesstimate to be somewhere between the mid 50's to early 70's in age. That is what makes it so weird for me. If they had been much younger I might have thought they were thrill seeking to see if they could get away with it. Just strange.
3 people like this
@crazynurse (7482)
• United States
19 Feb 07
Perhaps they were so pi$$ed off about the cost of the groceries that they felt the store 'owed' it to them! Seriously, I have heard people who take small things say that 'they won't miss it with the money they are taking in.' Almost like they are entitled due to what they have spent in the store! Who knows. Just goes to show that you can't judge a book by its cover. Had you lined up a hippie, a goth, a rapper, a teen and this couple....most if told to point out the one who stole would not pick this couple!!!
4 people like this
@maru_047in (1007)
• India
19 Feb 07
It is common thing in our country and many of them suffer even without that but we are not in a position to help all of them at once and if we find really poor and unhealthy people then i would really help and not steal something from them only where in no body ll make good for us or anybody either.
@howard96h (11640)
• New York, New York
19 Feb 07
I know a senior citizen who does the same thing. When I asked her why, she says oh I am old, no one will arrest an old lady like me. It is not like she can't afford it either, she just thinks she will never get arrested because of her age.
3 people like this
@NancyE (11)
• Canada
21 Feb 07
Hiya.. okay now you've gotta get into their headspace and think what might have been their motivation?
I betcha they were ripped off by the store in the past somehow and they didn't get any satisfaction back from the manager or staff so they were out for revenge!!
yes that's my bet..
revenge:)
Nancy
@icequeen (2840)
• Canada
19 Feb 07
That is funny. It is amazing what people will do...I can't remember something that bold..but people take things all the time. I think that because they are older they may be trying to save...etc...who knows. It is amazing that she wasn't caught. It sounds like she is pretty flexible for an older woman....lol.
1 person likes this
@KrisNY (7590)
• United States
19 Feb 07
What is "no frills" a grocery store?
I'm not sure why this couple would do this-- Maybe they didn't have enough money and needed it.. Very odd. I can't imagine- I have seen people put things into their pockets but never walk right out of a store with something they didn't pay for in their hands.. Perhaps they did pay at another register? And she just didn't want a bag??
Odd enough!
1 person likes this
@suedarr (2382)
• Canada
20 Feb 07
Yes, No Frills is a discount grocery chain here in Canada. You bag your own groceries for a reduced price. They usually have really good prices. If she paid at a register she would have been on the exit side. The way the store is set up you have to leave the checkout area via the exit hall.
1 person likes this
@KrisNY (7590)
• United States
20 Feb 07
Gotcha-- so it's like a Save Alot where you don't get bags you have to buy them or bring your own... or a Aldi's-- cheap prices- no bags also and you have to pay a quarter to get a cart.. but when you return your cart a quarter pops back out-- It gets people to put their carts back-- that way they dont have to hire someone to get carts and that keeps their costs down. Sorry I got a little off the topic!
1 person likes this
@jbones32103 (717)
• United States
19 Feb 07
I've noticed people using the self check area at Walmart and not scan everything. Now they can't get by with it. Walmart has upped security near my house and have an officier on hand. I guess people just try to save a dollar or want to see how far they can go. To some it's just a game.
1 person likes this
@dopey22girl (3319)
• United States
19 Feb 07
That's really weird...maybe they were just sick of waiting in line or something, honestly I have no idea. I don't understand why you would steal something so simple. Didn't anyone notice? I understand it took you a while to notice, but I'm surprised nobody else did. Hmm who knows? I would call the store and let them know and see if they have it on video and if there's anything they can do about it.
1 person likes this
@suedarr (2382)
• Canada
19 Feb 07
Could be they were sick of the lineups??? It is really chaotic in there on weekends. Had we not been at the exit, and had I not stopped to grab a paper on the way out, I would have never noticed them. I was only literally a few feet away , otherwise no I probably would have walked right passed.
@revdauphinee (5703)
• United States
19 Feb 07
I could maybee understand if they were starving but some folks just do stuff for thrills although an older couple should know better!
1 person likes this
@spiderman05 (851)
• Canada
19 Feb 07
I noticed something similar in a grocery store. I was waiting in the cash queue, while I noticed a man, may be in his 30s, who came near the queue a few times. I thought that he lost something or that he was looking for somebody. Then, he quickly opened one of the fridges that are generally located close to cash registers, he took a small bottle of soft drinks, then zoomed out of the store. I could not believe what he did and did not know why he was taking such risk and some potential public humiliation just for a small bottle of soft drinks!
@Lardiel (280)
• Romania
19 Feb 07
maybe they didn't need it
they did it for the thrills or something. there are some people who do that just for kicks. and yes i have seen something like this before. i even saw one guy who was trying to steal the light bulbs from a bus. and that's no joke
@nicky35 (747)
•
19 Feb 07
yes but what you werent aware of was the bottle of whisky she had up each sleeve and the chicken she had shoved down her knickers!
its amazing what some people will do.i know of one woman who used to have a special shop lifters coat with false pockets that went through to the lining.it takes allsorts........unless she just really wanted a baguette and hadnt been paid yet.
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
24 Feb 07
It could be a number of things.
Some have been mentioned, they may have forgotten the bread and instead of going through the whole procedure they just grabbed it. Maybe it's just the devil in them and they see it as a bit of recklessness and danger thinking at their age they are safe from prosecution. Maybe she is a compulsive theif or a kleptomaniac and they do this at different stores all the time.
Who knows? They should be reported but then you would have to stick around, wait for the cops, and then agree to be a witness if they decide to prosecute.
The sad thing is that those costs are passed on to the consumer...the store doesn't wear these losses. If you see someone pilfering and scoffing the goods instore...make a fuss. These people are sending up the prices.
@XxAngelxX (2830)
• Canada
19 Feb 07
I would have to guess that despite the fact they were well dressed they probably had very little money and really couldn't afford it. This would be the only reason I could see a couple like this stealing a piece of bread. As you've said, they seemed to be to old to be pulling a prank so otherwise it really makes no sense to me either.
1 person likes this
@retardedrugrat (4791)
• Canada
19 Feb 07
I have no idea what possesses people to steal - at any age. But this older couple has me totally stumped.
I can't imagine why they would feel the need to steal something that only cost $2. And at their age too.
I can't imagine what they could possibly have gotten from it. It shows though that everyone these days is a suspect. That sweet old couple down the street that are always so polite and say good morning to you every day are just as likely to steal as the next person it seems. It's a frightening thought.
