Shoplifting - A Social Necessity?

[mushroom25]

a debate from the US, but probably just as relevant here.

https://nypost.com/2021/05/28/cynthia-nixon-slammed-for-pro-shoplifting-tweet/

ms Nixon is probably correct in that there's no gain in prosecuting the vulnerable. but does that make the case for allowing shoplifting and accepting it as a social necessity?

[windywillow]

Many years ago when I worra lass, you'd get folk asking if you wanted to buy brand new stuff.

They weren't necessarily knocked-off......hard-up folk would buy catalogue items (which they paid for weekly) and try to sell them for some instant cash.

Quite sad really. Times were hard, back in the day.

[Jackdaw33]

Yes, and people would take out Provident checks and sell them for half their face value, just to get some ready cash. I knew a woman who furnished her house by this method. Those better off took advantage of the poor.

[david small]

How about the bloke that went bankrupt because of constant thieves stealing his stock. He topped himself.
Poor thieves,rubbish. poor sod worked himself dizzy for nothing.

[Alita99]

No, it is not a necessity. It is simply stealing. Although some may attempt to justify shoplifting for those who are in need, it does not change the fact that it is just stealing. Take a look at what it says at Ephesians 4:28 "Let the stealer steal no more, but rather let him do hard work, doing with his hands what is good work.”​ Also take a look at one of the original 10 commandments at Exodus 20:15 "You must not steal.”
Those who are dedicated to stealing put themselves at great risk. Look at what you can lose. It's mentioned at 1 Corinthians 6:10 "thieves, greedy people, drunkards, revilers, and extortioners will not inherit God’s Kingdom." Those who do not inherit God's Kingdom do not get everlasting life. Those who DO want everlasting life stay away from stealing.
Take a look at these links to learn more ↓
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/101997805?q=stealing&p=doc
https://www.jw.org/en/library/books/learn-from-great-teacher-jesus/teach-children-no-stealing/

[emmie]

i am surprised anyone admits openly to taking stolen goods, doesn't that seem a little bit bad. Or am i the only one who sees it that way.

[david small]

No you are not emmie. It is bad, very bad, and should be punished accordingly. To steal to sustain life is one thing. To steal for income quite another. My punishment would be considered draconian in these ridiculous leftist times.

[Ken4155]

No wonder my ears were burning as i slumbered! You don't get away with hiding your snide comment in the early hours of the morning, Emmie. I can't hide my squillions away from the taxman. I can't get rich friends to finance the decor of my home. So what if, from time to time, i did buy some dodgy gear and contraband tobacco. So bloody what? Hang me already. But only if you've never committed a crime or turned a blind eye to one being committed.

[eve1974]

Not all shoplifters are needy nor druggies. for a minority it is a psychological thing.

I known 2 kleptomaniacs - in my years. One in my teenage years who came from a well off family shoplifted compulsively.

The other I still know as an adult - he earns an ok wage, yet nicks random things (PS no he's never stolen from us....I dont think?).

[emmie]

no i haven't committed a crime, nor would i buy dodgy gear from anyone, if its cigs then you have no idea where they have come, unless they have been thieved from a nearby shop. I pity shop keepers who have to put up with this sort of behaviour.

[AuntPollyGrey]

this is an American story. Welfare is much less in the USA than here, so I can imagine some people are that desperate that they have to steal certain products. This is wrong, but I agree its pointless to prosecute or fine them as they have no money to pay for fines.

However, in the UK I don't believe anyone is that poor that they have to steal laundry powder or baby milk. I believe most thefts are done to procure goods to sell on for drug money. Its theft ,pure and simple, and anyone buying stolen goods, however trivial, is supporting theft.

[Ken4155]

Emmie, then you will surely go to heaven. But what about the second part of the equation? The 'turning a blind eye' to a crime being committed?

[emmie]

nope, nor do i believe in any God, so hardly likely to go to Heaven.
i must admit your laid back attitude surprises me, did you not wonder whether your money went on their drugs.

[AuntPollyGrey]

Turning a blind eye is very different to buying stolen fags and coffee from someone going door to door.

I once saw a wraggley woman in Walmart pocket some shampoo -I said nothing -thats turning a blind eye.

[emmie]

i stopped giving money to beggars a long time ago, when i had given a few quid to one man, who along with his pals were seen later imbibing some cheap alcohol. I haven't done it since that time.

[grumpy01]

“Let him that is without sin cast the first stone.”

[Ken4155]

A crime is a crime is a crime, APG.
Emmie, no i did not wonder if my money was spent on drugs. I knew where the money was going. I may have handled stolen goods but i'm no bloody hypocrite. I live in the real world. The one you must have lived in once when you were dating black men. Or did none of your black suitors partake of the 'Sweet Leaf'? Did none of them grow it, sell it, buy it?

[emmie]

no idea Ken, i didn't, don't partake of the stuff, i disliked it intensely, and would rather they didn't smoke the stuff, but that wasn't my call to make.

[Ken4155]

^
That's a cop out if ever i saw one. Not the Sweet Leaf i can smell but something more agricultural.

[emmie]

no idea what you are getting at, at all. As i said i didn't smoke dope, so no idea where it was purchased from, apart from the girls, it was generally the blokes who did smoke it.

[Peter Pedant]

I am surprised mooshie
no one has said that it (necessity) is a defence against a charge of theft in islamic law

stealing food to eat is the obvious one