this post was submitted on 10 Apr 2026
132 points (96.5% liked)

Ask Lemmy

39245 readers
1178 users here now

A Fediverse community for open-ended, thought provoking questions


Rules: (interactive)


1) Be nice and; have funDoxxing, trolling, sealioning, racism, toxicity and dog-whistling are not welcomed in AskLemmy. Remember what your mother said: if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. In addition, the site-wide Lemmy.world terms of service also apply here. Please familiarize yourself with them


2) All posts must end with a '?'This is sort of like Jeopardy. Please phrase all post titles in the form of a proper question ending with ?


3) No spamPlease do not flood the community with nonsense. Actual suspected spammers will be banned on site. No astroturfing.


4) NSFW is okay, within reasonJust remember to tag posts with either a content warning or a [NSFW] tag. Overtly sexual posts are not allowed, please direct them to either !asklemmyafterdark@lemmy.world or !asklemmynsfw@lemmynsfw.com. NSFW comments should be restricted to posts tagged [NSFW].


5) This is not a support community.
It is not a place for 'how do I?', type questions. If you have any questions regarding the site itself or would like to report a community, please direct them to Lemmy.world Support or email info@lemmy.world. For other questions check our partnered communities list, or use the search function.


6) No US Politics.
Please don't post about current US Politics. If you need to do this, try !politicaldiscussion@lemmy.world or !askusa@discuss.online


Reminder: The terms of service apply here too.

Partnered Communities:

Tech Support

No Stupid Questions

You Should Know

Reddit

Jokes

Ask Ouija


Logo design credit goes to: tubbadu


founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] someone@lemmy.today 31 points 2 weeks ago (4 children)

When shopping, I like to make it seem extremely likely I am stealing to help poor people who actually need to steal to survive.

For example, when picking up a soda, I furtively look to my left and right to make sure no one is looking and crouch my head down. I pick up things and make it seem like I may be putting it in a pocket at times before putting it back. When security guards say hi, I don't make eye contact or reply back and put my head down as if hiding.

I never actually steal and haven't ever shoplifted anything.

I have been kicked out stores many times for abnormal behavior, but never while stealing.

[–] IronBird@lemmy.world 21 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

...how does that help anyone at all?

[–] Landless2029@lemmy.world 14 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

If you ever see someone stealing food.
No you didn't.

I've seen shoplifters stealing granola bars or chips before. Not said a word.

Stealing electronics? Fuck that person.

[–] RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world 5 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (2 children)

The distinction you’re trying to make is stealing luxuries vs stealing necessities. Sure, we could argue basically “fuck megacorps” and that’s debatable to steal whatever, but this is about us.

If someone’s stealing the basic necessities like food, nobody saw shit.

If you’re stealing a TV, that just makes you a thief.

[–] Landless2029@lemmy.world 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

There's also people stealing (even reselling) necessities like toothpaste, deodorant and laundry detergent.

[–] Mobiuthuselah@mander.xyz 4 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

They'll likely steal in bulk if that's the case. If they do it over time, snitching on everyone hurts the people who are stealing for necessity. Be the good for people. Kindly, compassionately, and in a non-derogatory way let them know where they can get food, essentials, and services for free from a resource center. Don't take their dignity.

[–] vivalapivo@lemmy.today 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

If you’re stealing a TV, that just makes you a thief.

I can steal and sell TV and not be stealing food for the next two weeks or so. While stealing food is everyday effort

Look, I don’t get this need to cite exceptions to make oneself right. I can’t engage in pedantry or add endless footnotes to a general concept of what constitutes thievery or what every individual’s plan is for whatever they steal. It’s ridiculous to waste that time. You can steal a steak and sell it. You can steal a TV and watch it.

The spirit of the discussion is the direct intent of theft is either for an immediate need of a basic necessity of food, or the non-necessity of a luxury like a tv. Leave it at that concept.

[–] NottaLottaOcelot@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 week ago

My kids accidentally stopped a shoplifter. We stopped at a Walmart on a road trip to use the bathroom. As we were leaving, for some reason all three of them decided to tie their shoes in the vestibule, blocking most of the doorway. There was a very agitated lady behind them, and I tried to move my kids given that I was aware how obnoxious a place they had chosen for shoe tying — I assumed she just wanted to leave the store. But as she tried to get around them, she dropped a pile of phone charging cables and cases and was caught by a security guard chasing her

[–] polysexualstick@lemmy.world 13 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Imagine if like 5% or so of people in a Grocery store acted like he does. Would be so much easier to actually steal something with security being busy all the time with the non-stealers

[–] IronBird@lemmy.world 0 points 1 week ago (1 children)

i'v never seen security care about theft outside of the egregious electronics and stuff like that, those guys don't get paid enough to care about slippage

[–] someone@lemmy.today -1 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

Do you live in an area with poor people and lots of shoplifting? Do you work in grocery store security surveillance? Do you work as a 711 clerk? Is this an area of expertise or are you just guessing?

[–] IronBird@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago

chicago, plenty of places have guards but it's all for showt/insurance (presumably). nearly all security you can see is performative, to make normies feel safe

[–] someone@lemmy.today 7 points 1 week ago

It increases the noise to signal ratio in their attempts to look for food thieves.

Lol, I used to do this as a kid. Didn't steal anything, but I deliberately acted shady just to see what would happen. Nothing ever did.