well then, while I don't necessarily agree with how you would handle the situation, I do however admire & agree with your sentiment; one should not go through life living in fear. maybe I'm just too young and think I have too much to live for at this point. guess we'll just have to agree to disagree.
Get a grip. Nobody is saying you have to go tackle the gang of thugs who look like they're all packing a 9mm. But informing the management of a store of what you saw is doing the right thing without exposing yourself. The VAST majority of shoplifters are people who can pay for what they are shoplifting. They are also typically not repeat offenders and getting caught once will deter them from ever doing it again. By the way, I've been threatened a half dozen times over a 20 year retail career by POS thugs. I've never backed down. Some of us have actually walked the talk.
well sir, then I commend your bravery. too bad not everyone here has a backbone to back up their words. I don't mean to speak with such self-conviction, it's just infuriating to listen to people sometimes talk about things which they clearly have no history of dealing/experiencing with. For instance, I once had a gun held to my face when I was about 19 (6 years ago). Did I act like a hero and take his gun away with my 6'2 200 lb 2nd degree black belt skills? hell no, I gave him my wallet and whatever else I had on me. does that make me spineless? I'd like to think not.
Fact is there is no "right" or "wrong" thing to do. It's a matter of preference whether you want to or not.
What's so dangerous and brave about going to a store attendant and saying, "Hey, that dude in the smiley face t-shirt on aisle 8 is shoplifting." You've done your duty and walk away.
It's the same reason why you can leave an anonymous tip when you call the police. Retaliation is a real threat. People die trying to "do the right thing". You can't blame people for not risking themselves for a $3 hat. Do you have a family? Would your S.O. allow you to risk yourself for someone's shoplifting? My GF hates it when I try to break up fights for chissakes.
That's cool. I'm not saying anyone else should do what I think is right either. Everyone has their own choice to make. I don't believe everyone has to do what I think is right. I'm fine with people having different opinions.
Shoplifting is a crime. In a crime, there is a victim. In this case, the victim is portrayed as the company that loses its rightfully owned product. Many here seem to think because a company like Walmart, Macy's, Gap, Best Buy, etc is big then no harm, no foul. This is short sighted thinking. The victim of this crime are the employees of that establishment who are earning a living there. I've known of employees who lost their raise, were demoted and in extreme cases, lost their jobs because of theft in their stores. The other victims are the honest paying customers who pay higher prices for the goods we all buy. The companies don't just eat the cost of shoplifting...its built right back in the prices we all pay. When you look the other way, what you are doing is choosing to side with the criminal over the employees who work hard for their money and customers who pay for their goods honestly.
So be it. My point still stands. It's a matter of preference. A person who doesn't want to tell management isn't wrong in not doing so. That's all I'm trying to say.
