My husband manages a large retail store, and he has seen his company raise prices every quarter to keep up with what retailers call "shrinkage." That is a nice word for theft. Much of the theft is from shoplifting, but unfortunately, a lot is done by employees. Yesterday he had to terminate 2 employees who had collaborated with friends to steal over $600 worth of toys and games. None of them have any children, so we can only assume they stole them for resale. All 4 have been arrested and are awaiting arraignment in the county jail. Where we live, over $500 is a felony, so these folks are looking at some time in prison. Had there been children involved, they would have been placed in other's homes. Company-wide, losses are huge. When people say they don't mind stealing from companies or large stores, keep in mind they are stealing from YOU. Not only do prices go up to compensate for losses, but raises that would have been available for employees either disappear or are much smaller than they could have been. YOU, the consumer and YOU, the employee, are the ones who are really hurt by people like this. The poster above works long, hard hours for his $8/hr. Without all the theft, his company could afford to pay him much, much more. It's too bad those deadbeats on the stage are stealing from this man.
Our family has been through some very, very hard times. We have faced illness, accidents, natural disasters, unemployment and other very serious problems, all without stealing a single thing. Anything we have ever had, we have earned. Stealing is not a lifestyle, nor is it a viable choice. It's just a stupid crime, and those who do it are not sick, they are just criminals who are too lazy to get a real job. They do not deserve a trip to Dr. Phil, nor do they deserve "counseling." They should get what they have earned-a swift kick in the tail all the way to JAIL.
