If you were at a grocery store and saw someone stealing food, would you do anything?

Question

If they looked hungry and starved, like they hadn't eaten for days, I would look the other way

Answer 1

I'd approach the person and quietly let him/her know he/she has won a "friend for 10 minutes." The prize? $50 in groceries while shopping with me. I'd help them to not feel embarrassed, and would enjoy making a friend for a few minutes, finding out anything I could about them, buying whatever they need within reason, helping them to discover whatever additional solutions I might know about, which could help their personal situation.

Nobody loses. The person in need is filled, and learns to have a little faith in those around themselves. The store doesn't lose. And I gain far more than $50 can buy.

Answer 2

I don't think that I would. Unless they were doing it just to be goofy. Like if it was a group of teenaged stoners stealing sodas, chips, and whipped cream cannisters, I might...I like to think that I would say to those stoners, "Hey, stealing is wrong. If you really need food, let me buy some for you..." But if it was a woman who isn't wearing makeup or jewelry and has 3 kids tugging at her knees, I wouldn't say anything. I might even try to figure out how I can get her groceries, too.

Answer 3

Law and morality often conflict. The codified law (written law) in the U.S.A. is founded upon principles of what is called "natural law" and indeed we find this very language embedded in our Declaration of Independence and implied throughout the body of the U.S. Constitution. Therefore, it is clear that natural law is superior to codified law, which takes its authority from natural law.

A hungry person has a natural law right to feed himself. In many U.S. states, eating food in a market is legal, but not stealing it to be eaten elsewhere. This obvious contradiction in logic points out the lengths gone to attempt to subvert natural law to a system of rules. Eating when you're hungry may break some peoples' rules, but not mine. I see it as a natural right not to be subverted by the rule of law.

Answer 4

Absolutely. If I did nothing every time someone stole from my store I would go out of business in no time.

There is a difference between asking and stealing.

Answer 5

The right thing to do would be to turn them in. However, it's not like they were stealing clothes. They must be really hungry and really poor to do that. I wouldn't tell. They might be doing that for their kids or something. It's kinda sad :(

Answer 6

If they look hungry and smell bad, I will turn a blind eye, else I would ask them to put back the items or I'll report them stealing.

Answer 7

yeah tell a store employee I just saw some one stealing a steak at a super walmart they cut open the package and took one steak out of the container but the employees were there right away on this one

Answer 8

I would get in the line just ahead of them and if they made it past the gateway, I would knock them out and steal from them whatever they stole from the store. Therefore teaching them that crime doesn't pay and saving me money on important "Summers eve" which i will never use!

Answer 9

Yes. I would alert an employee and let them deal with that person. The honest paying people are the ones who are affected because stores increase their prices to offset their stolen items.

Answer 10

I'd report them to the store manager. Grocery prices are high because of theft.