How would you react?

[Twilight Hue]

This reminds me of a time I was about to go into a Walgreens, and as I was walking towards the front entrance, this woman came out and was walking rather fast in my direction. She walked past me and ran across the street, while these three burly-looking employees came out after her. Although she had pretty much gotten away at that point, and they did not pursue.

I'll admit to having mixed feelings about this. Sure, it's easy to sympathize with someone who might be hungry and desperate so as to resort to theft, but then, if it goes on long enough, stores shut down, and food deserts are created.

Also it potentially emboldened theifs who have been successful take the next step. Armed robbery. Next thing, people get hurt or killed.

 

[ChristineM]

She looks desperate, I'd stop her and ask her to go to the checkout, I'll pay. Also point her at a food bank and tell her how to get free bread and fresh food.
I've done it before, I'll probably do it again

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

I'll admit to having mixed feelings about this. Sure, it's easy to sympathize with someone who might be hungry and desperate so as to resort to theft, but then, if it goes on long enough, stores shut down, and food deserts are created.

For which it is always easier to blame the victim, and then carry on reassured that, sad as it may be, the impoverished and impressed have brought it all on themselves -- it's just how "they" are.

I'm reminded of a quote from Elie Wiesel:

“The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it's indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it's indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it's indifference.”​

 

[PureX]

She looks desperate, I'd stop her and ask her to go to the checkout, I'll pay. Also point her at a food bank and tell her how to get free bread and fresh food.
I've done it before, I'll probably do it again

Yes, same here. I am not wealthy by any stretch, but I have a job, and a home, and a vehicle, which is a lot more than a lot of people have. So it won't kill me to share a little.

 

[Rachel Rugelach]

I would not confront any stranger whose behavior in a supermarket or any other kind of store appears inappropriate. You never know what sort of reaction you might receive from such a confrontation, and it could turn into a violent situation. Sadly, that is the reality that we all face these days, regardless of whether you live in an urban setting or a small town.

Even stopping a supermarket shoplifter with an offer to pay for their food might turn into a violent situation if the person confronted feels embarrassed, defensive, and cornered. On the other hand, I have bought sandwiches and water for homeless people I see sitting on the sidewalk with a sign asking for help, as that's a societal expectation that is not likely to result in a "fight or flight" kind of situation.

As I said, this is what society has come to these days. There are not just the poor but also a lot of mentally ill people who are not receiving the help they need because this nation doesn't appear to prioritize that sort of thing. I can't guess whether a person who shoplifts is doing so out of genuine need or for some other reason, regardless of how much I want to empathize with that person.

At the very least, I wouldn't be inclined to alert any authorities to a person taking food in a supermarket. I would only call for help if I see an act of violence being committed.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

By the way, while offering to pay is kind, let me suggest an alternative that I would prefer given the scenario addressed in the OP.

Take out some bills and approach the person saying something akin to: "Excuse me, but I think you dropped this." Then, give the money to the person, turn, and walk away. It can be less confrontational - particularly if it is a male approaching a female - and, if done thoughtfully, it can help to preserve dignity.

 

[Rachel Rugelach]

By the way, while offering to pay is kind, let me suggest an alternative that I would prefer given the scenario addresses in the OP.

Take out some bills and approach the person saying something akin to: "Excuse me, but I think you dropped this." Then, give the money to the person, turn, and walk away. It can be less confrontational - particularly if it is a male approaching a female - and, if done thoughtfully, it can help to preserve dignity.

That seems to be the least confrontational way of approaching with the intention of helping. Also, preserving the dignity of the person is paramount (as well as being a Jewish directive).

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

That seems to be the least confrontational way of approaching with the intention of helping. Also, preserving the dignity of the person is paramount (as well as being a Jewish directive).

"[there is] In this context, one detail of Jewish law which is particularly fascinating. It specifies that even a person dependent on tzedakah must himself or herself give tzedakah. On the face of it, the rule is absurd. Why give X enough money so that he can give to Y? Giving to Y directly is more logical and efficient. What the rabbis understood, however, is that giving is an essential part of human dignity. As an African proverb puts it: the hand that gives is almost uppermost; the hand that receives is always lower. The rabbinic insistence that the community provide the poor with enough money so that they themselves can give is a profound insight into the human condition." - Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks

 

[VoidCat]

. On the other hand, I have bought sandwiches and water for homeless people I see sitting on the sidewalk with a sign asking for help, as that's a societal expectation that is not likely to result in a "fight or flight" kind of situation.

If possible I'd ask if the homeless person has any allergies or dietary restrictions if giving them food. Cuz disabled folk are more likely to end up homeless then nondisabled folk and often some conditions make certain types of food unable to be ate.

 

[VoidCat]

If possible I'd ask if the homeless person has any allergies or dietary restrictions if giving them food. Cuz disabled folk are more likely to end up homeless then nondisabled folk and often some conditions make certain types of food unable to be ate.

@Rachel Rugelach. This is also why ive heard some homeless folk say they just prefer if you give money for food because they can't always trust food from strangers and sometimes actually end up not knowing if they can eat the food due to medical conditions.

 

[Rachel Rugelach]

"[there is] In this context, one detail of Jewish law which is particularly fascinating. It specifies that even a person dependent on tzedakah must himself or herself give tzedakah. On the face of it, the rule is absurd. Why give X enough money so that he can give to Y? Giving to Y directly is more logical and efficient. What the rabbis understood, however, is that giving is an essential part of human dignity. As an African proverb puts it: the hand that gives is almost uppermost; the hand that receives is always lower. The rabbinic insistence that the community provide the poor with enough money so that they themselves can give is a profound insight into the human condition." - Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks

Absolutely. As I'm sure you already know, Jay, this is also why we provide children with their own tzedakah boxes. Obviously, the tzedakah that children give comes from what they receive from their parents, but in this way we teach children from an early age the habit of giving to others in need.

 

[Quagmire]

My brother in law and I once saw a homeless dude roll up into a beer truck and snatch two 30 packs and walk off down the street. That was pretty much cool with me. I wasn't gonna go alert the truck driver or anything. In fact, we thought it was pretty funny.

Same goes for food theft. Maybe even doubly so. But, admittedly, not as funny.

Personally, I don't roll that way; I don't steal. Like I'd never snag a 30 pack off a beer truck, even if it was 100% guaranteed I'd get away with it. But I bet that homeless dude enjoyed that beer more than the beer company was bothered by its loss of profits.

Something like this would impact the driver more than the beer company.

He would wind up coming up short on his deliveries and even if he doesn't have to personally make up the difference, which he might, it's still going to be a big pain in the *** for him and probably get him in hot water with his boss.

That said, knowing homeless people the way I do and realizing how far 60 cans of free beer can go to making their lives at least temporarily awesome, I wouldn't say anything if I saw it going on and would probably smile to myself at least a little bit.

 

[Viker]

You're at the grocery store and you see a young woman walk into the store. She looks worried and anxious and is wearing a large trenchcoat.

You notice that she is taking food and placing it in her coat. She starts to walk out without paying.

What do you do?

Personally, I'm of the opinion that, if you see someone stealing food, no you don't. If someone is so hungry and desperate to feed themselves and their kids that they steal, just let it go.

I'd offer to pay for the items and make an offer for them to shop with me and put what she needs on my bill. Then I would refer them to food pantries designated just for them. If she made it outside before I could get to her, screw it, let her go on. I ain't no kinda snitch. Not for this scenario.

 

[Father Heathen]

This reminds me of something that happened to me a few weeks ago.
I was walking into a store and an elderly woman who was outside sheepishly asked if I would buy her something to eat.
Normally people just ask for money, which I decline because of the likeliness that it will either go towards drugs or alcohol, or they might be faking destitution (which is actually a prevalent thing).
So I go in and get her some items for a few meals. She's grateful and then tells me she had to panhandle at Walmart just to buy her medication.

****'s depressing.

 

[Clizby Wampuscat]

You're at the grocery store and you see a young woman walk into the store. She looks worried and anxious and is wearing a large trenchcoat.

You notice that she is taking food and placing it in her coat. She starts to walk out without paying.

What do you do?

Personally, I'm of the opinion that, if you see someone stealing food, no you don't. If someone is so hungry and desperate to feed themselves and their kids that they steal, just let it go.

I would stop her and pay for her items if she needs them for her family. No need for her to be a criminal if she really needs these items. That does not solve the long term problem though.

 

[Father Heathen]

Yes, same here. I am not wealthy by any stretch, but I have a job, and a home, and a vehicle, which is a lot more than a lot of people have. So it won't kill me to share a little.

They say that those with less are more generous than those with more, because they understand struggle.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

You're at the grocery store and you see a young woman walk into the store. She looks worried and anxious and is wearing a large trenchcoat.

You notice that she is taking food and placing it in her coat. She starts to walk out without paying.

What do you do?

Personally, I'm of the opinion that, if you see someone stealing food, no you don't. If someone is so hungry and desperate to feed themselves and their kids that they steal, just let it go.

I work in a grocery store and I never gave a damn about shoplifters. I mostly try my best to ignore the customers, anyway. So that's just another thing to ignore. More product is wasted every day at a grocery store than is stolen. Perfectly good food gets thrown out all the time, so I couldn't care less about shoplifting. The evil company I work for deserves it, anyway. They made over $140 billion last year but pay their workers poverty wages and break labor laws. Screw 'em. Some of my coworkers enjoy going after shoplifters but I think they're being foolish. (We're actually not allowed to go after shoplifters in the first place.) People have guns now. I'm not getting shot or assaulted over this. They don't pay me enough to care in the first place.

 

[PureX]

They say that those with less are more generous than those with more, because they understand struggle.

Or perhaps that's why they have less.

 

[JIMMY12345]

You're at the grocery store and you see a young woman walk into the store. She looks worried and anxious and is wearing a large trenchcoat.

You notice that she is taking food and placing it in her coat. She starts to walk out without paying.

What do you do?

Personally, I'm of the opinion that, if you see someone stealing food, no you don't. If someone is so hungry and desperate to feed themselves and their kids that they steal, just let it go.

Trouble is she might have starving kids and a baby at home.Not a good idea to do a on the spot interview.