An observation that will most likely end up in the Attic but without my intent: I was in a Wawa, (for those who do not know what that is, it is one of the new class of gas stations...

Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

I was in a Wawa, (for those who do not know what that is, it is one of the new class of gas stations with 12 to 24 pumps and a store of about 8000 sq. ft. that sells enormous amounts of coffee, sodas, beer, snack food, and a kitchen that makes everything from salads to burgers, to pizza) a group of 7 or 8 kids from around 9 to 12 came in and left in about three minutes. A customer pointed out to the cashier that they had grabbed stuff and just walked out with it. Yea, the cashier said, it happens every day. The mayor and police know about it and won't do a thing. Please note: I did not mention the kid's color, the party affiliation of authorities, or anything that would be considered political. It is just an observation. I'm thinking more of the moral conduct of our society and how it seems to be crumbling.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

I would like to comment in some detail how this relates to parenting and national leadership, but I don’t want to send it to the attic either.

catterar Loc: Angier, NC

It's anarchy. It begins with don't do that or you'll be punished changing to don't get caught doing that.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

catterar wrote:

It's anarchy. It begins with don't do that or you'll be punished changing to don't get caught doing that.

Sadly....

And they increased the base "theft minimum" that they worry about.....
A $5 sammich does not meet the minimum criteria.

Just imagine if everyone started doing that...
Oh, Wait, that's why some stores in Philly are closing (leaving)........ too much theft.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

Not a week goes by that I don’t see at least one article about someone walking out of a store with a cart full of merchandise, sometimes very expensive. The age of the suspects ranges to include senior citizens. Shoplifting is a problem that affects us all. But to put it all on kids and/or today is disingenuous. In my experience people were shoplifting when I was a kid back in the 1950s and ‘60s. There are movies from the 1930s, ‘40s and ‘50s where shoplifting played a major roll. It was called kleptomania back in those days.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

Longshadow wrote:

Sadly....

And they increased the base "theft minimum" that they worry about.....
A $5 sammich does not meet the minimum criteria.

Just imagine if everyone started doing that...
Oh, Wait, that's why some stores in Philly are closing (leaving)........ too much theft.

And some Walmarts are locking up their shelves.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Mac wrote:

And some Walmarts are locking up their shelves.

docdish Loc: Saint Petersburg, FL

I was recently visiting Berkeley CA from St Pete FL. I was surprised to see 1/2 of the items for sale in the local grocery/drug store locked in cabinets. I was constantly asking for someone to unlock the items I wanted. Seemed like a nice neighborhood but an absolute ton of security.

ken_stern Loc: Yorba Linda, Ca

Well now --
There is right & there is wrong
This is plane & simple wrong

There should be no need to go to the Attic

therwol Loc: USA

Mac wrote:

And some Walmarts are locking up their shelves.

Seems to be the case based on where a store is. I recently went to a Target store in Sacramento, Ca where virtually everything was locked up, including laundry detergent. My local store in Placerville has locked up nothing, not even baby formula, a very high theft item that is locked up in many stores and pharmacies.

Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

docdish wrote:

I was recently visiting Berkeley CA from St Pete FL. I was surprised to see 1/2 of the items for sale in the local grocery/drug store locked in cabinets. I was constantly asking for someone to unlock the items I wanted. Seemed like a nice neighborhood but an absolute ton of security.

Maybe we are heading to a time where brick-and-mortar stores are so unprofitable that .com will be the major way people shop in the future. The only alternative to make up for the loss from theft is to raise prices. Higher prices will turn people away from shopping and eventually, the cycle will be such that stores will close. .com commerce took a giant leap forward when covid hit and while people were glad and embraced the return to normal shopping, online shopping is still way ahead of what it was pre-covid. It continues to gain market share each year.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Bridges wrote:

Maybe we are heading to a time where brick-and-mor... (show quote)

That plus people can order stuff while wearing their pajamas in the comfort of their home and not have to contend with traffic.
Fine if the items are not needed "today".

Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

Longshadow wrote:

That plus people can order stuff while wearing their pajamas in the comfort of their home and not have to contend with traffic.
Fine if the items are not needed "today".

Two things:

1. All we need is another excuse for people to stay home in their pajamas, eating snack foods all day and contributing to the burgeoning obese culture of our American society!

2. Some companies offer same-day delivery and most offer next-day service.

BebuLamar

Longshadow wrote:

That plus people can order stuff while wearing their pajamas in the comfort of their home and not have to contend with traffic.
Fine if the items are not needed "today".

While it's difficult to steal stuff from an online store like Amazon but buying and returning would cost the business just as much. You can't really blame these people because they buy stuff without seeing or touching the merchandise.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

BebuLamar wrote:

While it's difficult to steal stuff from an online store like Amazon but buying and returning would cost the business just as much. You can't really blame these people because they buy stuff without seeing or touching the merchandise.

That's one reason I like brick & mortar stores.