Comments by "SmallSpoonBrigade" (@SmallSpoonBrigade) on "Officer Buys Hat and Gloves for a Woman Caught Shoplifting" video.

That's not their job, though. You do realize that there are fake homeless, right? In this case, she might well be actually homeless, but the moment you set lower standards in this regard and ignore criminal behavior, it just opens up an avenue for further theft. Shoplifting is a major problem, and a lack of enforcement is a major part of the problem. The correct way to fix this is to ensure that there are adequate social safety nets in place, not write carte blanche for breaking the law.
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And how much of a markup on the goods you buy are you willing to accept in exchange for stores letting people steal whatever they like? That's kind of the thing, the items that are stolen have to be paid for by somebody, and it tends to be the customers that ultimately cover the cost of anything that is stolen. (And don't get me started on the customers that just leave refrigerated and frozen goods on random shelves where we have to throw them out later) Compassion is great, but I work at a grocery store and watching the same group of people stealing day after day with impunity because the police can't/won't respond is infuriating. I can't blame the customers that comment on the fact that it's not right that they have to pay, and the shoplifters don't, because they're absolutely correct. The police and prosecutors office refuse to enforce the law. Not to mention the government that refuses to find ways of ensuring that everybody has at least the basics needed to live.
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Not at all, what about the employees that need those sales to ensure that they don't get their hours cut? Most retailers don't grant a lot of time for employees to do their work and when sales take a hit, often the hours available also takes a hit. It's really easy to make it out that this was a win and in a sense it was for that woman, but when police refuse to enforce the law with regard to shoplifting it becomes a stealth tax on everybody else. Around here, you pretty much can't get a cop to come for shoplifting unless it's an extreme amount of stuff being stolen or there's a weapon involved.
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Definitely not, shoplifting is a massive problem and a lot of folks don't realize just how big of a problem it is. A lack of enforcement around here has made it just that much worse, the store I work at can't get anybody to show up when somebody is shoplifting unless it's a massive amount and the local prosecutor's office won't actually bring charges because it's apparently now a civil rights matter. In the meantime, customers have to come in and see people stealing and want to know why they have to pay. I can't blame them. I wonder why I have to pay when the same folks show up regularly and raid whatever is closest to the door before walking out with the goods. The whole business of shoplifting being a result of poverty is at best a gross exaggeration. Plenty of people shoplift that don't have any legitimate reason to and when there are folks that legitimately need to, a better solution is to just get help to everybody that needs it, rather than demonizing business for not wanting people to steal their stuff.
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