IT’S STILL THEFT

Hinch’s Law.  They never get caught the first time.  I’m talking about shoplifters. I know when they do get caught and occasionally, very rarely, are taken to court, their lawyers always say they don’t know what came over them. Never done it before. It was an impulse thing. Under immense emotional pressure. It was a cry for help. Never do it again. Bullshit.

As I said. It’s never the first time. And it shouldn’t even be called ‘shoplifting’. It is theft. If you steal from a shop, you are a common thief. And, ultimately you are stealing from other customers.

The extra security costs for cameras and guards etcetera  are passed on in the prices.

Shoplifting is in the news today because the current tough economic times have sparked a shoplifting extravaganza. It is a crime wave.

According to the Australian Retailers Association stealing from shops hit $5 billion in the past financial year. Five billion dollars!  And, apparently that’s up a billion on the previous year.

The most frequently stolen items apparently are razor blades, baby food, cosmetics and batteries. With the spiralling rise in the price of petrol theft at the service station by drivers who ‘do a runner’ are increasing dramatically.

Some stations are now demanding people pay up  before they fill up because of the risk of runners and because people are using stolen plates.

Having razor blades near the top of the list solves one riddle for me. At the supermarket last weekend I was puzzled why the whole razor and razorblade section was just a wall of empty packets.  To get blades you have to go and queue up again at the cigarette counter. With packets of blades costing up to $25  for four they are now pricey items.

Of course, there are people who think that ripping off the supermarket or the local store is fair game. Some mothers have the misguided belief that it is the supermarket’s fault when their kids steal lollies from lower shelves . They shouldn’t make it so tempting.

By condoning it they are turning their children into thieves. And there are some well-known ones.

 Dallas Hayden, the wife of former Governor-General Bill Hayden. The taxi driver who became the King of Moomba. Actress Wynona Ryder and Bob Geldoff’s spoiled daughter Peaches.

It’s surprising how many people have sympathy for shoplifters when they  eventually get caught. As if it is not a real crime. How would you feel if that same person picked your pocket?

© Copyright Derryn Hinch 2008