Comments on: Storeowner to Shoplifter: Gimme Your Shoe or I Call the Cops!

By: DOJ

DOJ — Fri, 30 May 2008 08:06:52 +0000

hopefully publicity from his stunt will get politicians to find a better solution for shoplifters

By: Gorf

Gorf — Fri, 30 May 2008 05:41:53 +0000

Why ask for one shoe when he can ask for them both?

By: luvpumpkns

luvpumpkns — Thu, 29 May 2008 20:46:12 +0000

good point rich. he’s not threatening to harm them. he’s threatening to call the police, which is perfectly lawful (unlike just shooting someone) the last time i checked. i don’t understand the problem.

By: Rich

Rich — Thu, 29 May 2008 15:22:33 +0000

“Or else I’ll call the cops” is hardly equivalent to “or else I’ll shoot you”. Don’t the shoplifters have the option of just turning around and walking out?

By: Jaxx

Jaxx — Thu, 29 May 2008 15:18:16 +0000

I suggest a super-soaker behind the counter full of syrup heavily laced with red food coloring.

Of course, the police would probably call ‘that’ assault.

By: Evilbeagle

Evilbeagle — Thu, 29 May 2008 11:06:17 +0000

I agree that we need to bring back public whippings/the stocks for petty crime. Keep the prisons for the murderers and baby rapers, but shame and physically punish the rest.

By: V

Thu, 29 May 2008 07:57:10 +0000

Huh, interesting. There was a similar thing in Australia where some shopowners decided to put up a “wall of shame” behind the counter, replete with security cam pictures of the shoplifters. It appeared to reduce theft, but the police made the shopowners take it down. Same reason as Tony LaRocca said above; like the guy in the article, the shopowners were taking things into their own hands.

By: LisaL

LisaL — Thu, 29 May 2008 06:30:51 +0000

Tougher laws yes, shoplifters going to jail no since jails/prisons need to be saved for the worse criminals. Bring in public whippings or whatever.
Harsh, gotta teach these morons a lesson and pain usually gets the point across
Show it on tv too. Help keep potential criminals from making a dumb choice.

By: ted

ted — Thu, 29 May 2008 05:04:10 +0000

He can have them trespassed from the store. He still has to have the cops come by, but they don’t get charged unless they come back again.

By: Ola Amigo

Ola Amigo — Thu, 29 May 2008 04:09:37 +0000

I notice the guy has a few shoes there. As a Coloradoan, I’d have hoped our state and towns could enforce the law so this guy can run his business.

By: Thebes

Thebes — Thu, 29 May 2008 03:29:25 +0000

IMHO, if the thieves choose an alternative punishment its their choice. Perhaps a good thrashing in front of the other customers then? Or would that be assualt?
Sigh… our “Justice” system so isn’t.

By: Tony LaRocca

Tony LaRocca — Thu, 29 May 2008 03:21:51 +0000

It’s not the cops’ fault – it’s not that they don’t want to lock these scumbags up, nor do they want to harass the store owner. The problem is a legal system that keeps people from defending themselves. The only legal solution is for local politicians to raise the severity of the offense for shoplifting.

By: SenorMysterioso

SenorMysterioso — Thu, 29 May 2008 00:59:40 +0000

creative solution to a common problem, leave him alone

By: Peeves

Peeves — Thu, 29 May 2008 00:17:47 +0000

Lovely government, way to do your job. The fact that they return to the store hours after arrest goes to show you police are useless against petty crime.

Clubs have bouncers who manhandle assholes on a regular basis, I’d recommend the shop owner do the same.

By: kid_icarus

kid_icarus — Wed, 28 May 2008 23:59:40 +0000

HA! so the people who have shoplifted from him can now turn around and press felony charges against him……that is priceless.

By: Ola Amigo

Ola Amigo — Wed, 28 May 2008 22:44:40 +0000

Shot em would be another option.

By: Nostra

Nostra — Wed, 28 May 2008 22:42:56 +0000

That’s so ridiculous….

Just shows how willing the police are to help this shop owner…