Eat BEFORE You Shop

I saw something on the news yesterday about a couple who had recently moved to Hawaii.  The pregnant mother was hungry so she took a couple of sandwiches and ate them while grocery shopping at Safeway, keeping the wrappers to pay for them at the check out.  Unfortunately, she forgot to pay for them and was arrested.  Her 2-year-old daughter was sent to Child Welfare Services since the woman's husband was also taken into custody.

The woman says that she was surprised at the harsh treatment they were given.  She says "Where I grew up in a small town it's not seen as stealing for sure."  She did offer to pay the $5.00 for the sandwiches (she'd already paid $50.00) when it was discovered, but the store insisted on pressing charges.

This is a tough case.  I can see where she made an honest mistake.  And yet, I've seen people sample grapes.  I've seen opened canned drinks left on shelves.  I imagine the store has to "eat" all those costs.

My sister-in-law works for Walmart and she says you'd be shocked at what people walk out with.   I remember a grocery store near us in Illinois closing because of all the shoplifting.

And yet, I see where this might have been an honest mistake.

And yet, I see where the punishment was way harsher than should be.

And yet...