that would be shoplifting

[nomorecarts]

So I was giving a break on self check today, and this guy comes up with a bag talking about how he just ripped us off. then he shows me his receipt, missing 2 containers of dog food, so I take them out of his bag and tell him he'll have to pay for those at my register. After I scanned the items he said next time he'd just take them, so the following stupidity conversation ensues

me:that would be stealing
him:no,it's not stealing, it's faulty equipment
me:no, any time you leave the store without paying that's shoplifting
him:well, I guess you're right

I guess senility really is a bitch....

[Andrew B.]

I'm not seeing the suck here. Maybe it's just me, though.

[nomorecarts]

the suck was a kind that's hard to put into text. it was his attitude, and he was dead serious about stealing the stuff next time, which i'm not sure if he will or not, but the scanners on those self checks work, you just have to go slow

[rerant]

I'm not seeing the suck here. Maybe it's just me, though.

But... he was planning on shoplifting and rubbing it in nomorecarts face?
Pretty sucky if you ask me.
The fact that he admitted to not paying for the items doesn't absolve him of the suck. In fact it came off to me as though he was gloating.

[NateTheChops]

Agreed. Shoplifting is the second major reason why our store is no longer open 24/7 and it's a real pain in the ass when you catch people and they act like they didn't do anything wrong.

[NightWatch]

<snip> Shoplifting is the second major reason why our store is no longer open 24/7 </snip>

NOO! I now have a personal vendetta against shoplifters now... You cannot close my 24/7 stores early. I enjoy grcoery shopping at 3 AM when no one is there is get in my way...

[NateTheChops]

Yeah, well, the first big reason (at least I'd like to think that this was their priority) was that I was robbed at knife point one night. Not that it traumatized me exactly, but it gives me an excellent arguing point whenever other coworkers start to "keep score" if you know what I mean.

[bainsidhe]

Well, I'm glad he paid for the stuff, but I agree his attitude and lack of morals was pretty sucky.

Once had a couple blatantly stealing at the self-checks when I was helping another customer. We called them on it, at which point the woman starts rescanning and bitching that "well, if the scanner was working properly, people wouldn't be taking stuff". Now in my store, we are not allowed to accuse people of stealing (supposed to be for our safety, though I suspect it's more because of lawsuits). I really wanted to tell this woman off and say that she still didn't have the right to STEAL from our store.

And BTW, this couple left a full shopping cart of raw meat and other expensive items behind. Oh yeah, they weren't intending to steal from the onset

[Lone Wolf]

But... he was planning on shoplifting and rubbing it in nomorecarts face?

The fact that he admitted to not paying for the items doesn't absolve him of the suck. In fact it came off to me as though he was gloating.

I found myself wondering if that's not some sort of criminal offense in itself. In most juridictions, the law stipulates that intent to committ a crime is still an offense, even if it didn't actually occur for whatever reason. Evidently that didn't cross this idiots mind, or he might have thought twice before he said it. If it were me, nothing would be more satisfying than seeing the assclown dragged off in handcuffs, completely shocked and dumbstruck at the result of his own ignorance.

[Chromatix]

I'm pretty sure that "loitering with intent" is an offence. I'm not sure that merely "intending" is. It gets suspiciously close to "thoughtcrime" if you start trying to do that.

[nomorecarts]

nothing would be more satisfying than seeing the assclown dragged off in handcuffs, completely shocked and dumbstruck at the result of his own ignorance.

it was $2, the store wouldn't even press charges over it, but he didn't need to know that

[PepperElf]

well what did he expect to happen when he came back to show you the 2 cans of dog food?

mom's done that before... not shop-lifting, but bringing something back to the store when the scanners missed it cos she said the same thing you did "that would be stealing".

[Fenrus]

In most juridictions, the law stipulates that intent to committ a crime is still an offense, even if it didn't actually occur for whatever reason.

Like you said, it purely depends on the jurisdiction. Where I grew up, Burglary was the entry of a building with the intent to commit a felony. Any felony. You could shoot/stab/do naughty things with a person against their will, and still be charged with felony non/forced entry burglary, in addition to whatever it was that you did. you could even leave with nothing, but since the intent was there, be charged.

It all depends on where you live.