Reader comments
Retail thefts soaring as the economy slides

Thieves steal... | 4:22 a.m. Jan. 6, 2009

Perhaps it is no more related to the economy than the thugs that riot after championship ball games.

Like the cruds in Boston. They use the game as an excuse to do what they are already wanting to do... riot.

So to are the thieves that steal at a higher rate now. They would steal anyway, but now they are using the economy as an excuse to justify it to themselves.

Even in god econimic times these same people will steal.

KennyB | 6:41 a.m. Jan. 6, 2009

I guess when you get hungry enough and cold enough and you don't have anything to look forward to a free candy bar and a dry pair of socks is pretty tempting.

--Ray | 7:07 a.m. Jan. 6, 2009

Hire more police. Oh wait. We can't. It's a recession. Gotta keep cutting back, due to irresponsible government spending. Behold the face of the new government... thieves and mobsters! Yay!

Comments continue below

ME | 7:45 a.m. Jan. 6, 2009

The problem is that people with multiple offenses aren't prosecuted by the counties as the felons they are. Most cases are left to cities to prosecute as class B misdemeanors. Even if the thieves are convicted and get their 6 month sentence, the jail lets them out early and they go steal again. Counties need to step it up and prosecute these felons-even if their third strike is just from stealing a $15 CD.

Joey | 8:01 a.m. Jan. 6, 2009

I shop at the Home Depot in Salt Lake all the time. I am always seeing there security guy nab someone. Helps keep the prices down for me as a shopper and I am glad to see them get caught.

Can;t or Won't go back | 8:34 a.m. Jan. 6, 2009

In the 30's during the depression, many people went back to the "family farm", to grow their own food, raise their own livestock. Oops, can't do that now - the U.S. Government and the American people have done away with the "family farms." Today's population would not know how to make a garden, slaugther a pig, etc. I am afraid the 8 years of reign by the biggest terrorist of all (George Bush) has caused us some real problems.

Oh boy | 8:56 a.m. Jan. 6, 2009

One more evidence of the general decay in society. The more liberal and god-less we become, the less moral we are. Traditional values are scorned but they create and maintain society. Well done.....

Come On! | 9:29 a.m. Jan. 6, 2009

The fact that people don't know how to garden has nothing to do with Bush. Get off it.

It's the people that fight against urban sprawl that have made it difficult for people to be able to raise their own livestock and/or garden. It's difficult now to even supplement your grocery needs by having a home garden because most homes don't have a yard big enough to grow a tomato plant.

I don't think the American public in general WANTS to garden. Most are quite happy without the work and effort that a garden requires.

If anything, it's the Democrats that have enhanced a sense of entitlement within the American public, making people think the government will take care of everything and solve all their problems for them.

Let's just sit back and wait for Obama to solve our problems for us. He's all about CHANGE.

ebw | 9:34 a.m. Jan. 6, 2009

I think the condition of the economy has little to do with the rise in shop lifting.
What the real cause is the lack of honesty, regardless of the ones situation or that of the country they live in.

The Scout Oath and Scout Law, as well as the Ten Commandments should be all peoples standard.

Don't worry, change is coming | 9:41 a.m. Jan. 6, 2009

Don't worry, everybody.

Change is coming.

Once Obama is president, everything will change.

Obama is change we can believe in!

Once Obama is president, we are all going to get huge checks in the mail, and everything will be OK in the world.

Don't worry, change is coming...Yeah right!!!

notJoeKing | 9:47 a.m. Jan. 6, 2009

George Bush caused all the Liberals to move to cities? Amazing logic there. Like any liberal would be able to kill a pig in any manner (none would be "humane" enough)... they would rather treat the pig like it has more rights than any human than to kill it for their own survival.

Re Don't worry, change in coming | 9:54 a.m. Jan. 6, 2009

As I recall, Bush mailed us checks just last year. NOT Obama. Get it?

Obama genuinely wants to help. You got a problem with that? Bush also genuinely wanted to help...the rich. That's why Bush scaled back taxes on capital gains for the rich and left the poor to die in the Superdome after Hurrican Katrina.

Yes, Obama will change things. He will take away the perks the rich had the last 8 years and give the poor a chance to have some perks. Sounds fine to me. What's your beef with that?

9:41 Post | 9:57 a.m. Jan. 6, 2009

I hope change is coming. Just where would we be with another 8 years of what we have just witnessed and gone through? Do you really think that the present mentality would be good for us citizens? How far do you want too see our country, and economy trashed? Do you really think that everything in our country is O.K. today? How much farther do you want us put in the gutter? What has this administration done in the last 2 years to avoid this mess? Give me a break.

I'm a loser | 10:34 a.m. Jan. 6, 2009

I'm incapable of thinking for myself so I'll just Blame Mr. Bush, the Repulicans and everything else under the sun. Under no circumstances will I hold myself accountable for my own actions, desicions or choices that I have made. I am a hopeless loser and content to remain an outsider and malcontent despite the oppurtunities and freedom this country offers to anyone with a shred of self respect or the ambition to improve their own lives. Nope, that's not for me, I'll just wait for someone I can victimize instead, and if that doesn't work I'll make myself the poor, poor pitiful victim. You see, not only am I a pathetic loser, I'm also a manipulative jerk.

PLEASE | 1:37 p.m. Jan. 6, 2009

They were stealing before this. They just "feel less guilt" now that they have something to blame. It's selfishness to the max, and they aren't doing it for need, but greed. Self indulgent, excuse making, losers that prey on the honest.

Politics | 2:28 p.m. Jan. 6, 2009

have no place in this argument. People are not stealing bc of the presidency or politics. People are stealing because mothers of 10 kids are suddenly having to live off nothing bc husbands are losing jobs or are getting hour cut backs. People stealing cd's and stereo systems are one thing, but last night i saw a woman try to steal childs socks and a loaf of bread- i'm pretty sure she wasn't trying to get away with that just because she could. Its easy to look down on people when you have money, but imagine having to look at your childrens faces and explain to them why there is no dinner tonight, or why they will just have to make do with summer sandals in the middle of winter. There is no help for the hard working American right now- we are busy giving money to illegal immigrants for college or helping big corporations stay in business so they can raise their interest rates and rape people. People need to think before they speak, especially in these hard times. It is not as easy as you think to "get help" or "get welfare". That is not the answer.

Employee thefts... | 3:50 p.m. Jan. 6, 2009

are just as bad. You are talking to one who knows. We had to close a large business years ago because our warehouses were plundered by insiders. You have got to put a policeman at the gate and check everyone to stop the plunder, like Costco, and the lumber yards do. It stops a lot of it and is worth every dime spent. Customers know it is in their best interest too, they save money on the stores competitive prices by not having to cover the theft problem. It keeps honest people honest also.

Quit justifying yourselves folks | 3:59 p.m. Jan. 6, 2009

Some of those posting on this article seem to think it is OK for the "poor" to steal from the "rich". That is a bunch of baloney folks. That kind of thinking ruins our country, our economy, and fills our jails with criminals. THOU SHALT NOT STEAL...
The 10 commandments cover the most commonly practiced sins people commit. And you know where they came from folks....ONE WHO KNOWS... think about it.

The Economy | 4:07 p.m. Jan. 6, 2009

The economy doesn't create a thief. First of all the jobless rate in Utah is still less than 4% which is only slightly above full employment. The economy is only an excuse for some thieves. An honest person will not steal no matter the circumstances.

Thieves were created in childhood by parent/family example, and peers. When parents fail to deal with stealing in a young child in an appropriate way that child will grow up to be a thief. Law enforcement prevents some from stealing, but only hinders others. Thieves are narcissists and incapable of empathy for those that they steal from. They are able to justify stealing from almost anyone at any time.

Amen | 8:44 p.m. Jan. 6, 2009

Amen!

You are not entitled to STEAL because

You do not get to steal from the wealthy Dollar Store because your children are hungry.

You do not get to steal a candy bar and a coke because you don't have any pleasures in life.

You do not get to decide who deserves money and who does. You do not get to judge that the store owner has more money than you do, so you can take what you want.

This is America, where we are supposed to appreciate the property and opportunities we have, and respect those that make the best of theirs.

We do not take from others just because WE THINK they have more than we do.

And by the way, this article talks about entire shelves of merchandise being taken from the Dollar Store. People aren't stealing bread to feed their families, so give up the sob story.

A Liberal God-Less Moralist | 12:10 a.m. Jan. 7, 2009

RE: Oh boy | 8:56 a.m. Jan. 6, 2009

You said: ï¿½One more evidence of the general decay in society. The more liberal and god-less we become, the less moral we are. Traditional values are scorned but they create and maintain society. Well done...ï¿½

Iï¿½m a complete and total Atheist and Liberal. Yet, my God-fearing LDS employees and customers are endlessly stealing from me.

What gives? Iï¿½m not experiencing moral decay because my values are based on sound reasoning and logic, not dogma. However, I witness first hand how so many theists endlessly struggle with basic values of honesty, integrity and morality.

Liberal and god-less seldom equals less moral. I have tons and tons of proof to support that.

If you must be a theist, please at least try not to be an ignorant (no this does not mean rude) theist.

Midwest Voyeur | 10:06 a.m. Jan. 7, 2009

I never used to read the comments section, but more and more I find myself being drawn into the passionate opinions of my fellow men, much like society gets sucked into those inane and endless reality television programs. Why does it matter so much to me what some total stranger thinks about an issue. Maybe it has to do with being a math teacher, and always trying to get inside the heads of my seventh graders to see if they understand what I have been trying to teach.

Anyway, I feel sad to see so much hatred, and so much "us against them" thinking in most comment sections, so I'll make one silly statement, and then slink back into the anonymous shadows.

Every day at school we say the pledge of allegiance, and when I say the words "one nation" and "indivisible", I always feel a twinge that as a nation we no longer seem to be "one nation", and "indivisible".

Yes, there is a lot of blame to go around for all the problems we face as a nation, but the divisiveness can most effectively be traced back to exploitative talk radio programs that lie, fostering hate and anger.

Fear-mongering | 2:56 p.m. Jan. 7, 2009

RE: Midwest Voyeur

I agree. But I think the word you're looking for is fear-mongering. All exploitive talk radio programs fit into this category. However, you're forgetting many some religions, and even so, not all of them all the time (Like Rev. Phelps & Mormons vs Prop 8), some politicians (Like Bush's reelection campaign of stop-the-gays!) and some news programs as well, like FOX.

Sadly, fear-mongering never leads to sound decisions, deeper understanding or real solutions. Here are some examples from the posts above:

...the thugs that riot after championship ball games.

...prosecute these felons-even if their third strike is just from stealing a $15 CD.

...the biggest terrorist of all (George Bush) has caused us some real problems.

Self indulgent, excuse making, losers that prey on the honest.

The more liberal and god-less we become, the less moral we are.

That kind of thinking ruins our country, our economy, and fills our jails with criminals

emma | 7:39 a.m. Jan. 11, 2009

We are just very greedy people. No matter who you are or what you stand for, we are greety.
You look for discounts, why not SAVE your money and pay full price if it is an item you need, not a WANT! you need food, clothes,and shelter. You do not need 20 pair of shoes, three cars, boats, tv in every room, etc., depending on the size of family you do not need a house with twenty rooms, not even ten rooms, unless you help the homless! Fraud is high again because we are greedy. If you did not have a cell bill, or buy cd's every three days, prehaps you can pay that money to someone who is willing to work for a fair pay this way you yourself can make sure they are not illegals, if this is one of your concerns. Yes, you might donate money to those with less, many times someone else takes that money. Instead, hire someone and pay them direct, teach people about work and pay. You must be the one to take action not just complain and blame. If you find a $10.00 bill do you keep it?

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