In our Bad Behaviour class, we discussed theft acts. Most thought that crimes such as armed robbery or burglary were the worst sorts of theft, as this is actually imposing violence on a specific person or invading a persons' privacy. The class mainly thought that shoplifting was a fairly victimless crime. It was said that some shoplifters perhaps shoplift for political reasons, IE, items overpriced or made cheaply by slave labour in poor countries, and others are kids shoplifting because they do not have the money or are perhaps the victims of bullying or peer pressure. Although most people thought shoplifting was relatively victimless, I tend to disagree. I feel that shoplifting is the start of the scale and if somebody gets away with
it long enough, they may move onto other more serious crimes. I also feel that it funds human trafficking and drug users, as most crimes are committed either by drug users or illegal immigrants according to surveys. Shoplifting is up 70% since 2000 and shop crime in the UK in 2005 cost £2.1billion. Surveys also say that shoplifting is to blame for 2/3 of violent incidents in stores, and also forced some stores to close. I dare say shoplifting is seen as petty to some, but if somebody is intent on stealing from a shop, who is to say that they will not become violent if approached? I view shoplifting just as bad as any theft act, and it costs the tax-payers billions each year. I've heard a lot of people saying that it is the big stores that have to foot the bill, and they can afford it, but it all comes out of tax-payers pockets one way or another, so these shoplifters are only costing you or I are hard-earned money
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6039074.stm
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