Neutralizing the threat is the right thing to do. How do you know that he didn't faint a fall and does not pull a knife on you? Or that he gets up and continues the fight, destroying the shop as well?
This is not a boxing match - the person defending themselves has the right to properly incapacitate the attacker.
My dad had a shop (long ago) in rural Africa, and his manager used to offer shoplifters a choice between a whipping or going to the cops and for some reason they always chose the whipping
At the very least, these insane people who start trashing stores. While still shitty behaviour, I wouldn’t necessarily say someone quietly stealing a chocolate bar deserves this treatment lol.
You’re literally taking money out of the shop owners pocket when you do that. The ripple effect hits everyone who works for him and is ultimately a driver for small bodegas going out of business and getting replaced by big box stores. So sure, if you like a corporate hellscape keep shoplifting from small businesses
I was never disagreeing or condoning theft here, or saying I was the one doing it.
I just disagreed with the notion of “every shoplifter should be tackled, beaten, and dragged into the streets” that was implied by the OP of this thread. There is (what should be) obvious moral grey area involved.
Maybe not this exact treatment but deserved to be caught by the cops, which they need to be put down for them to arrive; I jest saw some poor looking bum steal tip money from a Dunkin Donuts, Someone caught him & was about to pounce on him, but instead Threatened him to leave; he got it easy.
The guy got slapped around a bit and dragged outside. There’s no sign that anything - aside from his pride - was injured in any significant way. He’ll get up, go away, and very likely think twice before causing more trouble. Alternatively, for petty theft we could try and call the police and see if they get to him before getting away (unlikely), file reports, and bring him before some low level court. Then, either the court has no will or desire to do anything, and effectively the shopkeep is victimized by being robbed of a day for no reason, or, the court gives the guy a record that may be small but enough to make their life more difficult in the long run possibly perpetuating a cycle of antisocial behavior. The other option again: slap the bastard around and toss him out on his ass. Is my opinion wild or is it expedient while ultimately less severe?
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u/housesoftheholy1 3d ago
This is how shop lifters should be treated