What would the ethical Diser do?

[SandrA9810]

No who, what, where, when, how, or anything else about this particular situation. But I honestly don't know how to approach this situation.

Say you heard from a friend of a friend, that some one you know of (well actually 2 people), are shoplifting? And not just stealing, but then returning it to the store for store credit. Apparently one of them is black listed from a couple of stores, but who knows how many stores they're actually doing this from?? And from the grapevine, it seems like way more than just one store, but like all the stores at the mall and then some. One does the taking, the other does the returning.

I know most stores have some one that looks out for shoplifters, and most the time you can only do a return 3-4 times in a rolling year with your ID only. Most retailers require your driver's license and that number is then stored in the system for about a year, so they can keep track. But if they're hitting a bunch of stores, it could be some time before the computers put a mark on the ID.

What exactly can you do at this point?

 

[RNMOM]

That's a tough one. If you haven't witnessed this for yourself I don't see how you can go to any kind of authority. You haven't mentioned the age of these people. If they are younger than 18 I would consider speaking with their parents. If they are older, I might be inclined to tell them what you know without telling them who told you.

I would avoid them like the plague too. You don't want to be labeled or falsely accused.

 

[kacaju]

No who, what, where, when, how, or anything else about this particular situation. But I honestly don't know how to approach this situation.

Say you heard from a friend of a friend, that some one you know of (well actually 2 people), are shoplifting? And not just stealing, but then returning it to the store for store credit. Apparently one of them is black listed from a couple of stores, but who knows how many stores they're actually doing this from?? And from the grapevine, it seems like way more than just one store, but like all the stores at the mall and then some. One does the taking, the other does the returning.

I know most stores have some one that looks out for shoplifters, and most the time you can only do a return 3-4 times in a rolling year with your ID only. Most retailers require your driver's license and that number is then stored in the system for about a year, so they can keep track. But if they're hitting a bunch of stores, it could be some time before the computers put a mark on the ID.

What exactly can you do at this point?

what can you do?? Nothing... I would not go shopping EVER with them at this point.

 

[aprilgail2]

what can you do?? Nothing... I would not go shopping EVER with them at this point.

 

[metalis4ever]

No who, what, where, when, how, or anything else about this particular situation. But I honestly don't know how to approach this situation.

Say you heard from a friend of a friend, that some one you know of (well actually 2 people), are shoplifting? And not just stealing, but then returning it to the store for store credit. Apparently one of them is black listed from a couple of stores, but who knows how many stores they're actually doing this from?? And from the grapevine, it seems like way more than just one store, but like all the stores at the mall and then some. One does the taking, the other does the returning.

I know most stores have some one that looks out for shoplifters, and most the time you can only do a return 3-4 times in a rolling year with your ID only. Most retailers require your driver's license and that number is then stored in the system for about a year, so they can keep track. But if they're hitting a bunch of stores, it could be some time before the computers put a mark on the ID.

What exactly can you do at this point?

I personally would confront my friend and if they confirmed the story then I would no longer associate with that person. I may even go so far as informing the managers of the stores and or security, providing a description or even a picture so they can catch them red handed.

 

[PatsGirl]

Remove yourself from their acquaintance? Other than that you really can't do anything. There is nothing I hate more than liars and cheats

 

[tomthebarncat]

Unless you know this to be fact, you are not really in a position to report them to anyone. Personally, I would disassociate myself from them, as it is only a matter of time before they start stealing stuff from other places. I also have no use for liars and cheats!

 

[monkeyboy]

Write up a "how to" list and post on Budget Boards

Great way to finance a trip to WDW

 

[LuvOrlando]

Nothing you can do about it OP. Since you don't know this first hand it might be just plain old nasty gossip. People tell lies about other people all the time for all sorts of reasons. There is no moral or ethical rule binding you to something you've heard on the grapevine so I don't think you have any reason to feel obligated to make a move here. If I were you I'd take the news and tuck it away as 'suspiciously possible' then judge for myself how I feel about the people involved, including the gossip chain who told you this in the first place. One thing I wouldn't do is help spread the story.

 

[Rora]

what can you do?? Nothing... I would not go shopping EVER with them at this point.

I agree. There isn't much you can do but the best thing to do is to never go shopping with them. BAD idea.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Since you asked...

If I were a teen, I would be too afraid to tell, but I would distance myself from that friend. I did that a few times in high school/college. When I got wind that folks were doing something illegal, I distanced myself.

I've never, to my knowledge, have known anyone to do anything that bad though. (Bad as in--stealing quite a lot!)

At this point, without proof--I would just protect yourself. They think they are hot stuff and have gotten away with so much that it is highly unlikely you can get them to listen to you.

I was watching some special about a thief and they said that they got highs from successful thefts. It just grows and grows, like drugs. They need more to get that high. These people aren't letting a blacklist stop them.

You could call the police and notify them that you caught wind of it. If stores have them blacklisted, it isn't like you are causing trouble. You are aware that there is someone who is highly likely to steal again. My personal opinion is that it is time that they meet the police. You aren't making a false accusation. You are simply making them aware that they might be doing this.

Also--if on the news, they have a story and surveillance video asking if anyone might know anything about these crimes...I'd totally rat them out at that point.

 

[FireDancer]

Write up a "how to" list and post on Budget Boards

Great way to finance a trip to WDW

Make sure to include how to steal an iron and coffee maker so they can make dinner in their room.

 

[krcit]

Nothing you can do about it OP. Since you don't know this first hand it might be just plain old nasty gossip. People tell lies about other people all the time for all sorts of reasons. There is no moral or ethical rule binding you to something you've heard on the grapevine so I don't think you have any reason to feel obligated to make a move here. If I were you I'd take the news and tuck it away as 'suspiciously possible' then judge for myself how I feel about the people involved, including the gossip chain who told you this in the first place. One thing I wouldn't do is help spread the story.

 

[Robinrs]

Just cracking up at the title of this thread...

 

[kaytieeldr]

Nothing you can do, except, as stated above, disassociate yourself from the people involved - until/unless you determine it was unsubstantiated gossip. And NEVER be in a store with them!!!

 

[sbell111]

Nothing you can do, except, as stated above, disassociate yourself from the people involved - until/unless you determine it was unsubstantiated gossip. And NEVER be in a store with them!!!

How could you possibly prove the negative?

My plan would be to do nothing as I do not act on third party gossip. If I happen to see them shoplift something or they tell me that they did, then I will take whatever action I feel appropriate, likely simply dissassociation (unless I am actually in the store with them at the time).

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

I don't know what an ethical Diser would do, but if I knew them well enough, I would let them know that you "heard" that someone had informed the police of their "activity", so they had better knock it off before they land in jail. No need to prove anything to anyone, and you just refuse to answer when asked who turned them in - maybe even suggest that you aren't sure who turned them in because you got the information "second hand". At any rate, that would be lying, so not really an ethical solution, but you might get them to stop before they end up in jail.

No matter what, I would disassociate myself from them. This isn't simple shoplifting. This is much worse and demonstrates character flaws that present a real danger to anyone around them. But I would not call the police without evidence. And, if I didn't know them well, I would just exclude them from my life.

 

[SandrA9810]

I would never be caught dead in a store with them or anywhere (just because I know of them, doesn't mean I want to be around them). So no way of catching them first hand. The gossiper, well is a gossiper, but is close enough to these people to be right about them, and from what I know of them, this isn't a far stretch from possible being true.

That's what bugs me the most. Is it's more than likely true. The people closer to the situation seem pissed, but it doesn't appear to be doing anything preventative.

I hate gossipers. If you know something is wrong, do something about it, all they do is just flap the mouth.

 

[SandrA9810]

I guess I'm not any better than the gossiper. But this is serious stuff and I just don't know how to respond. Should I go back to the grapevine to tell them they should call the cops? Do I even know enough to call the cops? I know the names, but thats about it.

Who exactly is the "proper authority" in this situation? I know who the theif is, and from a brief time being around them, they have no fear of jail or the police. So unless an action is actually done, trying to put the fear of God in them isn't going to work.

 

[KAMLEM]

You should stay out of it, it's only gossip from your point of view.