Shoplifters Ordered To Wear Sign Reading "I Am A Thief"

[rockthecasbah]

Two people that were caught stealing at a Wal-Mart took a plea deal where instead of serving a 60 day jail sentence opted to enter a plea deal where they stood outside the Wal-Mart for about 4 hours wearing a sign that read "I am a thief."


Personally i think it's hilarious a good option for them. The article linked to at the bottom states that one stole a product that was $7, a petty theft, so taking the shame to stay out of jail gets the message across to them and others.


link.

 

[PlaceofDis]

a bit silly if you ask me, but i guess public humiliation works sometimes still. sadly.

 

[dartzorichalcos]

A good way to teach them a lesson so they would never do it again.

 

[dsnort]

Ahhh, the "Scarlet Letter" in real life!

How 'bout posting a sign outside Walmarts stating, "I am a thief, I ship jobs overseas!"?

 

[mcarnes]

A good way to teach them a lesson so they would never do it again.

I dunno, I'd probably feel bad for someone wearing that sign and flip them a quarter, or give them the rest of my burger.

 

[jsw]

Well, i think wearing a sign for four hours to avoid a 60-day jail sentence is a good idea.

Still... she faced a 60-day jail sentence for petty theft?

How would this help anyone?

 

[Counterfit]

a bit silly if you ask me, but i guess public humiliation works sometimes still. sadly.

I think it works better if you can throw tomatoes at them. Not that I would in this case, but some people really need fruit chucked at them.

 

[mustard]

I don't know how or why but I hate Wal*Mart a little less after this - not that I would start shopping there now.

 

[Father Jack]

At least they didn't have their hands cut off, as they do in some countries.

FJ

 

[synth3tik]

I am all for public humiliation. I wish there was more of it. If you do something wrong. It should be everyone else's right to point and laugh at you.

 

[5683565]

Dunno. If they took the Jail sentence they might have met Paris!

 

[iJon]

Ahhh, the "Scarlet Letter" in real life!

How 'bout posting a sign outside Walmarts stating, "I am a thief, I ship jobs overseas!"?

Cause that Apple you use was made in the USA right.

jon

 

[Henri Gaudier]

Personally i think it's hilarious a good option for them. The article linked to at the bottom states that one stole a product that was $7, a petty theft, so taking the shame to stay out of jail gets the message across to them and others.

I see Joe Strummers politics have seeped into your very soul on this issue.

Wal-Mart is an immoral bag-o-***** anyway. Thieve it to its knees. Smash it up.

 

[iJon]

We had a kid steal a street sign once in our town. The judge made him hold it up on the street corner for the good part of a day for punishment. I bet he never did it again.

jon

 

[BigPrince]

this makes me wanna be a judge so I can give cool setences like this.

My problem would be that I would overfill our local jails with sex offenders because they would always get the max setenece from me.

 

[2nyRiggz]

It's a bit silly but they will be embarrass enough not to steal from walmart again...I know I would be




Bless

 

[oblomow]

Here is a link to a video where a dutch store treats its shoplifters in a similar way.
The 10000th shoplifter is celebrated with music, cake and a present. The shoplifter in question was not amused...

 

[swingerofbirch]

I would be embarrassed to be that judge. I can't think of anything more unusual or cruel.

And I would be embarrassed to be the owner of the Walmart. If I were someone who shopped at Walmart I would turn around and not shop there as soon as I saw the man. The man in the sandwich board which said he stole says so much about Walmart:

Walmart is frequented by criminals.
There is currently a criminal standing in front of me.
Walmart is complicit in allowing cruel and unusual punishment.
This place is even trashier than I thought.
Someone needs to grow up. This is childish.

Finally, my initial thought when I saw this was: oh my God, this is so sad that someone had to steal an item that was only $7 and secondly that Walmart is the height of unethical companies and steals from poor Americans and even poorer Chinese people. Even still, I wouldn't be as gauche as to make the Walmart CEO wear a sandwich board. What is happening to this nation's decorum?

 

[Counterfit]

I would be embarrassed to be that judge. I can't think of anything more unusual or cruel.

You have a very weak imagination!

I mean, it's not like this is libelous/slanderous, they were convicted of theft, and thus, they are a thief. Their reputation is being harmed because of their actions, not on someone's whims.

 

[Don't panic]

if really they convicted them to 60 days in prison for 7$ worth of theft, the judge, all the jurors and the store manager should be branded with an "I am an ***hole" sign on their forefront. Permanently.

and read hawthorne's masterpiece.

 

[BigPrince]

He got to choose either the sign or jail. I think thats way more then fair.

 

[Peace]

I am all for public humiliation. I wish there was more of it. If you do something wrong. It should be everyone else's right to point and laugh at you.

That concept should be considered "cruel or unusual punishment" under the Constitution..

It's a symptom of a really sad state of affairs in the USA.

Furthermore this topic should be in the political,social forums

 

[TBi]

That concept should be considered "cruel or unusual punishment" under the Constitution..

It's a symptom of a really sad state of affairs in the USA.

Furthermore this topic should be in the political,social forums

Actually since they volunarily took this punishment they shouldn't be protected under the constitution.

If i was them i wouldn't fight it as a constitutional matter because it's either standing outside with a sign or stuck in a jail with hardened criminals if you win.

 

[elppa]

She said she was taking a $7 item to the service desk because it would not scan.

In my country you have to take it out the store for it to count as theft.

Is this not the case in the USA?

 

[BigPrince]

depends....was the item in her hand or tucked away in a purse or pocket?

was she heading the right direction of the service desk or did she not "know" where it was and headed in the parking lot direction?

I am sure it was much more fishy then text could explain.


ALSO, this saves the TAX PAYERS MONEY!!!