I’ve been working at a high-traffic grocery store for the past few years, and going a day without seeing multiple people steal is a rarity. What started as something quite suspenseful and shocking to witness has quickly become an everyday norm of working retail. However, while I’ve come to adopt a nonchalant attitude toward the thievery, it seems that many can’t help but continue to exhibit signs of aggression and hatred. For whatever reason, they see the stealing of groceries from a giant corporation as a personal attack, and while they can’t touch them, they still choose to chase the thieves down and belittle them every chance they get. The blunt truth of the matter is that they see these people turning to crime to get what they need and blame it on the individuals’ lack of motivation instead of a sign of desperation.
I can’t help but assume that these reactions I’ve noticed in my own store are similar to those across the city, and it’s clear that the viewpoints of these upset individuals have become distorted. The rise of petty theft in Portland is directly related to the rise of homelessness, and this rise isn’t indicative of widespread laziness, but is instead a clear indication of the growing economic crisis we find ourselves in. Those seeking to stop theft shouldn’t be advocating for heightened security measures, but should instead be looking to support one of the many causes out there aiming to solve this crisis (many of which are directly discussed in other posts on this blog). The upsurge of shoplifting tells us a whole lot more about our status as a country, and as a joint population, than it does about those individuals choosing to steal.
by Taite Harms
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