Little shits shoplifting in Bethesda

[Anonymous]

PP here who asked the question why rich kids steal. I thought about this some more. Maybe it's because some of these kids have never gotten into real trouble because every time they get into some trouble, their parents bail them out or make excuses. The scary thing is, though, that one of these kids could turn out to be like the Affluenza kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I was a teenager in Betheda in the 80's -- remember the old Dart Drug -- I fell into a shoplifting habit. A man approached me and said rather loudly "Are you planning to put that back?" It freaked me out and rattled me enough that I stopped forever.

Consider the strategy.

I would have said something. For all those worried about repercussions, you are in Bethesda, not Elwood Park. The gangs are not going to get you here.

[Anonymous]

It's the Safeway on Old Georgetown Road near the Metro, and it's students from BCC. You'll also see them lined up at Chipotle across the street around lunchtime.

[Anonymous]

My best friend in college used to eat a donut as she shopped and never paid for them. Not as bad, but still guilty to this day.

[Anonymous]

Little bastards.

[Anonymous]

Why not call the police when you see something like that? Easy enough to call 911.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why not call the police when you see something like that? Easy enough to call 911.

Did you not read OP? Told two separate employees and was overheard by a manager. Really? The police?

[Anonymous]

My 20 something DD did stuff like this when she was in HS (never got caught), and also attended many a nonparent supervised party that got out of control (she was expert at evading the police when they came). She is now the very first to point out shoplifters to the manager and call the police when she passes by an obviously unsupervised teenage party.

Go figure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP here who asked the question why rich kids steal. I thought about this some more. Maybe it's because some of these kids have never gotten into real trouble because every time they get into some trouble, their parents bail them out or make excuses. The scary thing is, though, that one of these kids could turn out to be like the Affluenza kid.

I knew girls who stole makeup in high school. They had the money to buy the items, but they stole it for the thrill they got from getting away with doing it. Once one of the girls got caught by a store manager and hauled up to the office, they realized that going to jail wouldn't be a laughing matter, and they all stopped.

[Anonymous]

I was standing in line at my local CVS a few weeks ago waiting for my Rx and a kind of shabbily dressed guy came down the aisle as I stood there, bored. Honestly, I watched him because (a) I was bored and (b) he seemed kind of drunk. Anyway, as I stared, he looked at the display of pain killers and then swooped about 8 bottles of advil or something into his hand and dumped into his coat packet and sped out of there. It was so quick I didn't even know what to do. By the time I kind of snapped out of it, I didn't really want to get him in trouble - I mostly just felt sorry for him. A bunch of teenagers? I'd like to think I'd react differently but you never know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The public pays for the shoplifting in the form of higher prices overall. My nephew was caught shoplifting at a store. Something less than $10. He had the money. I asked him why he did it. He shrugged and said, "Because I thought I could get away with it". He got caught by the store manager, and the manager was kind, called the parents to come get the kid and didn't press charges. I don't know if nephew is still doing this. This was in HS. The kid had other issues.

When I was in HS, the girls that were popular, had money, also shoplifted: earrings, and stuff. I was shocked. They had money. I was poor but have never shoplifted. I don't know why these affluent kids do it. Are they just bored, and this is a form of entertainment?

Because they're a bit entitled and spoiled and don't want to stand in line to pay, and all that hassle.

I think it's also that they don't thank that something that costs like $3.99 is a "big deal" to take. Like some people think it's okay to take one grape to taste from the produce, because the value of one grape is like $.05 or whatever. Or most people would not think it's a big deal to take a loose bic pen that they find on a counter someplace, but would never take a random ipad that someone left on a counter. Rich kids often just have a different scale than the rest of us. So they probably wouldn't steal a car or an iphone, but don't think that taking a couple donuts or a lipstick is "stealing."

Sorry that's ridiculous. My kids are "rich kids" and know not to steal regardless of the value.

I'm the PP that you're responding to. My kids are probably "rich" too, by most definitions, but we don't raise them rich. They work for spending money and know what things cost. I went to college with people who were really rich (upper east side types) and they were terrible about money stuff. They would borrow a $20 and never remember to pay it back -- to them, it was like borrowing a stick of gum or a tick tac that you would never think to pay back. For me, $20 was like two month's spending money in college. I think there are also some that do it for the adrenaline rush, or to prove that they can, but like the PP that mentioned the habitual donut-stealer -- that's just someone that thinks that a $.65 donut is no big deal.
FWIW, I'm also in the camp that probably would have said something to the kids. I have many times corrected teenagers when I've seen them acting inappropriately in public -- and I hope people do the same with my kids if they are obnoxious teenager.

How do you know these were rich kids anyway? People are always so excited about the supposed socioeconomic diversity at BCC so maybe these weren't the rich kids.

[Anonymous]

The ONLY thing I will do is refer the closed circuit video to the home office.

Otherwise, I won't do a thing.

Why not? Do you understand how powerful the parents of these kids are around here? Do you really think I want to confront a kid, only to find out the parent is high up in a downtown law firm or a big-time lobbyist, or plays golf with a top dog in the FBI?

Do you really think I want that kind of trouble? All because a kid decides to lift some makeup???

No thank you. I simply refer the video to the home office. Let them decide if there's enough to pursue it, and let THEM decide if they want to take on the parents.

[Anonymous]

BCC is not full of "rich kids" AT ALL. While some are, a lot are not. Stop trying to make this out to be something it's not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Being hungry is no excuse to steal.

I wouldn't bother reporting them to anyone. Kids today think revenge is a game. I always mind my own business when I'm out shopping.

Thanks, Javert.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lol huh? Didn't understand the HS reference. Were they local students? I worked on Bethesda row, let's say I wasn't impressed with the children that populated that area. U can be affluent and educated 10x over but that does not translate to proper etiquette or proper home training

They aren't affluent if you live in those tiny condos.