Real-life MMD: I saw a homeless man steal food - should I have reported it?

bogwart

Are you serious? You "think" you saw a man who you assume to be homeless stealing couple of of pounds-worth of food and suddenly this is a real dilemma? How about being certain before you jump to these conclusions?

preable

I would report him. Theft is theft

bigbugboo

nonnatus wrote: »

How did you KNOW he was homeless??


Maybe he was one of the "Career Beggars" that make £80 a day begging whilst also renting a home and getting benefits!!??


Yes, you SHOULD have reported it. Theft (especially petty theft like shoplifting) affects all of us, keeps prices high etc.


If the man was genuinely starving to death (!?) why has he picked a Pret salad?? He was stealing because that's the easy way for him. Less hassle than accessing the massive amounts of support available for people like him.


I just don't understand the thinking that says "Aww, it's Xmas, he obviously REALLY needed that expensive salad, let's all look the other way for today..."


Bah. Humbug to all of you Softies.

What a sad, pessimistic comment. I would rather walk in love and be called a softie than to be hard hearted and bitter.

happyinflorida

Can't believe you'd even consider reporting anyone who is homeless - by the way did he have a sign on him saying "homeless" or are you just assuming that along with the fact you are not even sure he stole a salad.


Maybe you'd like to start helping out in a soup kitchen or doing something to help people in desperation?

Talent

Of course it should be reported.

pollypenny

Of course it should NOT be reported!

How inhuman! Perhaps it would have better if he could have reached a warm pasty or something.

florere

If he really is homeless then he has a big problem, he could be homeless because he is mentally ill, in which case he needs help, he might get that help if he is arrested, I live in hope.

It might not be a well paid manager who has to pay for it, it might be a person on minimum wage, could be half an hours work. If you witness a crime, you should report it if only to the manager of the store, you wouldn't like it if a "homeless" man stole something of yours and a witness saw it and kept quiet.

mr-tom_2

So you didn't see somebody who was homeless, you saw somebody really scruffy and a bit minging. You made an assumption (probably accurate) about his circumstances.

Now to practicalities: as others have pointed out, you don't know what you saw. You think he might have stolen. That won't stand up in court and it wouldn't be right to accuse somebody of being a criminal unless you really are sure.

Likewise, as others have said, it might make sense to suggest extra vigilance to the guys at pret, but then the more time they spend looking around, the less time they spend doing other stuff like taking payments or making drinks, so there will be a balance as to which is the more profitable activity for them.

Sorry not to have been able to contribute any original thinking to the discussion.

Happy Christmas all. Let's be thankful that we're not homeless and try to look at people charitably when we meet them.

meknowalot-51

You assume he's homeless,you think he stole.From what you say it's as though being homeless is a ticket to leaneancy,theft is theft.Your clearly not sure if he commited a crime so forget it,or maybe you could have offered to buy some food for this alleged homeless person.My wife works in retail and quite often the security people catch someone red handed thieving,they call the police.Recently this happened and because he claimed to be homeless they said there's no point in pressing charges,merry xmas to one and all.

Ebenezer_Screwj

You should have reported it as you very well know . . . but I wouldn't have done.