[JudyKayTee]

I agree with Alty. You don't have one shread of remorse in your post. You're just freaked out you got caught with your hand in the cookie jar. What do you expect from the cop? A nice flowerly lecture instead of a reality "rude" person. They were not rude. They were just doing their job and you were it. You have everyting going for you, but you chose to throw it all away for a few dollars. I'm wondering just how many OTHER times you did this same thing - only you DID NOT GET CAUGHT. Hmmmm. Makes a person ponder. It's lovely people like you who have obviously done this before that seem to yowel the hardest and loudest that they "never" did anything like that before. The first offender programs are a joke. You did the crime, it's going to be too bad that you don't get punished but can cop out on a "first offender" program. I guess the jails are too full and they had to think up something to "punish" the first timers. Gee. Get a job and earn the money. Don't steal anything ever. If you can't pay for it, don't steal it. End of lecture. Thank you for not reading.

Maybe this should stand on its own or maybe not but I have to wonder about the first offender programs - I have noticed that an absolutely overwhelming number of people posting about shoplifting are Canadian.

Either the Americans and citizens of the UK (the only other two "groups" I've seen post about shoplifting) don't usually post or an overwhelming majority of shoplifters in the World are Canadian.

Maybe it's the "first offender" programs - I don't really know.

The same programs that are set up to help the Court calendar move along are clogging the Court calendar because instead of one shoplifting arrest, one Court hearing, there seem to be twice as many people shoplifting.

Any thoughts?

[ScottGem]

I moved this to the Member discussion area. The Subject title is mine, its meant to be facetious so, please, all you Canucks don't jump down on me and especially not on Judy.

But Judy does have a point. An overwhelming number of shoplifting questions are from Canada.

[excon]

Hello:

Yup. I mentioned this in a discussion years ago. I don't know what it is with Canadians, but they sure do shoplift a LOT.

Do you think it has anything to do with the weather?

excon

[0rphan]

Perhaps the punishment for shoplifting, is worth taking the risk, a bit like here in the UK.

The laws to soft, therefore shoplifting goes on all the time, basically, because if the police are called when an offence is in progress the police usually have more important crimes to deal with and the answer you are given is... we'll sent an officer round... 3 days later,
Therefore offenders continue to steal repeatedly.

Too much paper work involved and not enough Police officers...