Is Shoplifting Just Acceptable Now In Colorado? Seems Like It
I witnessed a crime firsthand in Johnstown, Colorado on Sunday, and the staff didn't even lift a finger. Is shoplifting acceptable in Colorado in 2023? Here's the full story from Sunday...
Is Shoplifting In Colorado Still A Crime?
The obvious answer to the question "Is shoplifting a crime?" is yes, right? You'd think so. As a kid, I remember shopping at the Albertsons by my home in Northglenn, Colorado. I believe I was in Elementary school, there with a buddy, who got caught stealing. He put a baseball cap or something under his shirt, I'm trying to remember, but I didn't see it happen, so I'm just going off of what my friend told me after the fact. As we walked out, he got stopped by security and I kept on walking not really knowing what was going on.
To prove that I didn't know what happened, I went back into the store and asked if my friend was alright. At this point, they offered to take me to him, which I was excited about. Little did I know that where he was, was a room with the police telling him I was the one who told him to do it. Lying coward. We both had to go to court, and I was cleared because he was clearly not being honest. I tell you this story to confirm that yes, stealing is a crime. Or at least it used to be...
Shoplifters Run Out Of Burlington In Johnstown, Colorado
Sunday afternoon, my son, wife, and I stopped by Burlington in Johnstown at Hwy 34 and I-25 to look for some clothes. I was standing next to the makeshift changing rooms at the front of the store waiting for my wife and kiddo, when the security alarms started to sound. I look over and saw a woman with a giant handful of clothes running outside the store. I'm curious by nature, so I walked outside the door to confirm what I thought I had seen. What I confirmed was three adults booking it to their car. One with a laundry basket full of stuff, and a woman with a handful of clothes, just like I thought I saw, running towards a car. I couldn't see the driver as he was already on the other side of the car getting in to take off.
I wasn't able to get the plate number as it was moving too fast, but I did catch that it was a white Scion with a shattered back window. Stolen maybe? I went back inside, and it was business as usual. Not one staff member was following up to see what had just happened. I approached the desk and asked if they wanted any details on the getaway car of the people who literally just ran outside 60 seconds ago with thousands of dollars in merchandise. The guy's answer was pretty much "Um, sure, if you have it." The two staffers at the counter checking people out could not have cared less. I don't think the people who took off running, even needed to run. Is this the new normal? No need to even call the police?
One of my brothers, who works in local law enforcement said these types of things are becoming way more common, and if anybody does approach them, or attempt to play the hero, they get a weapon pulled on them, so most have just stopped trying. Not their stuff, why risk their well-being for $18 an hour? Can't say that I blame them, but dang, are we really just becoming numb and accepting of this criminal behavior? Why does anybody pay for anything if it's clear nobody is going to stop you from running (or walking) right out with handfuls of merchandise?
I've only seen theft like that one other time, ironically it was back at my childhood Albertson's store, where a guy loaded a cart full of meat, and bolted out the door. In that case, the manager tried chasing him down and called the cops immediately. Times sure have changed... Maybe if we increase the penalty, people will stop this nonsense. They can roomies with the people below...