Is taking an item from outside a charity shop technically theft?
By NickRichards | Sunday, October 10, 2010, 16:51
Walk through Bury St Edmunds on any evening and you’ll no doubt see bags of donations outside the town’s charity shops.
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Bags and boxes outside the Cancer Research shop in Bury St Edmunds. People were spotted rummaging through the boxes on Sunday.
Shops run on a shoestring budget rely on such donations for their stock as they raise vital funds for a wide variety of health and animal charities.
But what happens when those generous donations vanish before they end up on the shops’ shelves.
Over the past year I’ve seen a handful of occasions where people have helped themselves to items from outside charity shops or at least had a rummage around the bags left outside.
On Sunday I witnessed an couple, probably in their 60s rummaging through the bags of the Cancer Research Shop on the Cornhill and walking off with what looked like children’s toys.
I was so alarmed I went and got my camera and waited to try and capture more bag rummaging, but alas, there was no more.
So – here’s a moral dilemma for you: Is taking from outside a charity shop actually theft? No crime is being committed, and at least the items are finding new homes.
What do you think?
Comments
def !! I work for a charity , and you would be astounded at the attitude of some people ..that the stock is donated so that it is ok to take it .... that the shops are free of rent and rates ......that we don't pay for anything so why should customers pay for things ......the amount of theft from the shops is also high , people just walk off with stuff knowing that you are powerless to do much , as police will want evidence .. as soon as the theives leave the shops , they take off tickets and therefore no evidence !!! The chartities depend on donated stock completeley , and the UK would be a much poorer place without the work that the charities do . And don't get me started on bogus door to door collectors , they cost the charities millions each year !!
By sgmoody at 11:01 on 27/01/11
ReportYes of course it is! Maybe not officially, but certainly it goes against all morals and standards.
By tg1953 at 09:34 on 27/01/11
Report