10/28/2026
I consider myself a pretty lawful person. I think I'm honest have integrity and will always report crimes when observed. I'm not a law breaker. I'm the person who will tell on others. Some may say a goody two shoes. A party pooper.
I've always been okay with that.
The other day I didn't do the "right" thing by the law's standards and it still bothers me.
I witnessed something and I have to admit, my mind still has a slight internal battle with.
The other day I watched a man push a shopping cart full of stuff out of Kohls. He exited doors that were technically "closed" to the public except in an emergency. My first thought was call the police this guy is clearly stealing. I observed him tell an innocent bystander who tried to enter those doors, "Use the other doors". Signs clearly posted the same message all over those doors. I continued to watch him. Observing. Thinking....get a good description of him and call the police. He is breaking the law. But I didn't. I didn't grab my phone. I just watched. I observed. Clearly the clothes on his back hadn't been washed recently, possibly ever. Clearly neither had he. It was safe to assume he very likely did not have a roof and warm house to return to. My thoughts...but he is stealing that's wrong, call the police. Why are you waiting? Call the damn police. As I watched him push the cart thru the parking lot towards a wooded area. The other voice, for Pete's sake you're gonna report him so he can go to jail for a few days just to be released back to nowhere? Like Kohls isn't writing that merchandise off for a tax break. The employees obviously weren't concerned. No one noticed.
I continue to watch as he walked about 50 feet past a sitting police cruiser. A vehicle with an officer sitting in the driver seat. The cop has to see the tags on the clothing right? Again the voice said, just go tell that cop. He's right there. Other voice, it isn't like this guy is part of a large crime ring. What are you thinking? You're not being a hero....He stole merchandise he obviously desperately needs from a department store that claimed to profit $272 million in 2025 (yes I looked it up).
Stealing is wrong. Especially when someone stole from my very small business. It is infuriating and again it is illegal and it does impact us as consumers.
The unhoused man pushing a cart full of stolen merchandise likely wasn't involved in a larger crime ring. Some shoplifters are part of other crimes like drugs, illegal weapons, money laundering, identity theft, etc. This guy likely didn't bring that baggage to his shoplifting spree today. At least that was my assessment after watching him push the cart out of sight and I just sat and watched. Did nothing.
In my heart I think I did the "right" thing but my mind doesn't feel good about it.
I'm not posting for approval, posting more because I think some of us struggle with "doing the right thing" and sometimes we probably get it wrong but at the end of the day we're still decent.....right? 🙃
For the record, I don't condone theft just because you are without....but I do allow my compassion to guide me when there is an internal conflict. That is something I've worked on as the years pass. With that said, even when my compassion guides me, my conscience still battles me.
Sharon Salzberg
