Safeway is run by Asshats.

I recently read an article about a couple caught shoplifting with their child. A modern day Bonnie and Clyde, if you will. Hitting up stores, shoplifting goods, dodging security and using their adorable tot as a distraction. Images of using the stroller to hide the stolen goods popped to mind. What kind of parents do this?! Is an iPod really worth losing your child? What good can come of this, and most importantly, what the heck is wrong with these idiots that they think it's ok to shoplift and set this example for their child?!


Except. They "shoplifted" a $5.00 sandwich at Safeway.

http://news.yahoo.com/pregnant-mom-says-sandwich-arrest-horrifying-214407004.html

I won't lie, when I first saw the headline, I thought smugly to myself "Serves them right, what kind of morals are they teaching their kid?!" and then had the usual self indulgent "I'm a better parent than that!" thoughts. If you deny ever having those, you, my friend, are a LIAR. That's a blog post for another day, though! The further I got into the article, the more dumbfounded I became. I'm assuming that you probably read it, but I'll bottom line this for the lazies (no judgement, just helping you out!) out there. They had just moved to the area (Hawaii), didn't know the neighborhood, needed some groceries, and ended up at Safeway. Mom is pregnant, they have a young daughter. Dad went and got a pre-made deli sandwich for them all to share while shopping. Mom held on to the wrapper so she could pay when they checked out. They bought $50 worth of groceries, Mom forgot to hand over the wrapper. Security stopped them, took them in the office, and called the police. They were arrested, daughter went to social services, and they were booked. They were released almost immediately after paying their $50 bail, but their daughter wasn't returned for 18 hours, until after they contacted a lawyer. The lawyer advised them to alert the media.

Now, let me back up for a minute here. I don't at all blame Safeway for having a hard stance on shoplifting. It is a real problem and drives up prices for the rest of us. There are tons of people who DO shoplift. Have you ever been in line at WalMart at the self checkout, where some assclown in front of you is shoplifting stuff right and left? Checking one thing, but bagging 3? This enrages me. And if I happen to be talking to you (as in, somebody who actually does this), please know I report it to the store. So, I get it. The store loses money, in turn they increase prices, we have to pay them. Even celebrities aren't immune to this. I'm sure we all recall the Winona Ryder incident. And in more recent times, Lindsay Lohan and the infamous necklace. (I'm a celebrity gossip junkie. Don't judge me.) I am all for charges being filed and people being punished. In some countries, they cut off your hand for stealing! Maybe that would scare ole' Linds' straight?!

But. And there is a big but here. Let's pick our battles, shall we? Shame on Safeway. It really doesn't seem to be that the family was out to steal the sandwich. The Mom held on to the "evidence" (the empty wrapper) for Pete's sake! Clearly she intended to buy the sandwich. How many of you have done this before? There have been many times that something lay forgotten in my cart or under my purse. Not to mention when you have a case of water or toilet paper on the bottom rack of the cart! Or how about that box of animal crackers you gave to junior to keep him quiet? It happens, and it doesn't mean people were intentionally stealing. The parents' reaction was immediately surprise and embarrassment. They apologized and immediately tried to pay for the sandwich. Instead they were perp walked (I also watch a lot of Law & Order: SVU) through the store and into the managers office. The manager refused to let them pay, and instead called the police. Great use of city funds, and rescue workers time, right? Those $5.00 sandwich thieves are a real threat to society. Since they had their daughter with them, Child Protective Services was called, and the little girl was whisked away from the "monsters" parading as her parents. So much for the aloha vibe in Honolulu.

I don't understand the end game here. What was the goal? To have them arrested and taken away in handcuffs and in squad cars? To make them pay the $50 bail? TO TAKE AWAY THEIR CHILD?? Bravo, Safeway. I really have to call it like I see it. Safeway, the handling of this particular situation earns you the douche of the day award. I am floored that the police even arrested these poor people. And I can't even fathom what that poor Mother went through when her daughter was taken out of her arms. How about that sweet baby girl? She had never spent a night away from her family. How do you think it went for her, Safeway? Are you proud of yourselves, for keeping her away from her "terrible" parents? I really hope that this was a case of a rogue manager who just didn't know when to say "enough". But that still doesn't make it right. Safeway had better bring their A game to the table, and try to make things right. Nothing will make the humiliation of the parents, or the trauma their daughter suffered disappear, but Safeway should be bending over backwards to help these people.

Stealing is not right. I think it's great that Safeway does seem to be on the ball, and I have no issue with the store asking them to pay for their goods. But really? Arresting them? Calling social services? Where do we draw the line? Don't we want our kids to grow up with morals AND compassion? Safeway really missed the mark. How about you? What did you think when you read the story? Do you agree with Safeway, or think they crossed the line?