The Most Common Things People Steal
Do you consider yourself to be an honest person that would never steal? I am sure that most of us would like to believe that this is indeed the case. We look at those who steal as evil criminals that need to be punished. However, although we all know that stealing a car is wrong, we tend to justify taking smaller items and do not consider it to be stealing. In fact, sometimes avoiding paying for small things is actually celebrated as being frugal. Indeed, during these tough economic times, the line between being extremely frugal and stealing is slowly being erased.
Below, I have identified six common scenarios in which normal, everyday, taxpaying citizens often resort to a debatable form of stealing. Now before I go any further, I would like to say that this is not any kind of morality post–I am not here to judge anyone and I would be the first to admit that I have committed more than one of the following “offenses”. Instead, I thought it would be fun to laugh at how some of us (including me) have allowed ourselves to justify doing something that we would normally consider to be wrong. I have included some actual quotes that I received from my co-workers, friends, and family when I discussed this topic with them.
Taking an extra newspaper from a vending machine.
Common reasons this is done: 1. You need an extra set of coupons. 2. A family member or you are featured in the newspaper. 3. You plan to sell the extra copies (I picture the scene from the movie With Honors in which Joe Pesci’s homeless character takes the entire pile of newspapers and sells them by shouting fake headlines).
Justifications: “Just too easy not too” “The newspaper companies make loads of profit.” “This is payback for all the times I have been ripped off by those snack machines in which the candy bar or chips gets stuck and it never falls.”
Reality of Situation: You are not hurting the newspaper companies (they are in enough trouble without you stealing their product). Instead, you are just stealing from the poor machine vendor.
Helping yourself to a towel or two from a hotel.
Common reasons this is done: Guests get lost in a “feeding frenzy” of taking all the shampoo, soap, tissues, pens, hand lotion, extra rolls of toilet paper, and shower caps they can get and get a little carried away. Also, if the towel has the name of the hotel on it, the towel becomes an instant souvenir.
Justifications: “The price of the room is jacked up assuming I will take a towel.” and “They will eventually throw the towels away once they are used too many times.:
Reality of Situation: It is okay to take the shampoo and other toiletries. Taking towels, bathrobes, linens, light bulbs, and batteries from remote is just pure stealing.
Getting those last gulps/sips of your favorite soft drink or coffee at the convenience store before you put on the lid and pay for it.
Common reasons this is done: You are extremely thirsty/tired and want to get your money’s worth.
Justifications: “I am paying $1.89 for a 20 oz cup when I can often get a 12-pack of cans for about the same price, so I am going to take a couple of liberties.
Reality of Situation: Fountain Soda (and coffee is not that far behind) is often the most profitable item on a restaurant’s menu–even with free refills. On this topic, I say that it is not really stealing unless you sit there and refill several times.
Taking a handful (or more) of Splenda, ketchup packets, napkins, and salt packets whenever and where ever they are available.
Common reasons this is done: Why pay for something that you can get for free? “I always take extra napkins just in case I spill something”
Justifications: “The availability of these items are included in the markup of the price of the food/drink.” “If they really cared how much you take, they would not leave them unattended”
Reality of Situation: Guess how these restaurants/stores justify marking up their prices? I guess I would draw the line with the rule of 5 (which I just made up). Taking more than 5 more of an item than you intend to use with the product you bought is where in my mind being a little frugal become being a little criminal.
Making it a “Double Feature” by sneaking into a second movie.
Common reasons this is done: You notice as you are leaving the movie theater that another movie that you really want to see is just about to start and you have nothing better to do on a rainy Saturday.
Justifications: I just spend $8 on a soda and another $6 for a popcorn, I need to get my money’s worth!” “The theater is half empty anyway, it’s not like they are losing money by me taking up some space.”
Reality of Situation: Does the director, producer, or boom mic operator care if you paid to see a competitor’s movie and now want to see the movie that they worked on for weeks for free? Nope. For the record, I believe that sneaking beverages/snacks into movies is not wrong, even when theaters have posted signs prohibiting this practice.
Taking home copy paper (and other office supplies) from work for non-work use.
Common reasons this is done: 1. Children need school supplies. 2. You ran out of paper for your personal computer
Justifications: 1. Employee disgruntled with their job 2. Office supplies viewed as a fringe benefit 3. The company wastes so much paper anyway with their pointless cover sheets for the TPS reports, they obviously don’t care about their use of paper. 4. “Since the company probably gets a big discount for ordering in bulk, its really not a big deal.”
Reality of Situation: Unless you are stealing a red stapler, it is wrong to take supplies for non-work reasons.
Three more modern day scruples to consider
1. Is it okay to recharge your cell phone every day at work, so you never waste electricity at home?
2. Would you return a dress/shoes/tie that you only had to wear once for a funeral or wedding?
3. Do you download music without paying for it?
Since they say confession is good for the soul, why not share your stories of crime?
Where do you draw the line in what you bring home from a hotel?
Are there items on my list that you do not consider stealing?
Leave me a comment an let me know! Using fake names and/or a alias is welcome and encouraged to protect the guilty 
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Glad you mentioned this: “Does the director, producer, or boom mic operator care if you paid to see a competitor’s movie and now want to see the movie that they worked on for weeks for free? Nope.”
I went to film school for college, and as such have many friends in the film industry. It’s really hard for me to understand how other people can justify seeing movies for free while I know that revenues from theaters and DVDs pay the bills for my friends… and also pay their health insurance and puts money into their 401(k)s!
‘Getting those last gulps/sips of your favorite soft drink or coffee at the convenience store before you put on the lid and pay for it.”
I totally agree with this.
When I was in college we all used to smuggle plates and cutlery from the cafeteria…seemed like everyone did it though, I can’t remember what we did with all that stuff when we graduated…hmm. Now, when I buy coffee at a gas station I always take extra packets of the coffee mate creamer.
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I thought of another justification that fits 3 of the categories.
Extra Newspaper
Hotel Towel
Copier Paper
Justification: You ran out off toilet paper!
Actually kinda applies to some of the movies out there too. There only worthy of wiping your A$$ on.
What an honest post. But you’re right many of those just aren’t seen as stealing. That’s the whole idea of perception vs. reality
“Just too easy not too”
I think that’s the common aswer, but if you come to think of it, it’s not reason enough. It says that we welcome temptation anytime no matter how big or small the act is.
You forgot about the phone cards, I used to work at the store and the phone cards were the most common things that were stolen.
I think the most common thing that people steal is pens. While it might be inadvertant, it happens alllll the time!
1. Occasionally? Yes. Every day? No. Caveat: if it’s a cell phone used for work (i.e. you are required to have it and answer it after work hours, and it’s possibly even paid for by your employer), I think it’s OK to charge it at work.
2. No. I had a friend in high school who did that, and it always seemed super shady. If you truly have buyer’s remorse, there’s always eBay. And clothing stores are not non-profit free clothing rental services.
3. No. I will sometimes listen to a song over and over on YouTube until I get sick of it rather than buying it, though. Does that count?
I’m definitely guilty of picking up a few extra napkins at a restaurant! I keep Wendy’s napkins in my car at all times
May be this is really silly…. But… I would love to have one of those Pepsi machines in my cottage…. Silly dream from the childhood.
funny post, I think that for the most part you should not steal from others. Although when it comes to things like soda at the local fast food or shampoo from the hotel, I would agree that its not really stealing. I suppose as long as you dont over do it. Many times I will go in with my partner and we will share a drink. Why do we need two sodas? Is this stealing? I really dont think so, they already make a lot of money.
Spread the wealth, dont be stingy! =)
I was good until I got to this one “Is it okay to recharge your cell phone every day at work, so you never waste electricity at home?”
These iPhones just don’t hold their charge for more than a day and it is easier to let it sit on the charger in the office on my desk and not worry about plugging it in except when I am home on the weekends.
“Getting those last gulps/sips of your favorite soft drink or coffee at the convenience store before you put on the lid and pay for it.”
I saw some people doing this and my initial impression was that they really got real guts for doing that, but it’s still not right. Totally not cool for the business owners.
I really love these videos, thanks buddy for making us fun.
pen in supermarket which i have ever done…LOL
“Taking home copy paper (and other office supplies) from work for non-work use.”
Guilty as charged!
One more i ‘d say is stealing and eating fruit at the grocery store.
Have you ever taken a cool shot glass from a bar or restaurant. My friend has done it a few times.
As soon as I saw the Splenda packets it reminded me of the trip I took to 7-11 earlier today when a woman loaded here pockets up with a bunch of sugar packets than carried 3 to the counter and asked if she could pay for them.
I just shook my head.
Oh god now you made me feel bad for all those time I took extra sweeteners from the Ikea restaurant! I have about 30 in my bag still - They do come in handy though
I almost thought I made it through the article feeling great about myself that I’d never stolen any of those things. Then I got to office paper and music. I guess the reality of the situation is that I never seriously considered them stealing. Guess I need to re-think my values.
Hi,
Very nice post.Yes many times I ask for short glass at restaurant.And I always take bunch of tooth sticks from restaurant.This kind of things just entertain us.These becomes some memorable events in life.Thanks for videos.
This article served as an eye opener to me that some of my daily activities are considered as stealing without me knowing it (especially the downloading music for free). I guess I need to re assess everything now..new year, new life. Thanks for posting this.