At my college a memo stated a printer was stolen. Most likely it was stolen by a college student. When I read the memo, I thought, “How can a college student be that stupid?”
Since it wasn’t a break-in, most likely, was worth no more than $100, an insignificant amount compared to a lifetime earnings. By the time the student stole a dozen he or she would under suspicion and would be caught before stealing a hundred. That is only $10,000. At the very least, the student would be expelled losing a semester of college credit and that alone is greater than $10,000. Moreover, it would be on his transcript making it problematic of ever getting admitted to an equivalent college without starting all over again as a freshman. It would hinder ever getting a good paying job since employers are not enthused about hiring thieves.
Furthermore, if the college files felony charges, even if he avoids jail and somehow is not convicted, he attorney fees will be $30,000 or more and considerable more than the value of a 100 printers. A question all employers ask is, “Have you ever been arrested.” That makes it likely he would earn no more than the more than half of the $1 million he would have earned as a college graduate. That makes the reward to risk ratio about 50 to 1 and even fool avoid that horrible ratio.
I believe shoplifting is stupid because in a lifetime you cannot shoplift $10,000 in merchandise which is not significant compared to your lifetime earnings. Therefore, it will never have any effect on your lifestyle but it will be very embarrassing to be caught and you might be arrested making the price very high.
I suspect there are hidden cameras everywhere. I don’t know what the policy of most merchants are. Perhaps they overlook it if minor but no doubt shoplifters are watched more carefully. If by chance, I see a friend shoplift an item, I will tell her to put it back or pay for it because I’m not going to an accessory to her criminal behavior. If it makes her angry, I don’t care because I don’t criminal friends.
If you are always honest, that will be your reputation and that is a good and valuable reputation to have. If you need a job, it helps. Furthermore, if sometime in your life, whether guilty or not, you are accused, you will be given the benefit of the doubt.
The only logical exceptions to honesty are if it will make a significant difference in your life. If you find $200,000 in a sack that fell off a Brinks truck as I understand did happen one time, keeping it would make a significant difference in your life. Alternately, if you are in charge of some business, and without risking being arrested, you can cheat thousands of people out of $10 to $100 each that will make a significant difference in your lifestyle.
I am not saying you should do either. However, outside of those two possible examples, logically honesty is always the best choice.
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