The indirect consequences of thievery...

[XealotX]

So,

I'm out riding today and decide to stop at the local generic drug store chain. I take my Cortech tail bag on every ride (holds my tools and stuff) and usually carry it in with me when I stop. As I walk in the store a pleasant blue haired lady informs me that I will have to leave my bag at the register...Conversation goes as follows...

XealotX-- "What happens when one of your employees steals something from my bag?"

Blue hair-- "We would never steal anything from you."

XealotX-- "Funny, I was just thinking the same thing about you guys."

Well, the lady had to stop and ponder this logic bomb I had just dropped on her...before she could respond I added...

XealotX-- "Look, I can completely understand your concern about being robbed, it is the same reason I didn't leave my bag on the bike in the parking lot. But, I am not going to leave my bag at the register and will take my business elsewhere first. However, since I plan on putting the items I purchase in my bag anyway I'll be more than happy to let you look in the bag as I put my stuff away after I purchase them.

Fortunately for me I (mostly) don't look like a thief (unlike that avatar picture for respite... ) and the little old lady wasn't THAT paranoid so she thought it was an agreeable compromise.

In conclusion...thieves suck. I wonder what this country (or even Europe or Australia for that matter) will look like 20 years from now. Probably have to agree to a full cavity search at the store entrance...

[Big Lou]

XealotX-- "Funny, I was just thinking the same thing about you guys."

lmfao.  Im in total agreement.  A few ace-holes are ruining it for everyone.

[sankyo]

Nice story.  Thieves do degrade everything a little bit for everyone.

There is a story in the SFExaminer about excessive trash on the BART trains because of employee absenteeism.  The first thing that came to my mind though is, "Why do people think it is OK to leave garbage on BART?" I don't really want the US to be like Singapore, where it is illegal to chew gum, but there is a segment of society that has not and probably will not ever fully make the transition to adulthood and take responsibility for their actions.

Anyway, I hope you have a good ride today.

[natedawg120]

Yeah I got a similar attitude about carrying my helmet with me and I didn't leave it with them either  

[Big Lou]

"Why do people think it is OK to leave garbage on BART?"

Because they feel like "I pay for, be it through taxes or fees, so I can do what I want."  It's the same thing in the Army.  Someone gets a piece of equipment, rifle, hmmwv, duece and a half, whatever, and they don't think about the person thats gotta come behind them and use the same piece of equipment.  Pure and unadulterated selfishness.

[utgunslinger13]

Could have been worse, wasn't there a guy awhile ago that was arrested for wearing his helmet in a bank? lol

[Critter]

Just be glad you wern't this guy. http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=47686.0  

[fred]

I hate that. I really don't like leaving my bag and I usually just walk right past those people and ignore them. They are usually not allowed to leave their area and will just give up and hassle someone else if you can get by them in the first place.

Here in Los Angeles, there are many places that are even worse. Most of the clubs and music venues I go to don't allow pens. I always have a pen or two in my pockets and I usually forget to take them out, but for some reason, the clubs around here have decided that a pen is some kind of super dangerous weapon. I guess they're afraid of me stabbing someone with my Bic, but I don't really see how that would be much worse than me just deciding to pummel someone with my bare fists... I also hate it when they won't let me in with my pocket knife. It is just a tool, not a weapon. The worst part of it all is how I normally handle it: I just walk around the corner, out of view of the bouncer, and toss the offending item in my boot and walk back in. A motorcycle boot can hold all kinds of knives and pens without being too uncomfortable and I have never once had a bouncer find anything in there. Even though they're all excited about digging through my pockets and using their metal detectors on me, they don't check my boots, and half the time, they don't check the jacket I'm carrying in with me. If I can sneak supposedly dangerous weapons past them just because I don't feel like loosing my pen or walking back to my vehicle, someone motivated to possess an actual weapon would have no trouble at all.

[annguyen1981]

When CompUSA was still in business here in Western Mass, I walked in one day.  I had my helmet and tank bag in my hands.  Same as you, I didn't wanna leave my tank bag on the bike since it cost me $90.

Super macho rent-a-cop stops me in the doorway and tells me that I have to leave my stuff at the door with him.  Now, if he had said it NICELY, I would have responded NICELY.  But being the dork that he was, I didn't tolerate his BS.  I gave him his attitude right back at him.  I told him something like, "I'm not leaving $400 worth of bike gear here with you unless you can make a 100% gaurantee that I'll get them back when I leave... otherwise I'm walking inside with these.  I'll let you search them on my way out, but that's all you get."

I wish I had this incident on video, 'cause the way he was stammering, it must have looked like his boss had just come up to him and ripped a new hole due to his stupidity.


As I'm leaving, I come up to him and ask if he wants to check everything...  he stammers a little and says no! lmao

[GeeP]

Hmm, been there, got that.

I turned around and pointed at a woman with one of those HUGE designer handbag things walking out the door.  "You didn't search her, so why search me?"

"I'll call the cops!"

I responded by turning around, pulling out my wallet and handing him a business card.  "You do that.  When they arrive, give them this.  I don't have the time to explain search and seizure to you."