Shoplifting hurts the business and can cause an increase in prices.

It’s common knowledge that the amount of theft from the Emporium is surreal. However, shoplifting doesn’t seem to be a major concern of the Emporium’s employees. In fact, if it weren’t for the campus-wide zero-tolerance policy towards theft, the constant string of shoplifters that frequent the Emporium would appear to be no big deal.

It is true that if you are caught red-handed campus police will be notified immediately, and you will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. But it is a very rare occasion that someone is actually caught in the act.

The only real indications of thievery are the Emporium’s inventory and sales records, and the only criminals those catch are the ones that work for the establishment.

There is a surveillance camera that guards the register, but the rest of the store is open territory, and with the relatively small number of employees working at any given time, it is extremely difficult to monitor the entire store. So, it makes sense that evidence of a crime is lacking in most situations.

Of course, falsely accusing someone of shoplifting can also have very severe ramifications, and when there is a long line of students waiting to purchase their breakfasts of Red Bull and Nutri-Grain bars, it’s almost impossible to even suspect, let alone catch, a culprit.

So the general response to a supposed theft is employee gossip, and that’s about it. Now that doesn’t mean more people should steal because it seems easy.

Shoplifting hurts the business and can cause an increase in prices. Since many students already feel the Emporium’s prices are too high, this can be an even bigger inconvenience.

This is especially the case when most Emporium employees believe condoms are the most common items stolen, even though they are available for free at Norris Health Center.

Even though theft in the Emporium is astronomical, it is unlikely any policies will be introduced. It is silly to ask students to leave their backpacks in the hallway. This would only create another prime target for theft.

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