Book about the cultural history of shoplifting

Here's an interesting book: The Steal: A Cultural History of Shoplifting. Apparently, the author's previous book was about the history of striptease. Next up: Gluttony? (Via Graham Farmelo)

• [tomchaps]

  As a history geek, I would like to recommend the fantastic cultural history “When Ladies Go A-Thieving” by Elaine Abelson. It details the awkwardness of working class clerks confronting shoplifting middle class customers in the early department stores. Kleptomania was more or less invented to get these ladies off the hook–the overwhelming power of the department store experience was thought to be simply too much for the delicate shopping constitutions of the well-bred.

  Heck, I’d read a third cultural history of shoplifting.

• [Antinous / Moderator]

  For some reason, I’ve always ended up living with shoplifters. I got to the point where I wouldn’t accept a Christmas gift unless it came with a receipt.

• [Anonymous]

  @anon

  Why do you care if something goes missing from your employer? You admit you are paid a sub-livable wage. It’s simply not in your class interest to worry about it. You may reason that if enough books go missing pricing will have to rise, but that is only if you leave your employer’s profits as a given. You are already being stolen from by your employer in that they pocket the excess value created by your labor.

  Even if something is stolen from right under your nose you don’t have to potentially wreck someone’s life by playing copper. You have complete plausible dependability and it sounds like it would make your job a lot better if you just let it go.

• [Anonymous]

  I hate to be that guy, but all ya’ll talking about how nifty shoplifting is must have never worked retail. I work in a bookstore, and half of my day is trying to make sure no one steals (and yeah, books go missing more than you’d think, but also the stupid shit we carry too, like headphones and shitty dvds and toys and the stupid trading cards that come in those dan yu-gi-oh books). I make 8 bucks an hour, and shoplifters create one hell of an added stress factor to an already stressful customer service job. And yeah, we have a security job who ‘eyeballs’ people. Thats his fucking job – to keep us safe and you from stealing, its not a goddamn personal challenge.

• [hassenpfeffer]

  “Aw hell, I’m a fan of all seven, but right now I’m gonna have to go with wrath.”

• [GreenJello]

  I think I’m going to have to steal this book, who’s with me?

• [fraac]

  Confession: since childhood I’ve had a personal rule where, if a security guy is eyeballing me, I have to steal something from under his nose. Best method – because shop security guys aren’t secret service agents and are in the same low-level trance as anyone else – is to simply pick up whatever you want and carry it out of the shop in your hands. I got a microwave oven this way.

  Not cultural, afaik, but maybe I can start something.

• [Bassnik]

  That’s very moral of you Antinous, I don’t think i could muster that much fibre personally. Then again, didn’t your parents ever tell you that it’s the thought that counts?

  • [Antinous / Moderator]

    it’s the thought that counts

    That’s the creepy part.

• [osmo]

  I survived a summer by living with the King of Shoplifting. He was a vegan but since meat was so easy to shoplift from the supermarket he kept stealing it… for points I guess.

  Anyway I got the loot and so lived like a prince. He was a great room mate btw – all he did was sit in his room, smoke pot and watch Star Trek TOS and perhaps go out to do some grafitti… at which he sucked btw and kept being chased by police, sneaking in through your bedroom window, but otherwise a great guy.