General Discussion

PeaceWave

(1,322 posts) Mon Jan 6, 2025, 05:49 PM Jan 6

Hungry until proven guilty...Should theft of food be a felony? What if the theft involved $1,200 worth of meat? [View all]

Last edited Tue Jan 7, 2025, 11:41 PM - Edit history (1)

This story bothers me. A couple has been booked at the Santa Clara County Jail on charges of felony theft...of food. The couple apparently stole approximately $1,200 worth of food, most of it meat, from a Cupertino, CA Safeway grocery store. The couple stole 3 packs of avocados, 1 pack of thick cut bacon and 10 cuts of meat which authorities described as "fine rib eye and other prime cuts." Here in the Bay Area the story is being treated in a tongue in cheek manner, with authorities commenting about the case that "The only thing well-done here is the teamwork! (in catching the thieves)" While I don't condone theft, I do think there's a bigger story here about food insecurity and the apparent reality that meat has become a treasured item accessible only to the haves while the have nots are expected to go without.

https://www.ktvu.com/news/over-1000-worth-stolen-meat-recovered-cupertino-rare-case

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Hungry until proven guilty...Should theft of food be a felony? What if the theft involved $1,200 worth of meat? [View all] PeaceWave Jan 6 OP

I don't believe this is food insecurity SARose Jan 6 #1

Yep, years ago I remember being ina barbershop when boosters came thru selling... brush Jan 6 #8

This message was self-deleted by its author PeaceWave Jan 7 #21

I agree Rebl2 Jan 7 #33

Motive needs to be established. Theft to fend off starvation ? Seems unlikely. eppur_se_muova Jan 6 #2

Yes, that's theft, and its a crime Unladen Swallow Jan 6 #3

When I'm low on food I go to the food bank. n/t Jacson6 Jan 6 #4

This does bother me. $1200 dollars worth for those items shown? SWBTATTReg Jan 6 #5

The true crime here flvegan Jan 6 #6

This message was self-deleted by its author PeaceWave Jan 6 #7

I think they are supposed to return it to the store. LeftInTX Jan 7 #20

Best case scenario Mosby Jan 7 #41

Not a felony because - Nigrum Cattus Jan 6 #9

So crime doesn't exist because prison is expensive? AZSkiffyGeek Jan 7 #35

I know what a law is - Nigrum Cattus Jan 7 #44

Evidently not AZSkiffyGeek Jan 7 #50

Sometimes they get 30-90 days at county. I worked NBN at the county hospital. Moms would come in from the jail that LeftInTX Jan 7 #54

Payroll and medical cost have soared 90% in a decade Mosby Jan 7 #42

Yes we pay the CO's Nigrum Cattus Jan 7 #43

How do medical costs top $41,000 per inmate? Mosby Jan 7 #46

I still don't see how that could add up to $1200 n/t TexasBushwhacker Jan 6 #10

I think Texas has better beef prices Texasgal Jan 6 #13

Silicon Valley prices Retrograde Jan 7 #18

I could easily see it in NoVA--and No California is even more expensive. Nt spooky3 Jan 7 #27

here are 2 pics, not sure if there are duplicate cuts of meat Celerity Jan 8 #56

Another view: dalton99a Jan 6 #11

This message was self-deleted by its author PeaceWave Jan 7 #23

Or they figured why bother paying for anything ? MichMan Jan 7 #26

"We've never stolen in our lives" How do you know that? EX500rider Jan 7 #34

Idk, but your observation re the condements, and oil Could point to a family struggling vs resale... electric_blue68 Jan 7 #37

Looks like a few prime rib roasts in that picture Quiet Em Jan 7 #31

Yeah, I don't buy this kind of meat! I don't think I ever have! LeftInTX Jan 7 #48

Right? Quiet Em Jan 7 #53

Yes absolutely a crime Groundhawg Jan 6 #12

It's not the fact that Greg_In_SF Jan 6 #14

"Nothing for me today, thanks." JoseBalow Jan 6 #15

Yes. Stealing $1,200 worth of anything should be a felony IMO rollin74 Jan 6 #16

Oh please... DET Jan 6 #17

They're calling it a "heist"...So, they probably brazenly stole the stuff... LeftInTX Jan 7 #19

How is that $1300 worth of meat? XorXor Jan 7 #22

This message was self-deleted by its author PeaceWave Jan 7 #24

Prime Rib/Ribeye can be upwards of $20/pound..... getagrip_already Jan 7 #32

Oh yeah, that is a lot of meat. XorXor Jan 7 #39

Those are 10 big expensive cuts of meat they were hoping to resell pinkstarburst Jan 7 #25

This isn't food insecurity nini Jan 7 #28

This message was self-deleted by its author PeaceWave Jan 7 #29

Were they stealing too? AZSkiffyGeek Jan 7 #36

This message was self-deleted by its author PeaceWave Jan 7 #45

Oh please.. stop with the drama nini Jan 7 #47

My city's main transit/foot traffic sidewalks are filled with people selling stolen shoplifted items. NBachers Jan 7 #30

depends on who's doing the stealing... stillcool Jan 7 #38

The real issue is the dollar amount for felonies Mosby Jan 7 #40

This particular ForgedCrank Jan 7 #49

Or a deceased bear by the roadside? GreenWave Jan 7 #51

I'm about a mile from that store. Basso8vb Jan 7 #52

I work in a food emporium, retail grocery. no_hypocrisy Jan 8 #55