I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but very rarely are desperate parents the ones stealing baby formula to feed their baby.
Baby formula theft is done in large quantities by a middleman for two purposes:
to be resold at another smaller store, not any cheaper than the original retailer
to be used to cut / dilute the product in drug manufacturing
People stealing baby formula are not handing them out to grateful mothers in a Robin Hood style act of compassion.
That sounds more like DARE style bullshit to justify getting angry at people stealing formula. I've definitely heard of baby powder or baby laxative but that's because they react similar to coke by dissolving in water like blow or acting like a numbing agent. Baby formula doesn't numb and it gets milky in water.
It makes no sense from a economic stand point either. People cut drugs to make more money. Most of the shit they use costs next to nothing, isn't watched and definitely isn't locked up.
It's not all baby formula, only certain ones. I believe Similac has one that works. Baby formula is locked up in some stores for this very reason.
HOWEVER, I would definitely not say "most baby formula shoplifters are using it for drug production", especially not these days.
Yeah it's always assholes looking to resell it. Much like all the theft at hardware stores, with people reselling stolen power tools.
They do get sold directly to some consumers, if its free product its all profit, though both your points are also valid.
People can make drugs from baby formula?!
Yes, certain brands can be used to cut. That's why you may see baby formula locked up in some stores.
Retail employees in certain neighborhoods may have stories of baby formula heists.
I completely agree with your sentiment, but I still wouldn't report them. If the odds of them being a parent in need is 10% I'd still look the other way. Shoplifting from a multi-hundred billion dollar business barely feels like theft to me. If that theft is for drug addicts and unfortunate parents I'm not gonna complain.
Now if they're stealing jewelery or other non-necessities I'll point that out, but when it comes to things like baby formula and diapers I didn't see shit.
Edit: In an ideal world baby formula and diapers would be universally free or at least as free and accessible as condoms at many health provider locations. Maybe at Walmart chargers transportation costs while planned parenthood is completely free. Either way we shouldn't be fretting about these things. I feel like this is something the left and right should be able to agree on.
Between highschool and starting uni, I did a small stint as a cashier.
I called the cops on two people, one was stealing beer, the other some keychain. Both cheap items, but not necessities.
I saw multiple people steal baby formula and diapers and there wasn't a bone in my body that even thought of calling the cops on them.
The first are stealing to steal.
The later are stealing to survive.
Imho the law should make a clear distinction between the two too.
Agreed. Though judges have some leeway here, there's nothing official that would give them an incentive to treat the cases differently other than their moral compass.
I remember standing in line at a liquor store, watching a (likely) homeless woman carefully pocket some food item. I said nothing. I talked about it the next day at work. A coworker suggested I'd just passed an "ethics test."
That was many years ago, before I'd established my current worldview. Today, I'd be silently rooting for them. "Get some food!"
I wouldn't call that necessarily passing an ethics test. You could've wanted to say something, but were too lazy.
Not doing something wrong is different from doing something right.
Same thing I do when I see someone punch a Nazi.
Barely hold back from loudly rooting them on?
Stop what you're doing and also punch a Nazi?
If they're stealing it from people, I think I'd do something. But corporations aren't people.
I just can't be bothered to get involved. Be it baby formula or beer
Lemmy can be so naive about this topic.