I wonder if the $25 takes into account coupons and other discounts? $30 before (get arrested), $24.95 after (no arrest).

Some Leeway for the Small Shoplifter

Wal-Mart refuses to carry smutty magazines. It will not sell compact discs with obscene lyrics. And when it catches customers shoplifting — even a pair of socks or a pack of cigarettes — it prosecutes them.

But now, in a rare display of limited permissiveness, Wal-Mart is letting thieves off the hook — at least in cases involving $25 or less.

According to internal documents, the company, the nation’s largest retailer and leading destination for shoplifting, will no longer prosecute first-time thieves unless they are between 18 and 65 and steal merchandise worth at least $25, putting the chain in line with the policies of many other retailers.

Under the new policy, a shoplifter caught trying to swipe, say, a DVD of the movie “Basic Instinct 2” ($16.87) would receive a warning, but one caught walking out of the store with “E.R. — The Complete Fifth Season” ($32.87) would face arrest.



  1. JJ Dykwel says:

    I’m glad they do this. BRAVO to Wal-Mart!
    That’s a first for a chain I virtually boycott.

  2. AB CD says:

    This is fairly standard in the industry. Walmart was the exception going after everyone, and my guess is people on this forum would have been complaining about that too since it’s Walmart.

  3. Tom says:

    speaking of walmart shoplifting, this is pretty interesting:

    http://www.counterthink.org/z019380.html

  4. mike cannali says:

    A whole new meaning to the term “Blue Light Special”

  5. joshua says:

    #3….Raff….Ted Stevens is looking for you.

    This just brings Wal-Mart into line with everyone else. But your right AB CD.

  6. Johnny-Cakes says:

    So how many people, who haven’t thought about shop-lifting, will be emboldened to try now, with the thought they could shoplift all they want until they get caught that first time.

  7. RTaylor says:

    It’s not standard policy, but that doesn’t mean they don’t reserve the right to prosecute. I can imagine quite a few scenarios where they would call the local constabulary for less than $25.

  8. Raff says:

    lol.. What happened to my post? Looks like theres no free speech here..

    All I said was.. People buy cds and dvd? I thougth everyone just downloaded them..

    Whats the big deal about that?

    #5
    Damn just blew a tube in my hard drive.. lol

  9. Raff says:

    Wow I’ve been flagged as Spam… for saying “Wow people buy cds and cds and dvds. I thought people just downloaded them.. ”

    So much for free speech…

  10. Mr. Raff says:

    Ole Raffy has been marked as spam.. So much for free speech..

  11. mcgrew says:

    I think it’s funny that I can’t buy a CD with explicit lyrics at Walmart, but I can buy Clerks, which has the ‘f’ word an uncountable number of times, in it’s unedited form.

  12. Mr. H. Fusion says:

    I don’t think Wal-Mart is very smart advertising that they won’t prosecute. Our local mall has prominent signs,

    Free Ride in a Police Cruiser,
    For Shoplifters.

    I thought the sign is not only catchy, but does work.

    Raff, just remember, free speech ain’t everything. Having an audience helps. Keep the peace bro.

  13. Jesse says:

    Target’s policy is not to prosecute anything under $20. This is standard around the industry, Wal-Mart is just catching up!


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