Is taking candy bar from a store illegal?

Answer 1

Taking ANY merchandise from a store without paying is illegal. Even if the time is priced at 1-cent, 10-cents, 25-cents, etc. it is still stealing. Every time someone steals, more than one person is financially "harmed". People who are "harmed" include:

• The store owner, who must pay for the stock whether it is sold, lost, or stolen.
• The cashiers and store clerks, because if the store owner does not make money then he/she cannot pay employees a good or above-average wage.
• The community surrounding the store, because every store owner pays taxes for schools, for road upkeep and repair, for wages to firefighters and police, etc. If a store owner has losses from thefts -- which also means lack of sales -- he/she cannot pay the store's share of taxes to the city/town.
• If the store has thefts / losses and loses income so that the owner cannot pay taxes, children in schools don't get new equipment, books, computers, etc.
• As well, thefts can end up causing a store to close permanently, leaving an(other) empty building. Empty buildings in towns is a symptom of "economic blight" and when blight is present, other new stores do not want to move into the area. So then, customers must drive further to get to other stores, which wastes time and gas.

So, instead of thinking about stealing (even if it is "just a candy bar"), why not talk to the owner about getting a part-time job at the store. Stores often need people to unpack boxes, stock shelves, help customers to their cars, sweep floors, shovel snow, broom the walkway into the store, bring carts back into the store, etc. Stealing will never get you what you really want in life, but a job can make some of your wants more attainable.