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Author Topic: Free Candy Bar or Free Movie? Steven Pickles Film Handler Posts: 81 From: Gainesville, FL, USA Registered: Mar 2001 posted 08-08-2001 09:04 AM                     Since when has it become more of a crime to steal a $0.50 candy bar than it is to sneak into a film? A gentleman and his girlfriend, both of which I have known for a few years, decided to be 13 again and tried to sneak into a movie. When stopped by an usher they decided to ignore my employee and keep on going... so the usher got me. I talked it over with the couple and explained to them that they had to leave and everything else. In the middle of my explanation he asked me what I was going to lose by them watching the movie? I don't need to dignify that question with a response because it is obvious that I am providing a service to patrons and I can't let everyone in for free otherwise there will be no money to pay bills... well that got me thinking. If I went into a grocery store and filled $16 worth of groceries in a basket and tried to walk out, what would happen? Or if I was to go to Best Buy and try to walk away without paying for a DVD? The police would probably be called and chances are I would be arrested under theft charges. Now if I called the police because someone snuck into a movie then I highly doubt they would do anything because it is considered less of a crime even though they involve theft. Can someone clue me in on why this double standard exists? Is it because more people have snuck into movies than those that have stolen candy bars, or is it OK to feel no guilt about stealing something nowadays? Are we as a society at fault because we let this errant behavior continue? Perhaps I take my job too seriously, but I annoyed by people who will freeload for their entire lives.  |  IP: Logged Evans A Criswell Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1579 From: Huntsville, AL, USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 08-08-2001 09:18 AM                        I guess the difference is because many people see the theft of non-tangible goods and services differently than theft of tangible goods. If you steal something and don't have anything in your hands to show for it, people think about it differently. If someone steals a candy bar, they have a candy bar and whoever they stole it from has one less candy bar. If someone sneaks into a movie, if nobody caught them doing it, the theatre would not be aware of any loss. A person who sees a movie, either by buying a ticket or by sneaking in, has nothing (material) when they leave. I'm not saying that this analysis is a justification for theft of any kind of services, but it is probably the reason that the two types of theft are treated differently. ------------------ Evans A Criswell Huntsville-Decatur Movie Theatre Information Site  |  IP: Logged Greg Mueller Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1687 From: Port Gamble, WA Registered: Jun 99 posted 08-08-2001 09:23 AM                        I saw a documentary about juvenile crime a while back and a saw a kid on there say (I'm not making this up) "If you don't want to be robbed, you shouldn't have nice things" How can you deal with this type of mentality? More capital punishment? (Won't deter them but it will get them off the streets). If "The children are our future" I'd say there's trouble ahead. ------------------ Greg Mueller Amateur Astronomer, Machinist, Filmnut http://www.muellersatomics.com/  |  IP: Logged Paul Konen Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 981 From: Frisco, TX. (North of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 08-08-2001 09:57 AM                     We have Police Officers in our theatres and usually we have the officer explain to them that they are Stealing Services and this is the possible punishment. How it fans out from there usually depends on the attitude of the person but they are kicked out for the day. Paul  |  IP: Logged Mike Spaeth Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1129 From: Marietta, GA Registered: Jul 2000 posted 08-08-2001 11:51 AM                        I have prosecuted for "Theft of Service" before. It carries the exact same penalties as shoplifting.  |  IP: Logged Jim Ziegler Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 753 From: West Hollywood, CA Registered: Jul 99 posted 08-08-2001 02:11 PM                     If you call the police and indicate you wish to file a complaint, they should, depending on the laws of your state, cite them or arrest them...  |  IP: Logged Tom Ferreira Expert Film Handler Posts: 203 From: Conway, NH, USA Registered: Jun 99 posted 08-08-2001 06:09 PM                     Theft of Services can also include prosecuting the morons who throw their bags of trash in your dumpster just because it's there. I've caught people twice and the police were called. As far as someone bypassing the box office and just walking into an auditorium because they don't feel it's a tangible product, that would take gonads the size of grapefruits, and yes, I would press charges.  |  IP: Logged Steve Scott Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1300 From: Minneapolis, MN Registered: Sep 2000 posted 08-09-2001 02:35 PM                     Our local PD gave us some citizens' arrest forms allowing us to put the offense of sneaking into a movie on the person's record. The threat of this has worked really well. We haven't had a person sneak in for about four months now.  |  IP: Logged Michael Brown Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1522 From: Bradford, England Registered: May 2001 posted 08-11-2001 07:15 AM                     I suppose this can be related to MP3 music. If I download a tune that I like, lets says a recent song that is in the top 10,i feel less guilty that i would if i walked into a music shop and nicked the CD single.  |  IP: Logged

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