Did I.... Was.... Did He....Just...?

I think I may have witnessed someone stealing... shoplifting a portable air conditioner yesterday.

I was at a local store that sells a bunch of things... it's technically a pharmacy I think but it's got food and medication and clothing and books and bathroom stuff and kitchen stuff and, well you get the idea.

For the last few months, near their entrance, they've had a display of fans and now fans and portable air conditioners.

I was waiting in line and noticed a taller fellow walk up and pick up one of the portable air conditioner boxes from the display.  I had nothing else to do but wait so I watched him.  He lifted the (I'm assuming heavy?) box and stood for a moment.  Then he started walking towards the front of the store.  Initially, I wondered if he had paid and was now just picking up the box but I didn't see a receipt in hand (not that that's proof of anything...).  He stopped and let someone who had just entered the store go past him with a "go ahead" wave and I was certain he was on his way to the customer service desk (which is located by the doors) and then instead of turning towards the customer service desk he just walked right out.

I...looked over towards the worker who was standing by the self checkouts with what I assume was a surprised look on my face but they didn't react in any way I could see.

I was honestly incredibly shocked at how easy it was, if in fact this man had stolen the item.  He literally just picked it up and casually walked out the door with it.

It felt weird to me, because honestly I was assuming a lot by thinking he stole it rather than paid and then picked it up (rather than carrying it to the checkout....) and then I thought that maybe he was taking it to his car and then coming back to pay?

But I was also shocked and wierded out that maybe I'd just witnessed theft to the tune of several hundred (about six hundred to be exact) dollars, so simply and easily and without any attention at all.

I was pretty distracted when it was my turn to pay for my items but I did while my mind went through a whole bunch of thoughts.... this is why stores are hiring security guards... but what would they have done anyway?  And this is why a grocery store I go to has one way gate door things?  And this is why things cost more than maybe they need to?  And this is a huge company, they can afford the loss... and I wonder when they'll notice the loss or if they will?  They have inventory checks, right?  I mean they'll just eat the loss but likely that'll come back to consumers somehow.  And really is it that easy?  Could I just walk out with a bag of things?  Probably?  Jesus, is there really nothing but morals stopping people?  I'm more ok with that than with other measures but still... that was... just... wow.

I left with my (paid for) bag of items and went to post something in the mail and that's when I encountered the man carrying his still very heavy box untying his dog and adjusting the box as he walked down a street that leads to an encampment of unhoused people.... This... is possibly just coincidence but it's also possible that this fellow is living in supported housing without any cooling system and really wanted and needed some cooler air.  I don't know.  Or maybe he's just a jerk.

The fact of the matter is I do not know.  I do not know with 100% certainty what happened.  Maybe he paid, maybe it was an exchange!  Maybe nothing untoward happened.  I feel badly painting him with my assumptions to be honest...

But.  Maybe that man walked out of a store carrying six hundred dollars worth of portable air conditioning that he did not pay for.

I don't know.

But the idea that it was shoplifting/theft felt very strange to see.

I don't know what really to say.