Goodwill

[anomie666.livejournal.com]

So this evening walking by the goodwill store, there was at least 3 people picking through the donated items left outside to steal whatever they wanted. One guy even told his girlfriend/ wife to pull the car around because they had too much stuff to carry. Its not the first time that I have seen people taking things and I'm sure it happens every night.

This really annoys me because its not only stealing, but it is stealing from a charity. To me, it is analogous to palming money from the collection plate at Church. I know people aren't supposed to leave donated items outside, but that shouldn't give someone license to take things that don't belong to them.

So a couple of questions.

1) Is this illegal? It is outside and I guess it would be considered abandoned property. I don't know if what they are doing would be considered a crime.

2) Is there anything that can be done to stop this?

Comments

[turil.livejournal.com]

When I put stuff outside I don't want anymore I'm putting it there because I want passers by to take it, and whatever is leftover, Goodwill can have...

I encourage this sort of thing, as it's good for everyone.

[toastygw.livejournal.com]

If that's the case why don't you just put it out in front of your place and post a "curb alert" on craigslist - then you can deal with the mess once people have taken whatever they want and left the rest. You can then take the rest to goodwill.

Not that much more work for you - probably less if everything is taken.

[turil.livejournal.com]

Yep, that's exactly what I usually do. :-)

[toastygw.livejournal.com]

I probably have some of your stuff then! I agree that it's a good thing to do - I'll take smaller things and clothes and such to goodwill - but furniture and the like gets curb alerted... Haven't needed to haul this big stuff to goodwill yet.