PATRONS AND THIEVES

Walk into many stores, and the things one used to be able to just take off of a shelf and carry to a register, are now behind or under thick plexiglass...under lock and key. Simple things that one wouldn't think would require that level of security are suddenly valuable commodities. Why? Their manner of manufacturing, ingredients and packaging haven't changed. There's nothing new and improved about them, but now they have to be protected. Why? Someone has recognized their worth and want to say they were able to get it for little or nothing. Someone has recognized that products have been misused, opened, tampered with, and resold and profits have been misdirected. Someone has noticed that there are those who have brazenly, arrogantly, and consistently expected and assumed that they could get the product without paying for it. Acquiring the valuable thing was apparently too easy. Stores were experiencing losses. Store managers noticed the pattern of theft and promptly shut it down. Now, everyone, including honest folk armed with good intentions, have to ask someone for assistance if they want to make a purchase. Go ahead. Try to access the valuable thing by any means other than the one posted. Try to get it without help from an employee, and an alarm will sound. Everyone in the store will know that someone is trying to get the valuable thing. The alarm essentially says, "Sorry, Sir or Ma'am, but you can't just take that product all willy-nilly anymore. I am no longer tolerating thieves. You can't handle it any way you want. It's not yours to do with what you will unless you purchase it. Is that your intention? If so, someone will assist you momentarily. Otherwise, back away from the shelf and get out of this store."

Perhaps the sudden denial of direct access is perplexing and inconvenient to some, but they understand the ramifications and effects of consistent theft, and have no problems doing what's necessary to make the purchase. They actually WANT and recognize the value of the product. They know that it is always going to perform well and live up to its advertised potential. Barriers don't hinder them. As a matter of fact, many honest patrons welcome and encourage the barriers; they'll help erect and maintain them if necessary.

On the other hand, thieves, those with a sense of entitlement, and users feign clueless-ness, take offense and get mad--REALLY mad-- when their usual underhanded modes of operation fail. Barriers serve to show them a glimpse of themselves that they don't want to see. People who help themselves to what doesn't belong to them, shortchange others, or outright steal, don't want to be labeled criminals, so it must be the fault of the barrier and the thing being protected that they can no longer acquire what they want, when and how they want. The barrier also makes them discredit the very product they once sought and applauded. "Oh, it ain't all THAT!", "It's not worth it anyway!", "I'll just go somewhere else!", "I'll just try something new!", "Product X is just as good and I don't have to ask nobody!", "I can go over there and get it anytime I want it!" Oh sure. They'll fuss, pout, complain, and devalue, but they'll walk away empty-handed, too. Neither the store nor the product will suffer, though. The managers don't care how mad thieves get, and the products retain their integrity, and are always available for those who truly know their worth, appreciate and use them properly.

If one really wants something-- if one really values it--the sudden emergence of thick glass, locks and alarms aren't a problem, and one will gladly pay the asking price. If not, one will find a new mark, a new patsy, a new situation to exploit.