It's all the store's fault!

[mharbourgirl]

http://www.thechronicleherald.ca/Metro/1076567.html

Oh... my... (insert deity of choice, if any)

Y'all are gonna LOVE this.

[Kheldarson]

What...the...HELL. You buy something like that and leave it in plain sight? When I picked up the Wii for my brothers, it went right into the trunk, nevermind I was going straight home. You don't take a chance with that sort of thing, just a few minutes or not.

[draggar]

asked if they owned a gold Lexus parked outside the front door

OK, what kind of person voluntarily drives a GOLD Lexus??

Can you say entitlement whore?

[Saydrah]

I would drive a gold Lexus, if I were shopping for a Lexus and a gold one happened to be the best deal. Color doesn't really matter to me. But a gold Lexus minivan? Sheesh, it's a MINIVAN.

[eltf177]

If the store knew this sort of thing was happening it would have been nice for them to mention it to customers. Also let the police know so they could be watching or at least patrol more frequently.

All that aside, leaving an expensive item like a computer in plain view is just _dumb_. The store doesn't owe her anything, but they'll get some bad PR out of it.

[Midnight12]

does it help I can recall a time when people didn't HAVE to worry about hiding things in their car? *twitches* because in this day and age wether its happened to you or not its a good idea to hide that kind of thing. (yes, I know I sound like grandma)

[crazylegs]

(calm down crazylegs, calm down)

I'm sorry, but does this woman not have any idea of personal responsibility, is she of the opinion that all thieves are vampires and that you can leave considerable sums of money in a goldfish bowl anywhere and it will still be there when you get back.

I get fed up of hearing 'I'll only be two minutes' to which I counter with it only takes 10 seconds to break your window and run.

This woman feels that that store should have done 'something', I'm sorry but your personal security is your responsibility, the store has no responsibility towards the product once you have paid for it, after that point it's yours to look after and protect.

Bloody hell, how dense can you get, if she withdrew $6000 and wandered down the street with it hanging out of her back pocket would she moan to the bank if she got mugged?

[ditchdj]

Yeah but, from what I understand, the law states that you are responsible for ANYONE that is on YOUR property with your consent. That's just like if someone was at your house and he/she broke their leg falling down a flight of stairs. They can sue you for medical bills because something happened to them on your property.

[clod75]

what an idiot

[Cats]

Even if the stores knew (and how would they? Common sense would tell that if your car was broken into in a parking lot, you call the cops first, not the store), they're under no obligation to go around telling everyone unless someone's safety might be endangered. Stuff like that causes panic in people, and if something happens as a result of said panic, the store can be held responsible. Once you leave the store with your purchase, it is YOURS and thus YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.


And why the HELL does a TEN YEAR OLD need a laptop, let alone a $2000 one?

[Chanlin]

After reading the article I somewhat side with the customer on this one. The store knew such thefts have been occurring in which the thief is following people from stores after making big purchases and then breaking into their cars to steal said item if they stop off to shop elsewhere. From the sounds of this even had she concealed the computer it still would have been taken.

Now, the store is in no way responsible for the actions of the thief, and I feel does not owe the customer anything, but I would be a bit miffed to find out the store knew this might happen based on a rash of recent thefts and failed to say anything.

Now me personally I know better and always go straight home with big purchases like this.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

"If they knew this scam is going on and they’re not telling people, they have some culpability there."

Incorrect. It is not their fault she's a moron with more money than brains who doesn't think to conceal valuable items like the laptop. How is the store even supposed to know she bought a laptop and had it in her vehicle in the first place?

Even in a minivan, there has to be a space to conceal something like that.

And why does a 10-year-old need a $2000 laptop? A laptop is too easily breakable by a 10-year-old. This reinforces the "more money than brains" thing I mentioned previously.

Too bad this is how Junior had to learn his mom doesn't have a lick of common sense. No sympathy from me.

[One-Fang]

As they got out of the car, her younger son asked if they should hide the computer.

"I said, ‘No, no, honey, we’re going to be 10 minutes. Don’t worry about it. It’s broad daylight.’ "

Dumas.

She also left her purse on the front seat

Major dumas.

and a Nintendo game system in the car,

Alexendre Dumas.

Which is my cute way of saying, regardless of thieves targetting the store she used, she was holding up a six food billboard saying "ROB ME". She should be thanking her lucky stars all she lost was a computer.

[Rapscallion]

Most car parking areas over here have signs as standard to warn anyone who bothers to read them that thieves operate in the area, so leave valuables out of sight.

Far easier than talking to everyone.

Rapscallion

[mharbourgirl]

You know, I've always assumed that a mall parking lot is a very unsafe place to leave valuables visible. Even if the parking lot is patrolled, your average lot is HUGE and often wraps around the building, so you can't depend on mall security or even passing police patrols to keep your vehicle safe every minute.

Hell, even at WORK I lock my car up and there's nothing of any value in it anyway.

I'm rather embarassed that this woman is Canadian, actually. We're not ALL that idiotic, I swear!