Stealing from the bookstore is more and more becoming a serious crime. Theft
has been around forever, yet it seems to be increasing over time. Some may say
it is due to the economy, it is just petty theft, or people are bored. Whether
there is a reason for stealing or not, it does not give our school a good image
nor does it help many students in the future.

“People have always been stealing and you can’t keep an eye on the
floor all the time. It is going to become a large problem if it continues so
much,” Julie Bourlier, bookstore supervisor, said.

After a certain amount of months within the school semester, the section of
textbooks is closed off. Staff workers are available to get the book so that no
students are allowed to cross and be potential thieves, Bourlier said.

“Stealing could be because of the economies down turn and the evolution of
the internet. People will come in, steal a book, then turn around and sell it on
the Internet. It is not just students that can’t afford to purchase the
books, but a ring of thieves,” Bourlier said.

There are a million and one reasons why someone would steal; especially an
expensive textbook that is necessary. Stealing from the place that provides an
education does not end in pleasant consequences at all. Staff workers will not
lessen, hours of the bookstore will not be open all the time, and police
officers will not stop checking out the store for anything suspicious.

“Books are overpriced and a lot of people have no money. Not just books
stolen either, sometimes a pencil or two because someone forget one, they need
it for class, and have no time to run back to their car,” Evan Stone,
unknown major, said.

People are always going to steal and they cannot always be stopped. Like many
stores everywhere, the bookstore could have censors right by the front door and
catch the crook. It does not say much about our school that people are cheating
their way out of a pay that everyone has to make, Stone said.

“From the textbook store across the street, people come over, steal our
books and sell them at their own shop. The only thing is, we can’t report
them unless we have caught them and have them in person. People will stick the
book in the front of their pants or in their underwear and cover it with their
huge t-shirts,” Nathaniel Roberts, floor worker, said.

Criminals will do whatever it takes to steal what they need. If they have to
stick it in their pants, underwear, in their jacket, and sweat bullets until
they walk out of the store, they will do it. If it came down to a $100 book or
10 minutes of sweating anxiety, more college students would choose the horrible
10 minutes.

“If we provide good customer service and make customers aware that we know
they are in the store, they will not steal. We acknowledge every customer and
have several workers walking the floor in bright blue t-shirts that go around
asking if anyone needs help. Inventory is about to be done at the end of April,
so we’ll see what we actually have,” Bourlier said.

All retail stores know that theft is part of the job no matter what is being
sold. If items keep getting stolen from the bookstore, prices will have to rise
and there will be more security. The prices of books and school supplies will
rise and go directly to the paying customer. It would not be a fun task but if
it comes down to it, it would have to be done, Bourlier said.

“We already have to put our backpacks and folders down before we go into
the store. Next we’re not going to be allowed to wear baggy clothes or we
going to have to take off our t-shirts before entering,” TJ Brown,
psychology major, said.