Althouse: Vigilantism.

February 1, 2022

Vigilantism.

I love this grandma! pic.twitter.com/cofQkrnpBC
— Libs of Tik Tok (@libsoftiktok) January 31, 2022

70 comments:

Curious George said...: The man who originally asked "are you going to pay for that?" was the one who pulled the cart away from the robber. So not just granny.; 2/1/22, 6:32 AM
Jake said...: These days stuff like that can get you shot in the face.; 2/1/22, 6:37 AM
Humperdink said...: ..... Paski laughs.; 2/1/22, 6:47 AM
Chest Rockwell said...: This was in Canada apparently. This will get worse until people step up like these two did, assuming the government in charge doesn't prosecute you or you don't get stabbed or shot stepping in.

It's all about an erosion of norms. Timely article.

https://quillette.com/2020/08/16/the-challenge-of-marxism/; 2/1/22, 6:49 AM
tim maguire said...: Should put her in charge of every prosecutor's office in every blue city.; 2/1/22, 7:04 AM
farmgirl said...: I hope this shit doesn’t catch on where I live. For people w/integrity, like Grandma and the man who filmed it- who follow the law, it must have ticked them off so much! It ticks me off, too.; 2/1/22, 7:04 AM
gilbar said...: Of course, real crimes ASSAULTS! were committed here, and NOT by the innocent guy with the cart
You Have NO RIGHT to assault someone exercising their Constitutional Right to shoplift; 2/1/22, 7:05 AM
What's emanating from your penumbra said...: Breach of the peace. Throw the book at her.; 2/1/22, 7:16 AM
Bob Boyd said...: So not just granny.

These Canadian shoppers are like fucking wolves. They work in packs. Jean Valjean there was wise to flee. More Canadians would soon have closed in. They would have torn him apart and eaten his liver right there in the parking lot.; 2/1/22, 7:21 AM
David Begley said...: Grandma knows that stealing raises the prices for the rest of us.; 2/1/22, 7:23 AM
Saint Croix said...: Canadians are super-polite. So if you've made Canadians mad, watch out.

Also, Canadians are heavily armed as a people.; 2/1/22, 7:28 AM
gilbar said...: Hey Montana commenters?
Do your State Police car STILL have 3-7-77 on them?
First time i drove through Montana, i saw the 3-7-77 and asked the cop
"what's THAT mean?" and he said;"we're not really supposed to say"
and then told me....
which made me glad i was just talking to him in a parking lot and not committing crime; 2/1/22, 7:50 AM
Tina Trent said...: Two brave people is an army.; 2/1/22, 7:54 AM
Original Mike said...: Feel good story of the day.

How was he going to bike it home? Steal the cart too? I wonder if it was his bike.; 2/1/22, 7:56 AM
Achilles said...: This is the plan of the people that own the left. They plan on a general breakdown of order. And they plan on the population demanding more police.

Of course they just fired all of the police that refused to get vaccinated.

I.E. all of the police that believe in individual liberty.

And who do you think they will hire to repopulate the police forces they just purged.

Just like politics draws corrupt power hungry shitheads police work draws people who like to assert authority over others.

They know they are heavily outnumbered.

But they still think they can win.; 2/1/22, 8:06 AM
Maynard said...: I am surprised that Grandma was not arrested. Maybe if the shoplifter was a POC, she would have been charged with a hate crime.; 2/1/22, 8:21 AM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: OMG - I'm thrilled you posted this!

I was at PetSmart in Boulder the other night. I was at the checkout register.
I heard some commotion as two female clerks ran out the front door.
I happened to be with my man, and he ran out the door. I had just finishing paying.. Then I went ran the door. I wasn't sure what was going on... because I had my back to the whole thing.

A Transient pushed a shopping cart full of random stuff out the door without paying for any of it. My guy, me, and 2 female clerks stood around him and confronted him. He seemed like he was on something (drugs? alcohol?) as he was mumbling. But he was with-it enough to mumble... "you didn't have any proof". I said "4 of us watched you, and you are on security camera"... He too HAD A BIKE! that he left inside the shopping cart area for his get away. Trouble is - it's hard to push a cart and push a bike... much less get-away on the bike with the cart. (just like the video above)
Our thief was older, more drugged-out, and not wearing a mask.

So anyway - we stood around him determined to stop him from being successful. Luckily - he did not seem threatening at all. As he struggled with the cart and the bike, we convinced him to take his crap off the top of the cart and let us have the cart. At first he said no, and repeated his line "you have no proof"... so then I said I was going to call the police. He then gave up and let us have the cart.

In hindsight I wish I would have been even more bold as I guarantee that bike he was riding was also stolen.

This crime-wave the left refuse to acknowledge is real. And the left are feeding it.
(helps to have the ultimate crook in the position of most-powerful. The left leads by example. Crime pays!)

Ordinary tax paying citizens are fed-up with the left's lax-on-crime Bullshit. Telling us it's not happening when we witness and experience it constantly.

We all must take a stand against it.

GO GRANDMA!; 2/1/22, 8:36 AM
Pillage Idiot said...: Granny: "You jack up the price for the rest of us!"

Granny has a better grasp of economics than anyone in the Biden, Lightfoot, and Newsom administrations.; 2/1/22, 8:37 AM
DanTheMan said...: I am trying to imagine my grandmother swearing like that... Nope. Not possible.

I am also trying to imagine someone casually stealing an entire cart full of groceries in 1970 without getting beaten to a pulp. Can't imagine that, either.

"The past is a foreign country. They do things differently there."; 2/1/22, 8:42 AM
DanTheMan said...: >>I am surprised that Grandma was not arrested. Maybe if the shoplifter was a POC, she would have been charged with a hate crime.

... and "insurrection".; 2/1/22, 8:43 AM
Big Mike said...: I love this grandma!

@Althouse, but would you have had the personal courage to do that yourself?; 2/1/22, 8:43 AM
retail lawyer said...: Society will choose to stop this when white people start doing it. This is a very encouraging video.; 2/1/22, 8:46 AM
farmgirl said...: According to Canadian media, a security guard was stabbed at this same Walmart while trying to stop a shoplifter from leaving the store.

gateway has a post of this up, as well.; 2/1/22, 8:46 AM
Quaestor said...: This was in Canada apparently.

The Mounties are too busy rounding up preachers who defy Fidel Junior's mask edicts to deal with shoplifters, arsonists, rapists, and Snidley Whiplash.; 2/1/22, 8:47 AM
Quayle said...: Isn't it Glenn Reynolds who always says that the Police aren't there to protect citizens from the criminals. The Police are there to protect the criminals from the citizens.; 2/1/22, 8:59 AM
MadisonMan said...: Will live to steal another day. Granny should have flattened the tires of "his" bike.; 2/1/22, 9:00 AM
Sebastian said...: Of course, in the U.S. "vigilantes" risk prosecution by prog prosecutors.

But the episode is a small, early indicator of the result of breakdowns in order. Law enforcement protects criminals. Without it, they become free game. With nasty consequences all around.; 2/1/22, 9:12 AM
Michael K said...: Remember the old lady with the hatpin in "Death Wish?" That is where we are headed. There are very few car jackings in Texas and Arizona. Why ? Every driver is armed, except a few Democrats.; 2/1/22, 9:30 AM
Two-eyed Jack said...: We cannot premise our civilized life on the reluctance of masked shoplifters to assault outraged grandmothers.; 2/1/22, 9:58 AM
Howard said...: Grandma sounded like she was from the Northeastern US. I can't tell Jersey from Connecticut. Could've been a transplanted Masshole.; 2/1/22, 10:06 AM
rcocean said...: LOL. Love the sentiment but its completely misplaced. What is this big box store? Target?

Anyway, whatever chain store it is, they aren't Grandma's friend. They're just a bunch of greedy businessmen. And if Target doesn't like theft, it can do something about it. They don't need Grandma.

Its sad that all the goodness in people is misdirected. Patriotism (whats left of it) is twisted into supported some dumb war in Afghanistan/Ukraine, instead of controlling the USA border. And a dislike of crime, is twisted into helping some globalist Big Chain Store fight shoplifting.; 2/1/22, 10:10 AM
rcocean said...: BTW, I saw a case of this last month. 6AM went to the chain drug store, young guy comes flying out with a hard cart full of goods, tossed it in the back of his pickup and drove off as quick as he could.

I burst out laughing. I certainly had zero desire to tackle him.; 2/1/22, 10:12 AM
Iman said...: You kiss your mother with that mouth, grandma?!?!; 2/1/22, 10:12 AM
Iman said...: Good news story of the day so early in the morning, too.; 2/1/22, 10:13 AM
Amadeus 48 said...: "With nasty consequences all around."

You know, there is another view on that. Vigilantes provide a necessary service when the police power has broken down and civil authorities have abandoned their duties.; 2/1/22, 10:14 AM
brylun said...: Why do you vote for people who enable this criminal behavior?; 2/1/22, 10:18 AM
Ann Althouse said...: What was his plan for getting away with that on a bike?; 2/1/22, 10:21 AM
Original Mike said...: "What was his plan for getting away with that on a bike?"

I'm thinking he had a car. He was stealing the bike, too.; 2/1/22, 10:29 AM
victoria said...: you go, grandma!!!
And, Ann, I'm not sure he had thought that far, or, even worse, he had a car outside ready for the contraband.

vicki from Pasadena; 2/1/22, 10:30 AM
Amadeus 48 said...: "What was his plan for getting away with that on a bike?"

It is hard to tell, but he had thrown his backpack into the cart. Maybe there was an accomplice in the parking lot. Maybe he had practicing pushing the cart while biking. I'll go with the accomplice with a pickup truck idea. Maybe he stole the bike, too.; 2/1/22, 10:34 AM
Michael said...: What was his plan for getting away with that on a bike?

Racist. Plans are for whitey.; 2/1/22, 10:34 AM
Brylinski said...: Accomplices, that's the plan. Or the best stuff that fits goes down his shirt, and abandon the rest.; 2/1/22, 10:40 AM
Joe Smith said...: If it were in San Francisco it wouldn't be illegal, and even if it were it wouldn't be prosecuted.

That young, healthy man deserves to take whatever he wants without paying because society something something.

You people are so petty.; 2/1/22, 10:43 AM
Wince said...: Ann Althouse said...
What was his plan for getting away with that on a bike?

He had those two boxes of Glad trash bags. Probably planned to fill a couple of them with the loot in the parking lot, tie them together and sling them over his shoulders.; 2/1/22, 10:51 AM
Jersey Fled said...: "What was his plan for getting away with that on a bike?"

He was going to drag the cart along too.; 2/1/22, 10:51 AM
Misinforminimalism said...: What was his plan for getting away with that on a bike?

He was stealing the cart, too. And in no hurry. Both of which facts point to the rot in the system.; 2/1/22, 10:53 AM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: OT: From the "libs of tic tok"... as I followed the link

Joe Rogan speaks; 2/1/22, 11:06 AM
Curious George said...: "LOL. Love the sentiment but its completely misplaced. What is this big box store? Target?"

Not Target. Everything is red in Target. Including the carts.; 2/1/22, 11:07 AM
Leland said...: What was his plan for getting away with that on a bike?

He was going to pull it along while he road on the bike. That seems obvious.

What's the plan for these DA's refusing to prosecute? We will get more vigilantism as a result, and this will increase tension as citizens fight citizens.; 2/1/22, 11:07 AM
Curious George said...: "Ann Althouse said...
What was his plan for getting away with that on a bike?"

Ride the bike, pull the cart along holding it next to the bike.; 2/1/22, 11:08 AM
Bruce Hayden said...: “Anyway, whatever chain store it is, they aren't Grandma's friend. They're just a bunch of greedy businessmen. And if Target doesn't like theft, it can do something about it. They don't need Grandma.”

I respectfully disagree. Arson and theft have forced the closure of numerous drug and food stores across this countries, in jurisdictions where Soros DA’s or Defunded Police have caused lossage to explode. If the store could hire armed security guards that could shoot looters, then sure, go that route, but in those jurisdiction, the security guards are the ones they prosecute. These stores have fairly thin margins, and if some security measures aren’t working, and the stores continue to hemorrhage money through increased lossage, the chains just pull out, and concentrate in locations where shoplifters, etc go to jail. As a result of this, parts in inner cities in SF, LA, Portlandia, Twin Cities, etc are turning into food (and necessary drug) deserts. The demographic most affected are those who can’t just jump into their car and drive another mile to find an open food or drug store, and they tend to be minorities.; 2/1/22, 11:23 AM
farmgirl said...: Good on you, Howard.; 2/1/22, 11:26 AM
rcocean said...: If these blue cities and states want "law and order" let them vote for it. Why should I care that a bunch of liberal/leftists are getting what they want?

BTW, I wonder if Grandma would've been charged with a "hate crime" if the young man had been black or Hispanic?; 2/1/22, 11:30 AM
farmgirl said...: Vigilantes also end up getting out of hand, if any Western stories I’ve read have any truth.
All our (oldest) laws are biblically based and now that our Lord is denied access to teaching facilities or the Democratic platform- laws are now based on what blind justice?; 2/1/22, 11:30 AM
farmgirl said...: “… @Althouse, but would you have had the personal courage to do that yourself?”

I don’t think that is the issue. Calling people out for surmised cowardice isn’t very kind. Be best.; 2/1/22, 11:32 AM
Owen said...: I was hoping for a different ending to the video. Where he starts to ride off empty-handed and gets blindsided by a big pickup truck. Oops!

But short of such Cosmic Justice, this was a pretty good outcome. And, yes, the two "vigilantes" were lucky. Future outcomes may not be so positive, especially because the bad guys will watch the TikTok and decide on stronger tactics next time.; 2/1/22, 11:46 AM
Tomcc said...: It looks like my local Walmart. I'm hoping the guy filming and trying to pull the cart is store security. If so, is this (recording while deterring) SOP now?; 2/1/22, 11:54 AM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: Forgive me if I posted this before.

I'm on a local community on-line platform for neighbors to connect. It's mostly used to report bad stuff... like crime. or missing pets..
Lots of crime. Lots of bike theft... catalytic converter theft...
and car theft... mentions of smash-and-grabs at various parking areas around town.
and on and on...
My neighbor one street over, accidentally left the garage door open DURING THE DAY... to make a trip to the bank. His wife was home and her car was parked in the garage.. She must have left the keys in the car. His wife's car was stolen ... while she was at home. Now - yes leaving the garage door open is not good. But seriously - I often leave my garage door open. Not anymore.
Everything is locked down tight. It's all crime all the time now.; 2/1/22, 11:55 AM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: The left want to destroy everything. Free speech... our way of life. they do not care. They are all wealthy enough to hire private security.

Grandma is right. All this shoplifting does is make prices higher for honest people.
another bonus for the corrupt left.; 2/1/22, 11:59 AM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: Joe Rogan Speaks - the whole thing; 2/1/22, 12:05 PM
Richard Dolan said...: Tow cheers for Canadian grannies. Reality is about to bite those who think the vast majority of people are OK with petty crime, to say nothing about not-so-petty crime.; 2/1/22, 12:09 PM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: @ Misinfo
(Ann said...) "What was his plan for getting away with that on a bike?"

Misinfo said...
"He was stealing the cart, too. And in no hurry. Both of which facts point to the rot in the system."

I think so, too. The thieves are so brazen, they do not need to worry about details like... too much stolen stuff to handle. It will all work out for them.

BTW - my vigilantism meter just went way up.

I see so many stolen bikes on nextdoor, that I will now assume a bike is stolen if it's sitting the the lobby- or cart area of a store (unlocked!).
I might take the bike, hide the bike, and call the police and tell them I found a stolen abandoned bike.

I might. If the opportunity is there. Local police are useless with this stuff. There uselessness is because of the leftist pro-crime bureaucracy who control them... handcuff their ability to be effective.

I witnessed what was more than likely a stolen bike chop shop on the edge of the diagonal highway near longmont - so I called the non-emergency number. The person on the other line told me there is nothing they can do. It must be a crime in progress.
No wonder these thieves do what they do... Once they make it past the threshold, they are scott free.; 2/1/22, 12:12 PM
Ignorance is Bliss said...: rcocean said...
LOL. Love the sentiment but its completely misplaced. What is this big box store? Target?

Anyway, whatever chain store it is, they aren't Grandma's friend. They're just a bunch of greedy businessmen. And if Target doesn't like theft, it can do something about it. They don't need Grandma.

Grandma isn't fighting for the store. She is fighting for civilization. Despite it's flaws, it is still worth fighting for.; 2/1/22, 12:15 PM
rcocean said...: "I'm thinking he had a car. He was stealing the bike, too."

Yes. It might be different elsewhere, but where I live people park & lock their bikes outside. They don't wheel them around while shopping.; 2/1/22, 12:48 PM
Rabel said...: Campbell River, BC, is a mid sized town of 35,000. I live in a town of similar size.

That Walmart, it's a full size version, is the center of retail trade in Campbell River and probably the primary source of tax revenue in the town.

In my little town there's usually a police car sitting in front of the store and the possibility that a person would try to walk out with a full buggy of stolen merchandise or even think that they could is remote.

This is a police failure, not a Walmart failure.

Jeez, it's all I can do to get out with a ribeye stuffed in my shorts.; 2/1/22, 1:39 PM
Bilwick said...: I don't see how this is "vigilantism." It's not like the old lady and the off-camera guy lynched the shoplifter.; 2/1/22, 1:51 PM
Jim at said...: you go, grandma!!! - Leftist from Pasadena

You voted for this. You don't get to champion those who are fixing your mistakes.; 2/1/22, 2:26 PM
~ Gordon Pasha said...: In the Canadian Honors system this would qualify for a Medal of Bravery. I doubt she will be sho honored.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medal_of_Bravery_(Canada); 2/1/22, 3:18 PM
Bunkypotatohead said...: If it's going to be up to the public to prevent crime, we might as well defund the police. Use the money to reward grandma.; 2/1/22, 8:18 PM
Jason said...: My favorite shoplifter confrontation on video happens to be from my hometown Times supermarket. I was actually in that store buying poke earlier that day.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=4369344419854027

I was happy to learn that management issued a statement in support of their employee, and that hell, no, they weren't going to fire her.; 2/2/22, 12:02 AM