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STEALING 

Alice Nutter, lead singer of the band Chumbawamba, said on the TV show "Politically Incorrect" that it was OK to shoplift their CD, Tubthumper, from the large department stores because the stores "could afford it". In response, Virgin Megastores in the US and some British major outlets pulled the album off their shelves. 

—The Morning Star, January 29, 1999, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Dave Bootsma 

Galatians 6:7 NASB Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.

Police in Louisiana say they arrested two alleged car burglars after the two suspects returned to the victim’s home to apologize. Police say the men aged 50 and 48 were charged with simple burglary, and they are seeking a third man believed to be involved. Reports say the men were allegedly taking a radio from an SUV about 1 o’clock in the morning and the owner saw them. She called police and described the men saying one was pushing the other in a wheelchair. They say the two men returned to the woman’s home to apologize before police arrived. 

When the police arrived, the men ran, but authorities apprehended them. Police reported the only items stolen were a bottle of cologne and two cell phone chargers, which were returned to their owner. The owner of the car said the circumstances were a bit unusual. Police Sgt Kyle Faulk agreed adding, “You don’t generally see burglars in wheelchairs. It’s not a real speedy getaway vehicle.” 

Police: Burglars Arrested After Returning To Apologize, http://www.wdsu.com/r/30176174/detail.html ; January 10 2012,  Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell. 

Leviticus 19:11-12 (HCSB) (11) “You must not steal. You must not act deceptively or lie to one another. (12) You must not swear falsely by My name, profaning the name of your God; I am Yahweh. 

Robbers in Nashville are excellent planners. “Nashville police said a man who stole an Xbox One system and games from a Game Stop store called ahead to make sure the items would be ready to go.” Jim L. Wilson and Ron Williams

-- http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2014/01/21/Police-Gamestop-robber-called-ahead-to-have-items-set-aside/UPI-10531390336251/ 

That’s smart, what if he planned this well to get a job and earn his own money?
 

Ephesians 4:28 (ESV)  Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. 

After riding his electric bicycle to an appointment, Ben Jaconelli returned twenty minutes later and discovered it had been stolen. He feared he would never see the pricey bicycle again, but the thief unknowingly helped Jaconelli recover it. Shortly after filing a police report, Jaconelli received a call at his store that sells electric bicycles, from a man who said he needed a charger. Since Jaconelli was the only retailer selling the bicycle, he knew the caller must be the thief. He and three friends paid him a visit and recovered the bicycle.—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

Thief steals pricey electric bike, then accidentally calls owner for help on how to recharge it, By Will Lerner, http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/oddnews/thief-steals-pricey-electric-bike--then-accidentally-calls-owner-for-help-on-how-to-recharge-it-212029453.html, Accessed April 25, 2014. 

Proverbs 9:17-18 (HCSB)  “Stolen water is sweet, and bread ?eaten? secretly is tasty!” (18) But he doesn’t know that the departed spirits are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol. 

Ohio police say a middle school student apparently took up to $25,000 from his grandfather and gave $100 bills to classmates. They say several thousand dollars were passed out before they discovered what was happening. Investigators were able to recover up to $7,000, but said some of the money had been spent already. Authorities say they do not know how the student took the money from his grandfather and are still investigating. They say multiple students and well as guardians, adults, and associates of the students had received and spent portions of the money. Police also recovered some the merchandise that was purchased. At this point, police say several people are still under investigation for their roles in the incident.--Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

Police: Teen steals $25k from grandfather, gives thousands to classmates, By Fred Lambert, http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2015/04/12/Police-
Teen-steals-25k-from-grandfather-gives-thousands-to-classmates/2561428860008/?spt=sec&or=on, Accessed April 12, 2015.

Ephesians 4:28 (HCSB) The thief must no longer steal. Instead, he must do honest work with his own hands, so that he has something to share with anyone in need. 

One of the clearest commands in scripture, coming straight out of the Ten Commandments, is the command against stealing. You may it interesting, or perhaps unnerving, to know that 1 in 6 teens and young adults admit to stealing something in the past year. These young people were involved in a survey of 8,000 of their peers and they self reported their stealing. —Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

Time, October 26, 2015 p. 25

Exodus 20:15 (HCSB) Do not steal. 
 

Stealing

When burglars struck a Louisiana church known for feeding the homeless and hungry, the only thing church leaders could think to do was ask that they return the items. A church representative said they prayed and went on the media, saying the church could not afford to replace the items. They promised that if the thieves returned the stolen goods, they would not press charges. Within hours, a church member received an anonymous call telling them where they could find the missing items. The Police Chief Randy Smith said it was unusual for someone to break in and steal something of value and then return it, but he thought the church’s role in helping the community played a role in the decision. He said, “These individuals felt sorry for what they did and returned it, and the victim didn’t want to pursue charges, so we are all happy at the end of the day.”—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Ephesians 4:28 (HCSB) “The thief must no longer steal. Instead, he must do honest work with his own hands, so that he has something to share with anyone in need.”

STEALING

A Pennsylvania man pled guilty to burglarizing his neighbor’s home by cutting a hole in the wall between his basement and the neighbor’s. The man’s lawyer, Anthony Rybak told a judge that he did not see how anyone could think he would get away with such a crime. He said the obvious lack of wisdom exhibited by his client lead him to plead guilty to the charges. The defendant acknowledged that he cut the hole and took $200 worth of quarters from his neighbor. He told the judge that he did it because he was addicted to drugs. After hearing from Rybak, the judge sentenced the man to three months in prison and five years of probation which must include inpatient drug treatment.—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

Hole in wall burglary was 'crime of stupidity', http://www.klove.com/news/2016/04/29/hole-in-wall-burglary.aspx, Accessed April 29, 2016.

Ephesians 4:28 (HCSB) “The thief must no longer steal. Instead, he must do honest work with his own hands, so that he has something to share with anyone in need.”

STEALING

An Oregon rancher jumped on his horse and lassoed a man who was attempting to steal a bicycle. Robert Borba was loading dog food and a camping tent into his truck when he heard a woman screaming that someone was trying to steal her bike. Borba got his horse out of the trailer, grabbed a rope, and took off after the man who was struggling with the bicycle’s gears and fleeing on foot. He lassoed the man and dragged him to one end of the parking lot to wait for police. When they arrived officer said this was the first time they had ever seen anything like this, but took them man into custody. Afterward Borba said, “I use a rope every day, that’s how I make my living. It catches cattle pretty good, it catches a bandit pretty good.”—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

Police: Rancher Lassos Bike Thief Outside Oregon Wal-Mart, http://abcnews.go.com/Weird/wireStory/police-rancher-lassos-bike-thief-oregon-walmart-39771, Accessed June 11, 2016.

Ephesians 4:28 (HCSB) “The thief must no longer steal. Instead, he must do honest work with his own hands, so that he has something to share with anyone in need.”

STEALING

Police in New Jersey are looking for a man who tried to steal $2 worth of gasoline. Police say the suspect was carrying a gas can when he approached an attendant outside a gas station, pulled a knife and demanded $2 in gasoline. When the attendant refused to comply, the suspect ran away. Authorities say they are reviewing surveillance video in an effort to identify the man.—Jim L. Wilson & Jim Sandell

Man Armed With Knife Demands $2 In Gas, Then Flees, http://www.klove.com/news/2016/12/28/man-armed-with-knife-demands-2-in-gas-then-flees, Accessed December 28, 2016.

Ephesians 4:28 (HCSB) “The thief must no longer steal. Instead, he must do honest work with his own hands, so that he has something to share with anyone in need.”

STEALING

While an Albuquerque TV news crew was preparing a story about crime in the city, a thief drove off in the station’s SUV. Michelle Donaldson, News director for KOB television said the crew was reporting on recent concerns about crime and safety, and one of the issues in the report was an increase in auto theft.  Donaldson said the SUV had been locked and the keys were not in it. She the local paper that the vehicle was recovered a short time later because it was equipped with a GPS tracking device. Donaldson said it was ironic that KOB became a victim of crime in the area they were reporting about. She said the crew had violated a rule about becoming the lead story in your own newscast. —Jim L. Wilson & Jim Sandell

Albuquerque TV truck stolen while crew worked on crime story, https://www.yahoo.com/news/albuquerque-tv-truck-stolen-while-crew-worked-crime-024751403.html, Accessed June 23, 2017.

Ephesians 4:28 (CSB) “Let the thief no longer steal. Instead, he is to do honest work with his own hands, so that he has something to share with anyone in need.”

STEALING

Tequila Isaacson is an Idaho woman who was traveling on a Washington State highway. She was at a rest stop when a Pickup truck in the parking lot next to a coffee shop caught on fire. While the boy’s parents worked to get him out and another man called 911, Isaacson began searching for a fire extinguisher. She found one inside the coffee shop. Taking a post from the bed of her own truck she broke a window in a coffee shop, retrieved the fire extinguisher, and used it to put out the fire and rescue the child. The Washington State Patrol Trooper told her that he would have to charge her with burglary for taking a fire extinguisher that didn’t belong to her. Isaacson said the trooper told her, “Using a fire extinguisher that doesn’t belong to me is theft and I’m not allowed to steal it, no matter how good my intentions.” She said he told her that unless she was willing to pay for the glass right “then and there,” he would charge her with burglary.

It’s true the bible says “thou shalt not steal.” But “borrowing” an extinguisher to save a child’s life might qualify as an excuse. —Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

http://komonews.com/news/local/good-samaritan-could-face-charges-for-trying-to-help-rescue-child-from-burning-truck

Exodus 20:15 (CSB)

Do not steal.