Dishonesty in the Lunch Line

I read in the newspaper yesterday that in the county where I live - Fairfax County, VA - several middle/high schools are installing video cameras in the lunch line areas of cafeterias to deter theft. Apparently at least $1.2 million dollars in losses is attributed to this type of theft. That's a lot of money, especially with the budget cuts that were made this year. So, the solution? Big Brother.

I am not one who worries too much about being videotaped. I know it really bothers many people - our civil liberties and all - and I do agree with them but I don't, at this point in my life, feel all that bothered by it. I know I am being taped as I go in and out of retail establishments, in parking garages, airports, etc. This is all supposed to be for our security, our safety. Let's just say that I'll buy that at this point. My son's school already has video cameras mounted to monitor the comings and goings of students, again, for their protection. I think Columbine is the reason schools made a lot of those kind of security changes. But we're talking about the lunch line. Kids are apparently pocketing sandwiches, wraps, fruit, even french fries. The crowds of students so large and the lunch breaks so short that the workers can't be expected to catch all the petty theft going on. Even teachers who are offered free lunches to be monitors miss much of it and it is costing the school system enough money that an investment in video cameras is being made to deter the thieves, many, who the article noted, come from high income families - this is not just an issue of the have nots trying to find a way to get a meal.

This is bothering me. It bothers me that mostly students (the article noted that some theft may be attributed to some of the employees) are stealing food. Food their families can afford to purchase. And those kids who can't afford it get redcued cost or free lunches so why the theft? Does doing something "bad" provide some sort of adrenaline rush? Are they on some sort of lunch budget set by their parents and their hunger level exceeds that budgeted amount? Are they just trying to see if they can get away with it - like a self-imposed dare? Or do they just not consider it "wrong enough" to abstain from doing it? Whatever the reason, it's disturbing. We've read a lot about the brains of kids under 21 not being fully mature, about how their decision-making capacity is not completely "wired" resulting in poor choices. Is that to blame? I have trouble with that too because we teach our children right and wrong from the beginning. And the big stuff - lying, cheating, stealing - gets reinforced along the way at school, at church, in the news, etc. So, as I said, it's troubling. What's next for theses kids? Pocketing a box of paperclips or a candy bar at the local Target? Filling up their gas tank and driving off without paying? Studies show that one act of this sort can and often does lead to another so while I'm bothered by the idea that video cameras have to be installed to deter this cafeteria line theft, if it works then I guess it may be preventing future dishonest acts and will help instill the "right" in those inclined to do wrong.

I just wish it was as easy as saying "hey, stop the stealing, it's dishonest, it's wrong" but it seems to me these days that too many people are finding the grey in what to me are black and white issues. Stealing is wrong. Period. Now, I do embrace the "grey" in many areas of my life - everything isn't black and white to me but stealing is.

How about you? Where do you stand on theft? Is it ever okay? Is it ever justified? I can think of cases where I'd feel sympathetic to the thief but I can't think of any case where I'd say it's okay. It's just plain wrong. And it's disturbing that this seems to be a trend with our youth at schools. What do you think can be done, aside from installing cameras, to help fix this problem?