Jobless People Going to Extremes
By rachel zupek on Jun 18, 2009 in Employment Trends, Unemployment
On Tuesday, I was in the elevator, reading “Captivate” (the little TV that flashes news) when a startling headline caught my eye: “Jobless man steals just for free prison lunch.”
Um, what?
The short blurb went on to say that an unemployed (and homeless) man from Taiwan, who was recently released from prison, stole a box of cotton swabs just to get arrested again because “he could not forget the police department boxed lunches,” according to the arresting officers and media.
Today, I found a short news article on the man’s story. Apparently, he was arrested last Sunday, June 14, for stealing a pair of shoes. He was detained, then released, according to the Liberty Times. He stole again the next day (Tuesday) just to get back inside and get fed.
“If someone’s not doing well and comes in around meal time, we’ll definitely prepare food,” said an officer, surnamed Wang, at the Hsinyi District police station, which handled the case.
The suspect, Tsou Hao-lan, was released again immediately.
Would you go to such extremes?
Miss Pink Slip | Jun 18, 2009 | Reply
Goodness no! I would never have done something so ridiculous. But people are desperate, and we know desperation drives us to do asinine things.
Also, we forget how simple it can be to provide someone a meal. Go out and donate to your local food pantry. They’re in high demand right now. Even if you’re jobless yourself, a $5 donation can still go pretty far.
Dave M | Jun 19, 2009 | Reply
It sounds crazy, but that sort of thing was pretty common during the Irish Potato Famine.
spencer cohn | Jun 24, 2009 | Reply
A lady came to my office requesting I represent her at her unemployment hearing. I told her my fee and she said she would sell her gold tooth to pay me. I discouraged her from taking such drastic action. She said, “If I don’t receive my unemployment benefits, I won’t need them because I won’t be able to buy food to bite into.”
Ms.HRBossLady | Jul 1, 2009 | Reply
I had this internet article forwarded to me and actually thought it made more than a few valid point. It’s called “A Criticism of Employers in America.”
http://beyond-the-political-spectrum.blogspot.com/search/label/Hiring%20Practices