Stores: Don't make victims pay for crime

Periodically I see abandoned shopping carts, and one solution recently offered by a city north of here is to charge or fine the retail establishment for its abandoned shopping carts.

Why should the victim of a crime be penalized? Is it because the stores have the financial resources to pay?

I recently saw an older person with an identifiable shopping cart 10 city blocks from the store, pushing the cart with merchandise toward home. When it was empty, it was left on the sidewalk.

I understand people’s financial plight, and when they do not have a car they take a cart to get their groceries home. However, according to state law it is a misdemeanor to remove the cart beyond store premises.

It is difficult to find an equitable solution to the problem, but the victims should not have to pay for the theft of their property.

This story was originally published March 7, 2016 at 2:25 PM with the headline "Stores: Don't make victims pay for crime."