Mary Corcoran always told her friends if she ever went to jail for anything, it would be for stealing lipstick.
"Mostly I just think, 'This stuff is way overpriced,'" Corcoran said. "And who am I killing by stealing it?"
stealing iphones The Lawrence senior knows shoplifting is wrong, but she still steals makeun.
Shoplifters may think they are taking from faceless corporations that will never feel the effects. But everyone pays a price for shoplifting — businesses, customers and shoplifters themselves — in a ripple effect of pilfered profits.
Shoplifting cost U.S. businesses $10 billion in 2001, according to a University of Florida study last year The study also found that many retailers had started adding "shrink" — a 1.8 percent charge designed to compensate for shoplifting losses — to the cost of the merchandise.
Shoplifting cases in Lawrence have increased during the past three years. There were 322 reported in 2000,368 in 2001 and 438 in 2002, according to the Lawrence Police Department.
Most thefts involve items that can be easily taken, said Lawrence police Sgt. Mike Patrick.
"Typically you're not talking about big ticket items like a television," Patrick said. "You're talking about items that can be hidden in a person's clothing."
Corcoran said she limited herself to shoplifting makeup. The most expensive item she has stolen was $10 eyeliner.
"It's small, and it's easy to take," she said. "So it's a little safer."
At first, Trish Jess found it difficult to approach someone she suspected of shoplifting.
The cost to businesses
"Now, it's like, 'Hey, you're taking my paycheck here,'" said Jess, director of operations for The Third Planet, 2 E. Ninth St.
There's no database that tracks revenue losses for local businesses, said Luke Middleton, research economist for the University of Kansas Policy Research Institute. He said most businesses didn't want to broadcast hefty losses.
But people should know shoplifting is devastating for local businesses, Jess said. The Third Planet's four Kansas stores collectively lose an average of $10,000 a year in merchandise costs because of shoplifting, she said.
Last month someone stole a hand-blown glass pipe from the Lawrence store's second floor. The Third Planet bought the pipe for $200 and was selling it for $400. Jess said the store lost not only the original purchase price but also
That amount's not even counting the time her employees wasted ordering, unpacking and displaying the item, Jess said.
"We have to do a lot more in sales to make up for it," she said.
Jess said a loss for her business could affect other businesses as well.
The Third Planet purchases many of its pipes from local glass blowers. A shoplifting loss limits how many pieces Jess can buy from those glass blowers in the future, she said, causing other local businesses to suffer with her.
Theft also affects her ability to give employees raises, she said.
Emily "Everyone here takes it personally," Jess said about the stolen pipe. "I'm still bitter about it."
SEE PETTYTHEFT ON PAGE 8A
Supporters of sex class present case to governor
By JJ Hensley
jhensley@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Susan Wagle brought politics into the classroom with her proposed budget amendment to eliminate funding for the University of Kansas' School of Social Welfare, which includes the undergraduate class on human sexuality. Last week, supporters of Dennis Dailey fought back through the same channels.
On Tuesday, Lawrence city commissioners ordered a letter drafted to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius stating their support of academic freedom. Two days later, the University Council
Sebelius
approved a resolution encouraging Sebelius to veto Wagle's amendment. Secundus For more coverage of the debate about Dailey's Human Sexuality course see page 5A
And on Friday three KU students from Dailey's human sexuality class met with the governor's staff to present their side.
"We spoke to them about the misconceptions of the class, and the importance of context and, more importantly, the lack of respect for the system that's already in place at KU to handle this," said Jen Hein, a Topeka senior who organized the trip. The group also addressed the benefits of the class and the broad ramifications and dangers of this type of bill, Hein said.
The five members of the governor's staff who attended the meeting liked what they heard, said chief counsel Matt All.
The budget amendment, which could cut as much as $3.1 million in funding from the School of Social Welfare, arrived on the governor's desk on Friday. Gov. Sebelius has until April 22 to decide whether or not to line-item veto it.
With that in mind, Friday's meeting was more for information gathering while the governor weighed the veto, All said.
Dailey's supporters hope drawing the governor's attention to their concerns will result in just such a measure.
"The governor's office took us seriously as students, adults and Kansans," Hein said. "A lot comes back to how it can hurt the entire state of Kansas. It's hard to get quality professors to come to your state if the Legislature determines classroom content."
Edited by Julie Jantzer
Templin Hall deals out fun, prizes at Casino Night
Kelly Carson, Littleton, Colo., freshman, places a wedding ring on Miranda Wormell, Ottawa freshman, at the Little White Wedding Chapel on the sixth floor of Templin Hall during Casino Night on Friday. The annual event was put on by Templin Hall and Hawk Nights activities.
By Jessica Palmenio
jalpalenio@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
The Las Vegas Strip was brought to Daisy Hill Friday—and there was no need to check IDs—when Templin Hall held its annual Casino Night with the help of Hawk Nights activities.
Some participants were not sure what to expect at the event, James Dietrich, Ft. Collins, Colo., sophomore, said he and his friend were drawn by the spotlight outside the building.
"We got confused," Dietrich said.
"Home Depot had spot lights too, so we went there first, but now we're here."
When students entered the first floor they picked up chips and entered their names in a competition.
Each player started with $200 worth of fake money in chips, and each canned good players brought earned them an extra $25. The canned goods collected will be distributed to area charities.
Dressing up for the event also earned gamblers money.
"Looking spiffy is another $25 to $50," said Mike Zelazek, Warrensburg, Mo., sophomore and Hawk Nights committee member.
Residents of Templin decorated the hall for the event. Each floor represented a different casino on the Las Vegas strip, such as the Luxor, Caesar's Palace and
While they waited in line, students ordered drinks from the fully stocked non-alcoholic bar. Drinks such as "Unfuzzy Navels" and "Shirley Templins" were served all night.
Students were impressed with the amount of work residents put into the event.
"This had to have taken so much coordination," said Carolyn Cornett, Wichita freshman.
The sixth floor, or the "Little White Wedding Chapel," came complete with a mock aisle, photographer and wedding cake. People could marry their "unlawfully wedded" husband or wife, but some took a less traditional approach to the union.
One student opted to marry a balloon at the beginning of the night, but it was OK because fake annulments were also available.
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