YOUNG AUSSIE SAYS STEALING FROM COLES AND WOOLWORTHS SHOULD BE LEGAL
A young apprentice has sparked debate after he claimed everyone should be allowed to occasionally shoplift from Coles and Woolworths.
Coxy, 21, made the suggestion on The Mayfield Podcast, which he co-hosts with Jacko and Chip on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.
'I reckon occasional shoplifting should be legal. But I'm going to put on a little limit there before anyone else is against it. Up to $10 each shop,' he said.
Coxy justified this idea by pointing to the substantial profits reported by the major supermarkets.
Coles recorded a $1.1billion profit in its latest full-year results, while Woolworths saw its annual profit rise to $1.6billion.
'When Coles and Woolworths are pulling in, like, record margin profits, it's like okay, give the people what they want,' he said.
After footage of their discussion went viral, Jacko told Daily Mail Australia their conversation was more about exploring ideas 'for an ideal world', rather than advocating for shoplifting.
'We want to make it clear we are not condoning any illegal activity,' he said.
'We are talking about what we would like to happen in an idealistic situation because the cost of living is so high. We are all apprentices living paycheck to paycheck.'
Jacko said many young Aussies were struggling to afford necessities at the moment.
'Prices are going up, and wages have stayed the same.'
He heard of people in his age group going without activities, such as sport, because they could no longer afford it.
'It's shameful,' he said.
'We all participate in our local footy club. Everyone in today's society knows the positive impact physical exercise has on mental health.
'With having to pick and choose what you need - food, housing, bills - with the additional costs of footy, it only adds to the stress of it all.
'We as a group recognise our privilege in regard to being able to lean on our parents for financial support, whereas many others can't.'
Many Aussies openly admitted to the podcast hosts they had been resorting to theft from supermarket chains.
'I'm taking easily between $80 and $100 worth of goods each shop. And this is a few times a week,' one said.
Another added: 'Coles worker here. Do what you like, we don't care enough (or get paid enough ourselves) to care.'
'Cheese prices are ridiculous. If it fits in my hoodie, it's mine,' a third person said, while another bluntly stated: 'If it fits in my pocket, it's not going on the bill.'
But others condemned the podcast hosts for their suggestion.
'Boys, they make $2.26 per $100 spent,' one wrote.
Another explained that more stealing would cause further price increases.
Daily Mail Australia does not condone stealing from any supermarket chain. Theft is a criminal offence and can carry a penalty of up to five years' imprisonment.
A recent survey from Finder.com.au found about 15 per cent of Australians have admitted to stealing in the past 12 months.
The research found seven per cent have admitted to stealing at the supermarket self-checkout – up from five per cent in October 2023.
The same proportion confessed to intentionally misrepresenting scanned items.
The research also discovered that younger Australians were most likely to steal, with seven per cent of Gen Z admitting to leaving the supermarket without paying for an item, in contrast to only two per cent of Gen X.
Graham Cooke, head of consumer research at Finder, said the figures were alarming.
'Many households are struggling and are having to make difficult, and in some cases, criminal choices to cope,' he said.
Meanwhile, Coles said in its annual report for 2022-23 that shoplifting had worsened.
'Total loss increased by approximately 20 per cent year-on-year and remains an industry-wide headwind, with elevated levels of organised retail crime and customer theft from cost of living pressures,' it said.
Coles and Woolworths have been contacted for comment.
READ MORE: Why this single image of an old lady outside Coles is making Australians angry: 'So messed up'