I did not realize this: An astonishing 4 percent of the world’s cheese ends up stolen, making it the world’s most stolen food (via Time). If the global percentage holds true in the United States, then that makes 4 percent of roughly 12.7 billion pounds annually (via Agricultural Marketing Resource Center), or 508 million pounds of stolen cheese. How heavy is that, exactly? If the weight of an average car is roughly 4,000 pounds (via the Environmental Protection Agency), then cheese thieves steal the equivalent of 127,000 cars worth a year. Suffice to say, it’s a lot.
I can understand why cheese is stolen from grocery stores. It is expensive, small enough to place in a pocket or purse, and nutritious. I don’t think I have ever stolen any cheese, from a store. But I once attended a large welcome reception. Upon leaving, my frat brothers and I discovered a HUGE wheel of cheese, untouched. So, we brought it back to the fraternity house and had cheese for a semester.
In my working days, the two most stolen items were razor blades and Preparation H. What a strange combination! Blades are expensive, and again, small enough to hide in a pocket or purse. Most are locked up now at retailers, and often have an anti-theft sticker as well. Even today, razor blades remain numero uno.
But (pun not intended), Preparation H is stolen, but not for the obvious reason. It was once considered a great wrinkle remover, before it was reformulated several years ago. Women were stealing it faster than condoms being stolen by teenagers in heat!
Retail, in general:
- Designer Clothing
- Denim Pants
- Razors
- Infant Formula
- Designer Handbags
- Laundry Detergent
- Cigarettes
- High-end Liquor
- Jewelry
- Teeth Whitening Strips
I think this tells you quite a bit about our society. Material things still matter, more than personal hygiene!
So, if you steal, please go for personal hygiene. Deodorant and body washes may rise to numero uno on the list!
golfkat Travel Blog 