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Shopping Cart Graveyards
By Greg L | 22 January 2008 | Crime, Prince William County | 157 Comments
Ever wonder what happens to those shopping carts you occasionally see being pushed along the sidewalks from folks walking home from the grocery store? You’d expect someone who is investing their future in America, rather than trying to temporarily “rent” the American Dream, would bring these back where they found them if it would have ever occurred to them to appropriate someone else’s property in the first place. But no, these end up in what the person who took these pictures refers to as “shopping cart graveyards” such as this, where stolen property is not only unceremoniously dumped, but the practice becomes so prevalent that it develops it’s own methodology.
Somehow I find it difficult to summon a sense of celebration in regards to this particular example of our cultural diversity. I’m more inclined to complain to the Prince William County Police Department that the “sensitivity” they are requiring of their police officers is fostering a climate of lawlessness, and our quality of life is suffering as a result.
Since the police are too busy harassing those who complain about lawless behavior rather than actually doing anything to discourage lawless behavior, areas of Prince William County are beginning to resemble third-world countries. If this bothers you, letting the Board of County Supervisors know that the Police Department and Property Code Enforcement better get in gear here is a good first step. You can reach all the board members at bocs@pwcgov.org.
The opinions expressed here are solely the views of the author, and not representative of the position of any organization, political party, doughnut shop, knitting guild, or waste recycling facility, but may be correctly attributed to the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy. If anything in the above article has offended you, please click here to receive an immediate apology.
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There are signs that warn that removing shopping carts from the lot is considered theft. Except the signs are in English. Not that the law-breakers care.
But if they were in Spanish, people would complain that they are “catering” to illegals. (http://www.bvbl.net/index.php/2007/12/04/an-interesting-approach-to-spanish-language-signs/)
Yes. Shopping cart grave yards are very common in third world countries. I saw it on the Discovery Channel.
Fascinating.
I actually saw a person take a cart from PetSmart and walk it across 234 in front of a police squad car. In fact the police officer almost hit this person when making a left turn. I fully expected the police officer to stop this person to question her as to why she was taking a shopping cart. The officer did not stop. Obviously they do not care about theft. It’s awful that the citizens have to complain in order for the police to do something that they should already be doing.
Patty said on 22 Jan 2008 at 11:25 am:
I actually saw a person take a cart from PetSmart and walk it across 234 in front of a police squad car.
Here is a site that provides the prices of both the metal and plastic commercial grocery carts. It seems to me that the theft of one of these carts from a business would/sould be considered a felony. Why aren’t the police checking when they see someone pushing a cart that has most definitely been stolen from a business? Maybe it’s another law that they don’t want to enforce??
http://www.shopcarriage-trade.com/carriagepage1.html
Corr. would/should
Yes, contact the PW County Police Dept and all the Board Members, if possible do so multiple times, and let them know how outraged you are about the theft and subsequent dumping of shopping carts.
There are over $1,000 worth of carts in those photos.
Perhaps a citizens team could get together and moniter parking lots and make citizens arrests, possibly even initiate deportations. I will design the uniforms and make sure they glo in the dark for nighttime safety.
This is sad to see. Why don’t Police do something about people taking off with the store’s property? I know it isn’t a major crime, but look at what it has done to our city. If they would take them back, I am sure the store would not miss them. This theft causes my grocery bill to go up since the store has to pay to replace these carts.
Patty said on 22 Jan 2008 at 11:25 am:
I guess they are willing to look the other way when it doesn’t involve murder or rape. This isn’t one of those “fancy” crimes that will make a big difference if it is deterred.
I guess one thing we can do, is to call police right away when we see someone walking down the street with a shopping cart. Do you think the police would even come?
This is an outrage!!!!!!!! What is happening to our country when the theft of shopping carts goes uninvestigated and unprosecuted.
valleygirl said on 22 Jan 2008 at 11:59 am
You obviously do not have anything of significance to offer here.
BTW,
moniter is spelled monitor.
glo is spelled glow.
nighttime is 2 words.
Maybe you class is about to start huh?
valleygirl said on 22 Jan 2008 at 12:23 pm:
Unfortunately, small crimes have been proven to lead to larger ones.
Maybe your class is about to start huh?
starryflights said on 22 Jan 2008 at 12:22 pm:
Nope I do not think they would. It is a headline making crime.
That should read, “Maybe your class is about to start, huh?”
I think that your class is about to start. Aren’t you signed up for Parking Lot Safety - Protecting our Shopping Carts 101 at the BVBL College of People Who Have Nothing Better To Do Than Vent Their Collective Outrage Online All Day?
BTW, do you moonlight as a spell check?
Anyone think “valleygirl” would have a problem if someone dumped all the stray shopping carts in her front yard? It appears this isn’t a big issue for her so I don’t think she’d mind.
valleygirl said on 22 Jan 2008 at 11:59 am:
Perhaps a citizens team could get together and moniter parking lots and make citizens arrests, possibly even initiate deportations. I will design the uniforms and make sure they glo in the dark for nighttime safety.
Better still, maybe we could just have them drop them in your front yard and you can take care of the problem and won’t need a uniform. lid
And, before I go on to bigger and better things, I will concede that small crimes have been proven to occasionally lead to larger crimes. God help us if they try to walk off with the whole fricken store next time. We must nip this delinquency in the bud!
Cheers, continue on with your vigilantism, and feel free to bash me!
As a matter of fact I happen to run a stray shopping cart shelter, and it is funded with YOUR TAX DOLLARS. HA! HA! HA!
I imagine it might be difficult to get the local fuzz to do anything about the shopping carts because there’s no money in it. Giving Joe Taxpayer a ticket for doing 45 in a 35….now there’s money to be made! I would attempt some joke about if the Donut shop had shopping carts, but man, I bet I’d hear it
If the stores and police don’t care,maybe we can add a new catagory to the Fair this year. Shopping cart derby?
[…] Original post by Greg L […]
seems like we have a troll in our midst……..
josh– Just one?
Redawn and all,
The stores do care. They actually inventory them at the end of the day. They offer carts to shoppers as a convenience so they can bring their merchandise through the store and to their car if necessary. The stores are victims too. My big concern is when officers see someone wheeling a cart from the shopping center why aren’t they questioning the person. It reminds me of the news story I saw quite a while back. A customer in a 7-11 was being beaten and robbed and yet the other customers in the 7-11 ignored the situation. I would think that at least someone would call the police on the cell phone. So, I guess my big question is why the police not act when they see people take these carts. It is a theft. Some carts cost as much as $200.00.
Medic64,
It is not worth the time and effort to respond to valleygirl.
And if you want a cart with four wheels that will all go the same direction, that REALLY gets expensive!
Greg does have a good point….this is part of the diversity we are all supposed to be celebrating.
Patty,
I know. sometimes I just can’t help myself. Ignorance can be contagious. I hadn’t had my ignorance shot today so I caught the bug
Battle Cat,
I can only imagine what one of those with the kiddie cart included goes for. It has SIX wheels
turn Blue,
Though, I hesitate to write this, since you might just be joking…. One does not need to know English to understand basic rules, such as entering the Country illegally or taking a shopping cart. But, I suppose at least for the illegals that engage in this type of practice, they are consistent about breaking the law.
COM,
Hence my comment about smaller crimes leading to larger ones.
First, entering the country ILLEGALLY, nothing done about it.
Second, taking others property, nothing done about it.
Third, loitering to work ILLEGALLY, nothing done about it.
This is truly the land of opportunity since there are many opportunities to break the law and have nothing done about it.
Thought it was over….. sigh..
The stores who prohibit removal of shopping carts are racists, and their policies are racist! We immigrants need these carts to bring home our groceries big-screen TVs and other things, and we demand that The racists in the community stop trying to stop us from stealing shopping carts! No shopping cart is illegal! We will boycott all stores who refuse to let us take the carts! We will rally in PWC! We will march on walmart and giant! We are just taking the carts that Americans refuse to take! It is a complicated issue!
Si Se Puede!
Si Se Puede!
Ricardo Juarass said on 22 Jan 2008 at 2:34 pm:
Very clever!
monticup said on 22 Jan 2008 at 10:40 am:
There are signs that warn that removing shopping carts from the lot is considered theft. Except the signs are in English. Not that the law-breakers care.
I’m sorry to correct you, but I must. The signs at the WestGate Giant are in both English and Spanish, and not only that they site the VA Code for the theft.
http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2290424740102412507fsTsfi
Ricardo Juarass said on 22 Jan 2008 at 2:34 pm:
We will boycott all stores who refuse to let us take the carts!
********
Good please start with the WestGate Giant!
Please, look at picture posted above.
Ricardo Juarass said on 22 Jan 2008 at 2:34 pm:
We will boycott all stores who refuse to let us take the carts!
********
Then move to Shoppers Food Warehouse.
/\/\3|)iç 64 (Winner of the BVBL 40k and 50k post award) said on 22 Jan 2008 at 2:50 pm:
Then move to Shoppers Food Warehouse.
****
Well, at least at Shopper’s they have brakes on them. Ms. Redawn posted an incident the first time she saw one.
Lafayette,
I actually watched a couple try to go past the edge of the parking lot with one of the carts. They drug it across and left it in the middle of the street. I said something to them, but they blew me off with some Spanish.
“The signs at the WestGate Giant are in both English and Spanish, and not only that they site the VA Code for the theft.”
Citing the VA code for the theft is for the benefit of any law enforcement personnel who might feel like enforcing that law.
valleygirl said on 22 Jan 2008 at 12:45 pm:
And, before I go on to bigger and better things, I will concede that small crimes have been proven to occasionally lead to larger crimes. God help us if they try to walk off with the whole fricken store next time.
They have been caught doing that too smart a$$.
Ricardo Juarass said:
The stores who prohibit removal of shopping carts are racists, and their policies are racist! We immigrants need these carts to bring home our groceries big-screen TVs and other things, and we demand that The racists in the community stop trying to stop us from stealing shopping carts! No shopping cart is illegal! We will boycott all stores who refuse to let us take the carts! We will rally in PWC! We will march on walmart and giant! We are just taking the carts that Americans refuse to take! It is a complicated issue!
Si Se Puede!
Si Se Puede!
I propose an amnesty bill for all those shopping cart thiefs. If they simply return the cart, promise not to take it again, and pay a small fine, we’ll put them on the path to full shopping privledges. Also, we’ll include a Costco ID card that will show they are legal to shop in the US.
LOL @ jfk!!! Too funny!!
If they were smart they would hold onto the carts they have. Gonna get hard to find a U-HAUL for the move back. But again, thay ain’t smart!
LOL @ Vigilant1!!
Some shopping carts on the side of the road. He just assumes that the people that left them there were illegal aliens.
Maybe they’re gearing up for the Idiotarod.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idiotarod
El Guapo said on 22 Jan 2008 at 6:12 pm:
Some shopping carts on the side of the road. He just assumes that the people that left them there were illegal aliens.
No, they were left there by upper-class citizens who left them there to be returned to the stores by the illegals who only do the work Americans won’t.
Did you ever see a WASP pushing a cart in Irongate?
es_la_ley,
This is kinda cheesy but , enjoy
Save The Shopping Carts Public Service Announcement
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rmr56vB5Bo
redawn: Ha ha! That was cheesy.
Nostalgia. MANY years ago (a la 1978) we used to have shopping cart races during the night shift at the Kroger store I used to work at. Memories…
Did you ever see a WASP pushing a cart in Irongate?
Yes. Back in the day, I sure did, if you mean white person. I do not know, however, if they were anglo-saxon protestant or not.
George Bush was in Irongate?!!!
Ahhh… the “shopping cart” issue again… it never ceases to amaze me how these stores make zero effort to secure them. I would think they are expensive. Not only are they an eyesore left abandoned all over neighborhoods - on sidewalks and bridges - they are an environmental pollutant. I have personally pulled 5 shopping carts out of the Big Rocky Run River here in Centreville and returned them to Giant covered with mud and debris. I must have pushed several dozen carts back to Giant the last few years (the exact same cart several time)…
Well, if we could return to the days of customer service and businesses that actually cared about their customers, there would be cart guys out front ready to load the car and they could then put up those pesky bars that kept the cart on the store sidewalk…..
dont they have trucks that circle the neighborhood looking for the carts? When I lived in greatbridge years ago the stores had a couple kids in trucks running around the neighborhood looking for stolen carts. I think they got a reward for them or something.
“Since the police are too busy harassing those who complain about lawless behavior rather than actually doing anything to discourage lawless behavior”
UPDATE; MANASSAS CITY:
Eleven months after I first reported (to Chief Skinner) the MEXICO tagged truck parked on my Manassas City street the truck is still here bearing MEXICO tags!
In the meanwhile, I have been to court to defend against the parking tickets written to my cars for parking “illegally”, vertical to curb in my court, the judge threw out my tickets, but I still had to appear. My neighbors paid theirs. These tickets and the subsequent harassment of my neighbors was nothing less than a misuse of police powers, supported by the Chief himself! Further supported by the Manassas City Council!
Drive through any Manassas court and you will find cars parked vertical to curb, but you better had not do so in front of MY house! (Thanks Chief)
Meanwhile the MEXICO tagged truck is still parked on my street!
MCPD officer Hilton told me the truck belongs to the homeowner, that there is a title complication involving the TEXAS DMV, thus the owner cannot register it in VIRGINIA. You would think with all that information the police might see something wrong.
Let’s see can anyone out there explain to me why a TEXAS title issue might validate the usage of MEXICO tags in VIRGINIA legally?
Most recently, at the town hall meeting at Haydon ES, Chief Skinner was again asked about the MEXICO tagged truck and had absolutely nothing to say! ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! A letter followed this up from Mayor Waldron supporting Chief Skinner and telling me the matter is closed!
I don’t get it. If my vehicles did not have proper tags, insurance, stickers, etc. I would certainly expect to be ticketed and pay the consequences.
Hey valleygirl, I certainly enjoyed your posts! Please keep them coming! Gotta provide some humor from the “other side”.
I have an idea for Delegate Spruill…….Shopping Cart Nutz!
Charlotte- flood the phones, send the e-mails, and by God sign up for the parking lot vigilante squad - the uniforms are H-O-T, HOT!!!
I have drafted a cheer:
Two -four -six - eight
We know who we really hate!
Mexicans! Mexicans!
Rah! Rah! Rah!
We are all way too smart
to let them steal our shopping carts!
I’ll look left
You look right
We’ll send them packing in the night!
Gooooooo BVBL! Yeah!
/\/\3|)iç 64,
This is the second time I tried to post this.
I think they need the shopping carts so they can stock up all the refrigerators they keep outside. I wonder if PCE would consider that as evidence for overcrowding?
PCE thinks keeping refrigerators outside is okay. So I guess the police need to protect people who take shopping carts home. Maybe we should raid the ice box. Ha Ha.
How green is my valley girl?
The name fits fer sureeeee! Dumb a$$!
Saw a couple of day workers outside of Shoppers trying to get this one started. They couldn’t find the ignition to “hotwire” it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqAHHPYKqJM
Charlotte said on 22 Jan 2008 at 9:23 pm:
Hey valleygirl, I certainly enjoyed your posts! Please keep them coming! Gotta provide some humor from the “other side”.
More like the ‘FAR SIDE!’
Archie on 22 Jan 2008 at 8:12 pm:
Nuff said!
You think this is bad? Get this, the other say I was on 234 Business and someone, who looked like they were from Mexico, was crossing the street, but not at a crosswalk!!! I was so outraged. I see this every day folks. I was driving and saw a cop in a parking lot and right behind me someone crosses the street, there wasn’t even a crosswalk in sight!! The cop just stood there. It was like the person never even attempted to cross at a crosswalk, they just crossed right there. I pulled in and asked the cop “did you just see that guy cross the street?”. He had the audacity to reply “uh…no”. I know damn well he saw him. Do you have any idea what this does to our insurance premiums? How many man hours are spent building crosswalks, only to have them blatantly ignored (usually by illegals)? I have off tomorrow, I’m going to take video and pictures of it all, really, you wouldn’t believe how pervasive this activity is. Pretty soon all our roads won’t be for driving anymore, they’ll be for crossing!!
So maybe we all put Mexico tags on our cars (I’m sure we could find tags on Ebay or find someone to make them) and then we all say we’re having titling issues in Texas and we don’t pay Virginia property tax on our vehicles anymore. Sounds like a great idea to me!
Mountain Boy said on 23 Jan 2008 at 8:18 am:
I see this happening at night too. This really scares me and others I know. We’ve got quite a bit of pedestrian and bicyle traffic around here. It seems they usually have on dark clothes and riding bikes with no reflectors. This is very dangerous, and especially when you over in Sudley at night because they do NOT have any street lights. I’ve been involved in several accidents and the guilty party had NO insurance.
There is a very good reason why “jay-walking” is ILLEGAL.
Mountain Boy said on 23 Jan 2008 at 8:18 am:
You think this is bad? Get this, the other say I was on 234 Business and someone, who looked like they were from Mexico, was crossing the street, but not at a crosswalk!!!
That is the reason so many Latinos are being killed on the road. They don’t know what a traffic light or crosswalk is. Almost every day you see in the paper. I guess it’s one more illegal act to add to the list.
“El Guapo said on 22 Jan 2008 at 6:12 pm:
Some shopping carts on the side of the road. He just assumes that the people that left them there were illegal aliens.”
Se mi hermano, these racist, anti-latino policies of the stores demanding that we don’t remove their shopping carts is leading to racial profiling. We will be holding a rally at Bull Run Universalist Church on Superbowl Sunday to deal with this issue. Nancy Lyall will debate a spokesman from WalMart on News Channel 8. First 287G and now they want to deny us access to shopping carts. Look, I have to get my eight cases of Modelo Especial Beer home from Giant somehow. It is NAFTA that wiped out the shopping carts in Mexico, so I had to come to the US to get shopping carts.
It’s our fault; the county should have a program to educate these newcomers about crosswalks and bicycle safety.
Also, if the stores want to have the carts returned they should all be tethered to the buildings with chains or sturdy rope. Hispanics and other immigrants understand this universal sign means that items should not be taken from the property. This is just like the ink pens at the bank. Everyone knows the pens can’t be taken because there are little chains attached to the counters.
Let’s make life a little easier on our new friends instead of bashing them all the time.
Rock on valleygirl! Rock on Charlotte!
Ricardo, you are killing me!!!
Time for Dolph to defend the shopping cart’s point of view.
Mr. Anon,
Your suggestion about shopping carts is quite illogical. If we tethered the shopping carts to the store, we couldn’t use them to shop.
Furthermore, if there is a need to educate the illegal immigrants, they should be advised of the following:
1. Return to your country - you are not allowed to be here.
2. ID fraud is illegal. If you are not legally present in the United States, you cannot steal someone’s identity by using their social security number. You are not authorized to work here. Go home.
3. Don’t use the emergency room unless you have an emergency. Go to a doctor and pay for your services.
4. Do not overcrowd houses. Single family home means one family. No more than three unrelated individuals are allowed to occupy a house.
5. Excess trash attracts vermin. We have trash removal companies in America. Subscribe to one and pay to have your trash removed.
6. It is illegal to urinate and defecate outdoors. It is also illegal to expose your genitalia to others. Go home.
7. It is illegal to work in the U.S. unless you are authorized to be here and have the proper documentation. Go home.
The list could go on - but I must return to work…
Mr Anon - Yea, you try to get some money from Boss Stewart to educate foreigners. He can’t even get money to activate the suggestions he made at the big meeting, to which the whole county got invitations! Got him re-elected though!
Addendum to Loudoun’s list..
8. Don’t operate a motor vehicle of any kind.
9. Don’t prop you storm door open(meaning room(s) for rent).
10. Don’t enter our great nation illegally and reproduce “anchor babies”
I too must get back to work. The foreclosures are still increasing COUNTYWIDE!!
Loudoun,
I hope others will add to the list too. I hope you don’t mind.
Lafayette,
That isn’t one of those “fancy” headline grabbing crimes, so it isn’t as important. As I said, taking care of the small ones first which will help slow down the big ones.
My thought is if you show a police presence by nabbing the smaller crimes, it should give the mindset that the police are everywhere. The high visibility will become a deterrent for criminals. Top of mind awareness of the police presence should work.
Great ideas. I think if each of you reached out to a newcomber and helped to educate them it would make things a lot better. Can anyone translate these lists into Spanish?
Also, many of you are being very racist against illegals here. How do we know that these aren’t just pictures of a homeless parking area? It’s not illegals that take carts, the homeless do it to. I don’t see any of you wanting to deport homeless people back to their native countries.
Help me Charlotte…..
Loudoun is taking on Patriot for the list brigade
I can’t wait to see dualing lists, it is coming just wait and see.
__________________________
Ricardo,
That is very clever and funny!!
Mr. anon said on 23 Jan 2008 at 9:51 am:
Unfortunately most of the homeless are US citizens and veterans. We need to take care of them. Problem is, the ILLEGALS are taking moeny for services which could be redirected to the homeless services. There have been many posts here stating the amount of money the ILLEGAL aliens take.
We are not being racists against the ILLEGAL aliens. That is the common statement by those who are sympathetic to the ILLEGAL aliens.
American Heritage Dictionary
rac·ism (rā’sĭz’əm) Pronunciation Key
n.
1. The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others.
2. Discrimination or prejudice based on race.
We are not discriminating based on race. Hispanics seem to think they have the market cornered on ILLEGAL aliens, but no one here is stating ONLY Hispanics, we have made it clear it is ALL ILLEGAL aliens.
Mr. Medic,
Yes, I’ve said that the lesser crimes being stopped will send a message that we are NOT going to take this crap. I addressed the BOS last night stating how important it is that we get graffiti removed ASAP. This let’s these “thugs” tagging our school, church, trees, tracks, etc will not be tolerated.
The Associated Press
2008-01-22 22:09:57.0
Current rank: Not ranked The Examiner
WASHINGTON -
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff says the death of a Border Patrol agent over the weekend is an act of deliberate violence.
Chertoff says assaults against agents are rising as security tightens on the southern border of the United States. He says violent groups are pushing back. Chertoff was speaking to a small group of immigration reporters.
Senior Patrol Agent Luis Aguilar was struck by a suspected smuggler’s vehicle Saturday in California as he was trying to lay down a tire deflation device to stop the car. Aguilar was identified Tuesday as a father of two children who is originally from El Paso, Texas. A Border Patrol official said Aguilar has a brother serving in the Border Patrol.
The FBI is leading an investigation of Aguilar’s death.
They are not stealing. It is merely undocumented cart removal !
Mr. Medic, all I am saying is not to make assumptions. We don’t know that these carts are not being put their by homeless people. Again, if the carts were all chained to the stores this wouldn’t happen-let’s place the blame in the proper place.
Illegals only want to work and do the jobs Americans don’t want to do. Maybe the homeless should be deported and these good people should be allowed to say in their place.
Does anyone know what country the homeless are from? Charlotte? valley girl?
Ricardo,
I thought Corona was the drink of choice. I’ve seen plenty of those cartons on trash days.
Lafayette,
Here is a video about your story. There are some good pointsto consider….
Fleeing Mexicans Kill US Border Patrolman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lp48cGL5Pc
Valley Girl,
You should be protesting this group….Fred Phelps @ Westover Baptist Church plans to portest Keith Ledger’s funeral because he was the actor in Broke Back Mountain.
THAT IS HATE and SICK!!!!!
Patty,
Yes, the more upscale cervesa is the choice around here. Corona is definately the neighborhood favorite.
redawn,
Thanks for the video. Three things that jumped out at me.
1. 16 deaths of Border Patrol since 2000.
2. 1,000 assults last year alone against Border Patrol.
3. Had a fence been there those jokers would not have drove across our pourous border and killed a good man serving our country.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!
Tacomobiles R us said on 23 Jan 2008 at 10:04 am:
I can’t agree with that, it is undocumented cart immigration.
______
Mr. anon said on 23 Jan 2008 at 10:08 am:
It is my experience that the homeless do not leave the carts, but use them to push around what few belongings they have. Some have stated they saw what appeared to be a Hispanic person pushing a cart in the past. I can not say I have seen many if any homeless people in PWC.
Your statement:
Illegals only want to work and do the jobs Americans don’t want to do.
is not true. I will post what Advocator said on another thread, which fits perfectly with that argument:
# Advocator said on 23 Jan 2008 at 9:57 am:
Disavow yourself of the concept that anyone is “doing jobs that Americans won’t do.” They are doing jobs that Americans won’t do at the wages that Mexicans, El Salvadorans, Hondurans, Peruvians, Nigerians, and Brazilians WILL do them for. Offer a decent wage, and Americans will do the jobs. It’s not an economic NEED the illegals are fulfilling, it’s an economic DESIRE. The desire for cheap labor by big businesses and patricians who can’t stand the thought of having to wash their own toilets. The hell with those economic interests. I can pick my own apples and strawberries. I can grow my own tomatoes.
______________
This is very true and as I posted, yes the prices will go up, but look at the amount of money the ILLEGAL population is pulling from Gov’t programs and how much they actually pay back into them. If the wages were such that Americans do the work, it also increases the tax dollars from employers as well.
I personally beleive, that US Americans, both illegal homeless and mexican, have a right to shop. If they can’t shop without the cart, then the stores who are profiting from them need to step in and provide a solution. We have made great technological leaps; why can’t GPS be put into the carts so they can be tracked down by the teenage cart boys. It would give the boys some experience with high tech gadgets, and save the store a bundle in the long run. Or maybe the stores could provide grocey delivery to illegals so they don’t need the carts. Does anyone know how to translate “Peapod” into spanish?
My chain idea is good. It might be a safety hazard with all those chains getting run over by cars, and people tripping over them.
“Patty said on 23 Jan 2008 at 10:09 am:
Ricardo,
I thought Corona was the drink of choice. I’ve seen plenty of those cartons on trash days”
Carona is marketed to gringos. Modelo Especial is what a real illeg…er undocmented Mexicano Sin Frontera drinks. See, you are steretyping with Carona and you know nada.
Me, John and Nancy like to kick back, drink a few modelos and discuss how we are going to disolve the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and take over the US, and then your shopping carts will be ours.
If all of the illegals self deport back across the southern border, and leave their shopping carts at the Rio Grande, we won’t have to build a fence. They will build the fence for us.
Let’s not forget about that new federal legislation, The Shopping Cart Recovery, and Maintenance Act(SCRAM). This act provides funding for nonprofit organizations to recover, repair, and return unwanted and derelict shopping carts to their native stores.
“We have made great technological leaps; why can’t GPS be put into the carts so they can be tracked down by the teenage cart boys.”
Or, why can’t we use GPS to track down all the illegals, and track them back to where they came from?
“Does anyone know how to translate “Peapod” into spanish?”
I think they translate it into “pee-in-public” for the illegals, because I see them pissing next to the 7-11 on Coverstone all the time.
If the stores didn’t want their carts to be stolen they wouldn’t put wheels on the bottom. This is just another example of a transnational corproation using public space for free advertising. How many times have you been walking down the street and get the feeling that you really should be shopping at Giant? You get that feeling because you are subliminally seeing dozens of “quote - unquote” abandoned shopping carts with Giant written on them. The people who move these carts from the store to other locations are really unpaid advertising workers. Not only should they get paid they should form a union and demand health benefits. The Shopping Cart Advertising Workers of NAFTA?
Mr. anon said on 23 Jan 2008 at 10:40 am:
If people wouldn’t STEAL the carts in the first place, the grocery store would not be out the extra expense to buy the GPS enabled carts, which will raise my grocery bill even higher than it already is.
_____________________
Herndon Bob,
That is TOO funny!!!!! I am still laughing about it!!!!! You must work for the Gov’t because no one else comes up with those types of acronyms.
This just in!!!
Shopping Carts gone away.
By /\/\3|)iç 64
January 23, 2008
The Federal Government announced today that they will look into the disappearance and reappearance of shopping carts. Anonymous sources have said there is a belief that shopping carts are being abducted by aliens and deposited alongside city streets and roads.
In an effort to overcome this phenomenon, the Government has decided to enact the Shopping Cart Recovery from Extraterrestrial Withdrawal and Extrication or Dumping Act 2008 (SCREWED 2008).
This program has received great accolades from both sides of the aisle and should be passed without much problem. The President said he would sign any SCREWED Act immediately. Both parties have seen the issue first hand with Presidential hopeful Dennis Kucinich leading the delegation on a field trip.
“See I am sure there is life out there in the stars now”, Kucinich has been quoted as saying.
Although funding for the act has not been appropriated, it is said to be such a serious concern that wherever the money is taken from, it will be money well spent.
/\/\3|)iç 64
I am a retired IT Manager. I have, however been reading much too much State Legislation dealing with the immigration issue lately.
Your press release is absolutely over the top. You did however, forgot to mention that the SCREWED 2008 ACT was co-sponsored by Kennedy and McCain.
LOL..Yes I did!! It is also co-sponsored by Kucinich as well.
I am an IT/LAN manager myself. Been working on computers since 1989. Many of those I interview today, have no idea what DOS is. I used windows when it wasn’t able to connect to other computers. It was a big deal when Windows 3.11 came out allowing that connectivity.
/\/\3|)iç 64,
DOS - disk operating system. How about COBOL?
Ricardo,
By the way, I suppose Nancy L. and John S. would be jumping all over Shopper’s Food Warehouse for being racist. After all, they know their clientele and therefore have put brakes on their shopping carts. Maybe Alona will join Nancy and John with big signs saying, “Shopper’s is Racist, they put brakes on their shopping carts”.
Corona and Modelo…pffftt!! How’s about a Dos Equis….that’s a real beer. Have a few of those and you won’t care where the damn shopping carts are.
Where’s the humanity? Is this a big joke to all of you? Before judging, try walking a mile in the boots of an illegal alien, or better yet try pushing a full shopping cart a mile. Then see how funny it is.
Groveton, you are the only one that gets it. Having wheels on the carts is practically like an engraved invitation for them to be taken off site. Any person with half a brain would assume that the carts are made for using. When I take my kids to the plant nursery, they always want to take the little red wagon home. So, when the coast is clear, I toss it into the back of the pickup. The wagons are usually rusted anyway, and they have so many. The nursery assumes this will happen and includes those costs into the price of the plants. Ditto for the high chairs at McDonalds.
Patty,
I never did get involved with the COmmon Business Oriented Language. I did my programming in basic since I didn’t have the need to learn COBOL. I wish I had since it seems to be going strong still.
____________________________________
Mr. anon said on 23 Jan 2008 at 1:39 pm:
Since I am a US citizen, I have the PRIVILEGE of having a drivers license, so I do not have to walk pushing a cart. I think you are joking, just like you are with the wagon post prior to this one. LOL.
anonymoustoo,
Red Horse from the Philippines gives you the same effect. Since they apparently had no quality control when I was there, you could drink a case and catch a mild buzz or drink 3 and be ready to pass out. It was spin the chamber and drink every time you did so.
I was joking (except for the wagon part).
BTW, my kids have rubber testicles tied onto the back of their wagons. Is that a worse offense than being here illegally?
Mr. anon said on 23 Jan 2008 at 2:28 pm
That may depend if they drag the ground while the wagons are being pulled around.
Mr. anon,
You have had me laughing through this slow day! Thanks
Several of you had me laughing…
Do you guys and gals really truly think that the only one’s creating a shopping cart graveyard are the illegals?
If so, they you really need to open your eyes a little more and look around - you all act like if the illegal alien left, there would be sunshine and the air would smell like roses.
Yes, I think there is an illegal immigrant issue (problem), but I do not think that all crime and all of life’s displeasures are caused by these illegal aliens.
jeesh.
Pat Herve,
“Do you guys and gals really truly think that the only one’s creating a shopping cart graveyard are the illegals?”
No, it people that have NO R.E.S.P.E.C.T. for other peoples property and shows like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Doe2NG2zFz0
Pat Herve said on 23 Jan 2008 at 3:53 pm:
Do you guys and gals really truly think that the only one’s creating a shopping cart graveyard are the illegals?
No, it not entirely the illegals (there are a number of Latinos, legal/illegal) but they (Latinos) are in the majority. I see them day in and day out pushing these carts to wherever they are going. I saw a Latino woman last week pushing a Kohl’s shopping cart up Sudley Manor drive. She was using it as a stroller (kids were in it.) Kohls is a good 3 miles from where I saw her. I’m sure she was not taking it back there.
redawn,
That was even better than the other clip of shopping carts. I know you were the first I read comment on them. Wasn’t there about 10 on Urbanna at one time in the spring/summer.
NO RESPECT!!
Perhaps, someone could make a youtube the next time they see a cart rolling down there street. I have several pictures of backyards that also have carts in them. Hell, there’s one on my street, and that has been vacant about 4 months now, and by far was the worst house on the block. They hit and run a truck on our street, pissed anywhere they felt like, staggered/peddled down the street with their cervesas. In fact the people that moved in beside of them about 3 years ago called off all plans of having children because of the activity that went on non-stop to them.
Mr. anon said on 23 Jan 2008 at 1:39 pm:
Where’s the humanity?
How about the dishes, glasses and silverware as well as the salt and pepper shakers in the restaurants. They put them on the table so it’s okay to takem them? Hmmmmmmmm!!!!!!!!!!!1
Vigilant1,
Don’t forget to include the hotel towels and toilet paper. The need a penny / leave a penny jar on the counter at the convenient store - take a penny but don’t leave one.
The napkins at 7-11…why stop at a couple take the whole bunch.
Lafayette,
Yes, it was back in the Spring, I called you up and said ” you aren’t going to believe this” That was very telling to see the carts move in the hood.
redawn and Vigilant1,
I managed Housekeeping for Hyatt Hotels in the mid 90’s, and you can’t believe what crap people will take from a hotel room.
Here’s some comments on prior thread regarding shopping carts. This is for you One Voice.
Lafayette said on 8 Jan 2008 at 11:13 am:
Why buy a stroller, when you help yourself to one for NOTHING! It is against Va Code to remove shopping carts from the parking lots. I learned this from the signs posted at that darn Giant at WestGate. See the pictures below. You have to zoom I believe to read the code. I can’t imagine the ole PWPD would like to be getting calls for stolen shopping carts. Did you see my pictures of that “shopping cart graveyard” in between Coverstone Apts. and Home Depot shopping center.
“Do you guys and gals really truly think that the only one’s creating a shopping cart graveyard are the illegals?”
Not at all. They’re quite popular relocation conveyances for the urban campers in DC.
Code of Virginia Searchable Data base for your searching pleasure:
http://leg1.state.va.us/000/src.htm
§ 18.2-102.1. Removal of shopping cart from store premises.
(1) The term “shopping cart” when used in this section means those push carts of the type or types which are commonly provided by grocery stores, drugstores, or other merchant stores or markets for the use of the public in transporting commodities in stores and markets from the store to a place outside the store.
(2) It shall be unlawful for any person to remove a shopping cart from the premises, of the owner of such shopping cart without the consent, of the owner or of his agent, servant, or employee given at the time of such removal. For the purpose of this section, the premises shall include all the parking area set aside by the owner, or on behalf of the owner, for the parking of cars for the convenience of the patrons of the owner.
(3) Any person convicted of a violation under subsection (2) shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.
(Code 1950, § 18.1-117.2; 1975, c. 269.)
Lafayette,
Ahhhh hotels yes I was AGM with Hilton in the 80’s. People would strip the rooms down to nothing.
When I came by crooks I did like holding their belonging in lieu of payment (also allowed by law). And the old stand by of defrauding an Inn keeper…..Those were the day’s hahahaha.
Let’s not forget the condiment packets….take a bunch home and fill up your ketchup and mustard bottles. (I am joking of course, but I did know of a lady that did that)
Last summer my husband loaded 4 carts from our neighborhood into his truck and drove around returning them to the right stores. In daylight in front of a lot of neighbors in our community.
Seemed to make an impression. We don’t have much of a cart problem anymore. I find carts to be the most baffling eyesore, I’ll never understand someone’s audacity to push a cart home and then dump it in someone’s lawn.
me said on 23 Jan 2008 at 5:28 pm:
I found some of the celebrities to be the worst. I must share the best item left behind by a guest. I was in Housekeeping at the time, and one of the housekeepers left a guest room glass with a note on top of it. It read..Christina, look what I found in room 1412. I lifted up the note to find a glass eye staring back at me.
The days indeed! Ahh,younger days I might add.
redawn said on 23 Jan 2008 at 5:31 pm:
Let’s not forget the condiment packets….take a bunch home and fill up your ketchup and mustard bottles. (I am joking of course, but I did know of a lady that did that)
What about your neighbor that runs her Benz on grease from local restaurant’s? Is it the same lady? lol
TAM,
Good for your husband to do so
I have seen carts ‘parked’ on the public street like ‘cars’ in front of a house ( most likely not their own) in a neighborhood….. sometimes 2 & 3 at a time.
Lafayette,
“What about your neighbor that runs her Benz on grease from local restaurant’s? Is it the same lady? lol”
LMAO ….NO, but all kidding aside, I think she is on to something. She save a lot of money on gas, but smells like French fries.
She knows we nick named her French fry
* technically diesel
Lafayette
Yes much younger days for me too…Worst celebrity was one part of Kriss Kross rudest child I have ever seen. Their managers had to apologize to me and the GM about had a stroke when he heard I had something to say to the kid, he was none too pleased with me for speaking my mind.
Lita Ford was wonderful!
Aaaahhh I have digressed enough….Back on the subject shop owners need to put those brakes on the carts and reach out to the PD more and might I also say the shop owners need to be willing to prosecute when the pd catches people with the carts.
I can’t imagine how frustrating it is for them to have to stroll behind the people pushing the cart back to the shop only to be told thank you and no I do not wish to prosecute or no I don’t have anyone available to go to court to testify. That would kill the motivation for the officers in about 3.5 seconds
Nick Nolte the worst at Hyatt.
Yeah, Eddie Van Halen was my personal favorite.
**back to business at hand..
There’s got to some motivation before it can be killed.
I agree with your comments about going to court. This now makes me wonder how many shoplifting cases at grocery stores actually get prosecuted. I know the Shopper’s at Bull Run takes their own polaroid “mug shots” of their shop lifters. They keep the pictures posted on the wall for all the employees to see. My sister managed the Deli there and she had to keep an employee on guard at the hot food and salad bar at all times, and still got ripped off.
Layfette,
I know from my prior life (not at the Hotel) and in a different County the PD got lots of upfront cooperation however the final delivery (court date) there was not as much cooperation and participation on the part of the victim (the shop owner).
I am not saying all locations are like this, there were locations that were known to go the extra mile to help the PD and those that left something to be desired. It can be de-motivating especially if all he PD hears is negative and lack of follow up….I am not saying that is what is happening here, I know A LOT of people here work really hard to improve their communities.
By the way I just caught something about the murder of a Popeys manager in Woodbridge. I tried to check the Open Thread but it was having a hiccup
News channel 4 had the story about the murder at Popeyes
Robbers caught on tape, police looking for suspects. Guns and knives.
I am pretty sure they said the manager and he was 23. He was filling a shift for someone else….Smoketown Rd
testing…got caught up in spam filter
News Channel 4 did the story about the Popeyes murder.
I am pretty sure they said it was a manager filling in for someone else and he was 23. It was on Smoketown rd. They have the suspects on film but they are on the run. guns and knives used during robbery. They wanted him to open the safe and he did not know the combination.
me,
I heard the same thing the guy lost his life because they say he didn’t know how to open the safe. This is awful. Yeah, Open Thread has been beat down. I say post any info you find on this thread or take it to the Light Posting Thread it shouldn’t have a limit.
I agree with what you’ve said. I think stores do what they can even they have bosses somewhere telling them what to do.
Mr. anon said on 23 Jan 2008 at 9:51 am:
…..Also, many of you are being very racist against illegals here.
Help me Charlotte…..
————————————————
Oh no, Mr. Anon, there are no racists here. How could you possibly get that impression?
Perhaps Mr. Advocator is going to start blasting away with his ammo and AK-47s that he mentioned yesterday, defending his liberty tree.
A new trend on the horizion
It is called SWAG!
From the toilet paper to the condiments, Hollywood and WIC accessories, The need for shopping carts exist!
http://perezhilton.com/2008-01-23-what-was-he-doing-there
They say the East Coast is behind by 10 years
Lafayette
Your grocery cart graveyard is making news. I heard someone mention it at the Bloom today!!!!
I drank the San Miguel or better known as San Magoo in the Phillipines, better to drink bottled beer than water or fountain soda drinks with the way the water was over there. Never heard of that other beer over there.
Coverstone 7-11 update 7:50am.
There was a single day laborer in sight! There was on police car in front of the 7-11. Well, it looks like this situation might be taken a turn for the better.
corr: There was ONE police car..
Lafayette said on 24 Jan 2008 at 8:13 am:
I came through @ 8:25, there were 2 cars and no day laborers!!!
Medic,
That’s great. I hope the Advocator and/or Dave in PWC report their sightings.
Knocking out the smaller crimes will start the process. All we are asking our PD to do is enforce the law. The petty crime is what needs to be knocked out. Of course, investigate the “headline” crime, but do more towards the petty crime such as loitering and we will see a difference. The PD needs to keep it up!!!
That’s how Giuliani cleaned up NYC. He started with the squegee guys.
monticup,
Every little bit helps and sends clear message that we want a clean, healthy and safe place to live. I told the BOS Tuesday night Loch Lomond should have a “clean sweep” from Neighborhood Services, and it’s improved things in WestGate. The “clean sweep” also motivates residents to take a good look at their neighborhood, and they will then wake up and report zoning violations.
Report zoning violations to 703-792-7018
Giuliani was right on spot with it as we can see. It works and doesn’t hurt the economy.
Today’s news:
Shopping Cart Recovery Underway.
By /\/\3|)iç 64
January 24, 2008
In an all night session, both the House and Senate worked on a spending bill for Shopping Cart Recovery. As many will remember the Shopping Cart Recovery from Extraterrestrial Withdrawal and Extrication or Dumping (SCREWED) Act of 2008 was just passed yesterday. The bipartisan support didn’t end there as both legislative bodies worked into the wee hours of the night.
The Shopping Cart Recovery Or Terrestrial Area Locater (SCROTAL) Act of 2008 was hammered out. Both parties were joyous as the details swung into place. Many members agreed that the SCROTAL Act would be held close as one of the biggest pieces of legislation in a long time. Not all members agreed to have SCROTAL listed on their resume however. Senator and Presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton (D-NY) responded to a question about SCROTAL, “I have seen this and I do not like it.” An anonymous source tell us that Hillary was upset because her SCROTAL was not approved.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said she couldn’t wait to get her hands on SCROTAL and pull it through the House. As details leaked from the SCROTAL Act, everyone could tell this had great potential of being a hairy ordeal to overcome in the appropriations committee.
As news hit the internet, some bloggers said that they do not need SCROTAL’s.
Today I passed two 7/11’s, and there were NO day laborers in sight! There were 2 police cars in front
of the 7/11 on Old Centreville Road and several men walking “home” from that direction.
If this is the beginning of the end for the day laborers, I can’t tell you how happy I am. I may be jumping the gun, but I feel very proud of my town for taking this matter seriously.
Thank you PWCPD - if this is going to be a daily operation. THANK YOU!!!
madmom,
There were 2 PWPD squad cars in front of the 7-11 on Cornerstone this AM. No day laborers in sight either. I hope they continue with these small crime crackdowns. Cleaning up the small crime will lead to reduced larger crime. The participants will not be so bold to break the law.
There was a recent opinion submtted in the Potomac News that addressed the fears that hispanics have in reporting crimes to the police. The issue involved the police officers asking for the social security number of a hispanic victim, and the victim feeling harrassed by the officer.
The writer voiced his displeasure with open border agendas, and mentioned hispanics should not feel threatened by the police as long as Charlie Deane is the police chief. Noting that Deane openly admits he doesn’t believe in enforcing local immigration measures. The opinion used the unwillingness of the PWCPD to enforce local ordinances involving loitering day laborers.
Remember how I wrote that Charlie Deane will only change policy when he reads in newspaper print that citizens do not support the police? My guess is that the Commander of the Puzzle Palace read this piece, and other related opinions, and decided to start doing his job. But this may change as soon as the open border crowd voices in print that helpless hard working hispanics are the target of police “bully tactics.”
Charlie Deane………leadership by perception.
Medic64, you’re cracking me up with those acronyms. I will check the Coverstone 7-11 on my way to work this morning and report back the results at the end of the workday.
Dave,
I went by @ 8:15A, there were 3-4 close to 7-11 and 5-6 in front of the building behind it on the sidewalk. Guess it was a flash in the pan for us.
TY for the kind words. I fully expected to hear more negative about that one than positive.
I see shopping carts all over the place too. One ended up on the corner of my yard. My husband drove it back to the Westgate Giant. Has anyone noticed that even in the mall people push around Target carts even though there is a sign by the mall entrance that says no NO CARTS PAST THIS POINT in both Eng and Spn? Mall security seems to ignore the infraction.
I read an interesting article in the MJM today about the border patrol targeting immigrant smuggling in Miss. “Federal agents, with help from local law officers…have begun intercepting illegal immigrants and smugglers along stretches of highway deep in the US interior….More than 300 immigrants and suspected smugglers had been arrested as of Tuesday, a week into the operation.” Unfortunately this was only a two week test, and “After two weeks are up [the agents] will return to their usual jobs and evaluate what they learned. In the coming weeks, or months, they may return to I-20 and do it again.”
Medic64,
I posted that I saw 8 day laborers around 7:40am on another thread. I blame the military for all the acronyms like BOHICA and AFU and FUBAR but you are using your military experience for some lighter posts, I know a lot of the posters are really serious but sometimes I have to have some humor. Especially at the end of a long work week.
Got my order of “NO Illegals” bumper stickers in the mail today to use on some rental and for sale signs maybe.
Dave,
I agree humor is the way to go sometimes.
I do not remember BOHICA. The others I know well
Do you think you will be hit with discrimination if you post those on the signs?