A young man, driven by hunger and desperation, stole groceries from my neighbor yesterday.. [View All]

I just got back in from talking to my neighbor this morning.

She told me that she had 3 bags full of groceries stolen from her car yesterday. Apparently she had just finished doing her weekly food shopping and, leaving the car unlocked and running, made a quick trip into the post office. As she was walking back out, she saw that her car door was wide open and a there was a young man running off w/some of her groceries. She said that he looked to be about 14 to 16 years of age, thin and a bit disheveled.

He hadn't gotten very far. In fact, she said she probably could have caught up w/him if she wanted to. But instead, she just watched as he went off. Before he turned the corner onto another street, he briefly looked back and they made eye-contact. He looked scared she said, and sad. Then in that very brief moment, he mouthed the words, "I'm sorry", and continued on.

Stunned, she slowly got back in her car. Nothing but the food had been taken. Not her GPS, nor even her laptop which was in the back seat covered by the groceries that the young man had taken. He had to have seen it.

She says she cannot stop thinking about the whole incident and especially that very brief exchange they had had. He had missed one other bag and she briefly considered trying to catch up w/him and hand over that one too. But didn't. She said she is angry w/herself for not having tried to find him. I consoled her as best I could, but she was still clearly deep in thought as we parted company. And now, so am I.

What is happening to us as country?