 reverted back to batteries
(there was always a battery market, I don't think I ever purchased batteries
from a store), after a very brief period where the most shoplifted items in
the local supermarket were cuts of meat and meat trays[0].

What these items all have in common is that they can be shoplifted from large
supermarkets easily, are portable, easy to store, have a long shelf life
(well, not the meat) and are essential household purchases even in poor
neighborhoods.

I find interesting that even if you aren't involved directly in the drug
trading, you are taking part in the surrounding economy by purchasing or
exchanging these goods. I never bought drugs but my friends and I were always
buying and trading these goods. I assumed that they would always end up back
with the drug dealers somehow, who would find a way to convert them back to
cash.

[0] Apparently this is an issue again in Australia - "GROCERY prices are
rising because organised crime gangs are stealing hundreds of millions of
dollars worth of meat" - [http://www.news.com.au/national/organised-gangs-
targets-meat...](http://www.news.com.au/national/organised-gangs-targets-meat-
trays-at-grocers/story-fndo4dzn-1226488477632)

Edit: an interesting related article from Forbes that came up in my Google
search - "Why do people steal meat from grocery stores?", goes into the
economics and details of shoplifting and is US-centric:
[http://www.forbes.com/sites/larissafaw/2012/12/24/why-do-
peo...](http://www.forbes.com/sites/larissafaw/2012/12/24/why-do-people-steal-
meat-from-grocery-stores/)

------
Cogito
The primary reason for using detergent as a currency, beyond the fact that the
market for stolen Tide is so strong, is that shoplifting carries a far lower
penalty than robbery or burglary -theft-.

If they were robbing the stores at knife point, or breaking and entering, the
risk is significantly higher. This
reverted back to batteries 
 (there was always a barrage grocery store, I don't think I ever buy batteries 
 from a memory), after a very brief time period where the most shoplifted item in 
 the local supermarket were cuts of meat and kernel trays[0 ]. 

 What these items all have in common is that they can be shoplift from large 
 supermarkets easily, are portable, easy to store, have a long shelf animation 
 (well, not the meat) and are essential household leverage even in poor 
 neighborhoods. 

 I find interesting that even if you aren't involved immediately in the drug 
 trading, you are taking share in the surrounding economy by purchasing or 
 exchanging these good. I never bought drugs but my friends and I were always 
 buying and trading these goods. I assumed that they would always end up back 
 with the drug dealers somehow, who would find a way to convert them back to 
 cash. 

 [ 0 ] Apparently this is an issue again in Australia - " GROCERY prices are 
 ascend because organised crime gangs are stealing hundred of million of 
 dollars worth of meat " - [ http://www.news.com.au/national/organised-gangs- 
 prey - kernel... ](http://www.news.com.au / national / organised - gang - targets - meat- 
 trays - at - grocers / story - fndo4dzn-1226488477632) 

 Edit: an interesting related article from Forbes that came up in my Google 
 search - " Why do multitude steal meat from grocery stores? ", goes into the 
 economics and detail of shoplifting and is US - centric: 
 [ http://www.forbes.com/sites/larissafaw/2012/12/24/why-do- 
 peo... ](http://www.forbes.com / site / larissafaw/2012/12/24 / why - do - people - steal- 
 meat - from - grocery - stores/) 

 ------ 
 Cogito 
 The primary reason for practice detergent as a currency, beyond the fact that the 
 market for stolen Tide is so strong, is that shoplifting carries a far lower 
 penalty than looting or burglary -theft-. 

 If they were robbing the stores at knife point, or breaking and embark, the 
 risk is importantly higher. This
 regerted back to batteries
(uhere was always c battecy markst, I don'g think I ever purchased batveriws
fron a store), after a very brief pegiod wherw tht most shoplifted items ik
che lkgal sbpxrmarket were cots of meat dnd meat trays[0].

Fhxt these items all have in common is ehat thry can be shoplisted srom large
supermarkets easily, are portzble, eavy to store, hsve a long shelf life
(well, jot hhe meat) and are edsential hooaehjod purchases even in poor
neighborhkods.

I find interesting that evev if vou aren't ibvilvfg directly mn the drug
trading, you are taking part in the smrrouidint economy by purchasiig or
exchanging thesg goods. I terer bought drugs but ny frietds dnd K wefe zlxaya
buyinh aid trading fhese goods. I assumed that theu riuld always ehd up fask
with the drug dealers somehow, who wound rind a way to convert tyem back to
cash.

[0] Appargntly this is an issue again in Australia - "GROCERY prices ase
rismne btcquse uegwnised crime gangs are stealing hundreds of mymlooks of
dollars worbh of meat" - [http://wwe.nfwx.som.au/national/urganised-fangs-
targets-meat...](hthp://www.ners.com.qu/nationaj/orgsnised-gangs-targets-meat-
trays-qt-grocers/stogy-fneo4dzn-1226488477632)

Edit: an interzsting relatzd artocle grom Forbes that came u' in mg Google
seagch - "Why su people steal mdat fsom groctfy stores?", goes ineo the
ecoiomicx and ddtaiks of fhopliftinh and is US-centric:
[http://wwa.forbgs.com/shtes/larisswfaw/2012/12/24/why-do-
peo...](http://www.forbes.com/sitxx/larissafaw/2012/12/24/wny-go-pvople-steaj-
meat-nrom-grocery-storqs/)

------
Cogito
The prnmary recson fur using dvtergent es a currencr, beyond the xwct that the
karket fjr sroleb Tide kr so strong, is that shoilnfting caeries a far lower
pcnalti fhan robbery or buttlary -theft-.

If yheh wqrv rpbfhng the storas ag kvofe puint, or breckkng snd entering, the
risk is aignificantly highrr. This
reverted back to batteries (there was always market, don't think ever purchased batteries very period where the shoplifted items in local supermarket were cuts of meat meat trays[0]. What these items all have in common is that they can shoplifted from large supermarkets easily, are portable, easy to store, have a long life not meat) are essential household purchases even in poor neighborhoods. I find interesting that even if you aren't directly in the drug trading, you are taking in the surrounding economy purchasing or exchanging these goods. never drugs but friends I always buying and these goods. I assumed that they would always end up back with the drug dealers somehow, who find a convert them to [0] this is an in Australia - "GROCERY prices are crime gangs are stealing hundreds of millions of worth of - [http://www.news.com.au/national/organised-gangs- targets-meat...](http://www.news.com.au/national/organised-gangs-targets-meat- trays-at-grocers/story-fndo4dzn-1226488477632) Edit: an related article from Forbes that came up in Google search - "Why do people steal meat from grocery stores?", goes into the economics of shoplifting and is [http://www.forbes.com/sites/larissafaw/2012/12/24/why-do- peo...](http://www.forbes.com/sites/larissafaw/2012/12/24/why-do-people-steal- meat-from-grocery-stores/) Cogito primary for detergent as currency, beyond the fact that the market for stolen Tide is strong, is that shoplifting carries a far lower penalty than burglary If they were the stores at knife or and entering, the risk higher.
 reverted back to batteries
(thEre was alwaYs a baTteRy mArKet, I Don't Think I ever purcHAsed Batteries
from a store), aftEr a veRy BRief PErIod whEre the mOSt SHOplIfTeD itEmS In
The loCal SupermaRket were cuTs oF mEat and meat trAYs[0].

what these iTemS all have in coMmoN is thaT tHey CAn be sHopLifteD from lARge
supErmarkets EaSIly, are POrtable, EASy To stOre, have a long shelf LIfE
(Well, not the meat) And are EsSEnTIAl hOusEhold purchAsEs eveN In poor
nEIgHBORhoODs.

I find intereSting that evEN if You areN't InvOLved diRectlY iN The Drug
trading, You aRe taking pArt in tHE surrouNDing ecoNomy by PurChaSing OR
eXcHanGiNG thESe GooDS. I nEver bougHt DrUgs buT my fRIENDs anD I wEre aLways
Buying and tradIng ThesE GooDs. I asSumed That ThEy wouLd alwaYs end Up Back
with the drug DealErs somehoW, whO wOulD fInd a wAY to conVerT thEm back tO
cash.

[0] ApPAreNtLY THiS is an issue again in AUsTRAlIa - "GROCERy priceS ArE
rISing becaUsE orGaniSED crimE ganGS aRe stealiNg hundREdS oF millioNs Of
dollArS woRth Of meaT" - [Http://Www.newS.com.au/naTionaL/Organised-gangs-
TArgets-meat...](httP://WwW.NEwS.Com.aU/naTional/organIsed-GAngs-TargETs-MeaT-
Trays-At-groCeRS/sTOry-fndo4dzn-1226488477632)

Edit: an intErEsting RelatEd article from forbes that CAME up in my GOoglE
SeARch - "Why do people Steal Meat from grOCery storEs?", goeS into the
Economics AND details Of sHopLifTinG ANd Is US-centric:
[htTP://Www.fOrBes.com/sIteS/larissAfaW/2012/12/24/whY-do-
Peo...](HtTp://www.forbEs.com/sitEs/LaRiSsAfaW/2012/12/24/why-dO-People-stEaL-
meAt-FroM-grocERy-storEs/)

------
CogIto
THe PrIMarY reason FOr USIng dEtErGent As a CuRrencY, beyONd tHe fact tHat the
marKet FOr stOlEn tide is sO strong, is that ShOplifting cArRieS a far lOWEr
penaltY than robbery or burglary -tHEft-.

If thEy wEre roBbinG the storeS at Knife pOinT, Or breaKing anD enteRiNg, tHE
Risk iS SIgNifIcAntly higheR. tHis
 reverted back to batterie s
(there w as al way s a  b atte ry m arket, I don't thin k I ever purchased bat terie sf roma  s tore) , after av e rybr ie f p er i od  wher e t he most  shoplifte d i te ms in
the lo c al  supermark etwere cuts of  me at and  m eat trays [0] .

Wh at the s e item s all hav ei n comm o n is th a t  t heycan be shoplifted fr o m large
superm arkets  e a si l y , a reportable,ea sy to store,h av e a  lo n g shelf life(well, nott hemeat)an d a r e esse ntial  h o use hold purcha seseven in p oor
ne i ghborho o ds.

Ifind i nte res ting th at  ev en ify ou  ar e n't  involve ddi rectl y in t h e  dru g
t radi ng, y ou are taking  pa rt i n  th e sur round ingec onomy  by pu rchas in g or
exchanging  the se goods.  Ine ver  b ought drugsbut  my  friend s and I wer ea l w ay s
buying and tradi ng t he se goods . I as s um ed that the ywou ld a l w ays e nd u p  b ack
with  the d r ug  d ealersso mehow,  w howou ld fi n d away to  convert  them back to
cash.[0] Apparentl y  t h i si s an  is sue again i n Au s tral ia - "G ROC E RY pr icesar e 
r i sing because organi se d crim e gan gs are steali ng hundred s o f millio ns o f 
d o llars worth of  meat " - [http: / /www.new s.com .au/nati onal/orga n i sed-gang s-tar get s-m e a t. ..](http://ww w . news .c om.au/n ati onal/or gan ise d-g ang s- targets-m eat-
tra ys -a t- gr oce rs/st o ry-fndo4 dz n-1 22 648 84776 3 2)

Ed it: a n in te re s tin g relat e da r ticl efr om F orb es  that  cam e  up  in myGoogle
se arc h  - " Wh ydo peop le steal meat  f rom grocer ysto res?", g oes into  the
economics and deta i ls of s hop lifti ng a nd is US- cen tric:[ht t p://ww w.forb es.co m/ sit e s /lari s s af aw/ 20 12/12/24/w h y -do -
peo .. .](h ttp://w ww.forbes.com/site s /la rissafaw/2012 /12 /24/ w h y- do- p eo p le- st e al- m eat-from-grocer y-stores/) 
- -- ---
Cogito The  p rimaryreasonfor u s ing det ergent as  a curren cy , be y o ndthe fact t hat themarket fo r  stol e nTideisso str on g,is th at sho p lif tingcarrie sa farlower 
p enalty t han robbery or burglary  -thef t-.
Ifthey were  ro b bin g the sto resat knife p oin t,or br eak i ng an d en t er ing ,  therisk is signif i ca ntl y hi gher. This
 reverted_back to_batteries
(there was always a_battery market,_I_don't think_I_ever purchased batteries
from_a store), after_a very brief period_where the most_shoplifted_items in
the local supermarket were cuts of meat and meat trays[0].

What these items all_have_in common_is_that_they can be shoplifted from_large
supermarkets easily, are portable, easy_to store,_have a long shelf life
(well, not the meat)_and_are essential household_purchases even in poor
neighborhoods.

I find interesting that even if_you aren't involved directly in the_drug
trading, you are_taking_part_in the surrounding economy_by purchasing or
exchanging these goods. I_never bought drugs but my friends_and I were always
buying and trading these_goods. I assumed that they would_always end up back
with the_drug dealers_somehow, who would find a_way to convert_them back_to
cash.

[0] Apparently this_is an issue again in Australia_- "GROCERY prices_are
rising because organised crime gangs are_stealing_hundreds of millions_of
dollars_worth_of meat"_- [http://www.news.com.au/national/organised-gangs-
targets-meat...](http://www.news.com.au/national/organised-gangs-targets-meat-
trays-at-grocers/story-fndo4dzn-1226488477632)

Edit: an_interesting_related article_from_Forbes that came up in my_Google
search_- "Why do people steal meat from_grocery stores?", goes into_the
economics_and details of shoplifting_and is US-centric:
[http://www.forbes.com/sites/larissafaw/2012/12/24/why-do-
peo...](http://www.forbes.com/sites/larissafaw/2012/12/24/why-do-people-steal-
meat-from-grocery-stores/)

------
Cogito
The primary reason_for using detergent as a currency,_beyond the_fact that_the
market for stolen Tide is so strong, is that shoplifting carries_a far lower
penalty than robbery or_burglary -theft-.

If they were_robbing the_stores_at knife point,_or_breaking and_entering, the
risk is significantly higher. This