Debunking Beer Can Chicken: A Waste Of Good Beer, And Dangerous
Famous Death Row Last Meals
Photo: Andrew*, Flickr
Starbucks has done just about everything it can to make you as comfortable as possible and to turn its ubiquitous coffee shops into your home away from home--but maybe it's made you too comfortable.
One important difference between your living room and your local Starbucks is (presumably) you don't have an army of strangers traipsing through your living room as your kick back with your iPad and your morning cup of coffee. It seems obvious enough, but apparently, according to the New York Times, it's a distinction that's increasingly lost on a number of people -- and they're losing their purses, wallets and laptops, too.
It turns out that customers lost in a haze of cappuccino foam and engrossed in the blue glow of their computer screens make perfect targets for pickpockets, who have no qualms lifting your wallet out of the coat you've so casually tossed on the back of a chair. The same goes for those harried folks who save a table with a cell phone or run to the bathroom and leave their laptop behind – only to return to an empty table.
The Times doesn't give any statistics as to how many thefts are occurring at Starbucks in New York or elsewhere, just anecdotal evidence from cops who have even gone so far as to use decoy purses or laptops at the coffee shops in order to snare thieves.
Not surprisingly, Starbucks doesn't appear eager to have it's customer think that they still can't go there to sink into a leather club chair and lose themselves in their Chai Soy Lattes. A terse reply from corporate headquarters to the Times read: "Customers should always be aware of their surroundings when in public places, whether at one of our stores or elsewhere."
Charlie Sheen Gets Back To His Roots
The List #0147: Escape a Car Underwater
WHOOPS! Obama Makes Big Gaffe
Visit the Maldive Islands Before It's Too Late
Reptiles Make Home in UK Man's Cable Box
That's An Interesting Look, Madge
Springtime Budget-Busters -- Savings Experiment
Is This Woman Too Pretty To Work?
Candid Portraits Of Strippers After Hours
Mariah Carey Suffers Wardrobe Malfunction on Good Morning America
Distraught Mom Becomes Face of Oklahoma Storm
Mariah Carey Curses And Busts Out Of Dress On Live TV
The Story Behind Hairspray
H&M's Plus-Size Model Jennie Runk Says She Chose To Gain Weight
16 Pasta Dishes Worse Than Yours
Amanda Bynes Arrested, Undergoes Psychiatric Evaluation--See the Shocking Mugshot!
AMAZING PHOTO: UFO Spotted Over San Diego
Killed Soldier In London Attack Identified
What It's Like To Talk To A 2-Year-Old
Best Friends Reportedly Die Holding Each Other In Tornado
Luke Wilson Caught Staring At Fan's Chest
Danny Tanner Is Fighting With Topanga
Rapper Accused Of Faking His Own Death To Escape Payments
Jury Foreman: '18 Days Of Testimony Hurt' Jodi Arias
New Trayvon Martin Evidence Features Incriminating Photos, Texts From Teen
Teenager's 'Awww'-Inspiring Drawing Wins Big At Google
Surgeons Remove Giant Hairball From Tiger
LISTEN: Terror Inside Elementary School As Tornado Hits
Brave Woman Stood Down Armed London Attackers
LOOK: Photoshop Mistake Is Seriously Cringeworthy
Jodi Arias Jury DEADLOCKED
Mum-Of-Two Faces Down Woolwich Attack Suspects
5-02-2011 @2:26PM Save1Star said... I've always seen this as a form of social Darwinism- common sense alludes some of us and there will always be someone right behind to take advantage. Maybe I just grew up with a healthy dose of New York cynicism, but I have little sympathy for someone who walks away from their laptop in a public place and then stares in disbelief when they come back to find it gone.
Reply
5-02-2011 @8:25PM Zwench said... LOL...you are so right! (from Baltimore myself)
5-02-2011 @9:20PM Kathy said... Absolutely!!!! And-REALLY-why on earth does anybody think Starbuck's is responsible for the stupidity of their patrons? If you are stupid enough to leave your stuff at the table unguarded while you go to the bathroom-it is almost as if you deserve to have it stolen. Like you-I have little sympathy for that sort of idiocy.
5-02-2011 @9:33PM Bob Calvin said... It's elude as in evade not allude which is refer to something indirectly.
5-02-2011 @10:39PM BTDT said... Anyone paying five bucks for a cup of coffee is a victim in the making.
5-03-2011 @12:27AM pcs said... DECOYS!!! Dats emtrappin boys,no fares.Gees cants make a easy buck no more.
5-05-2011 @12:44PM Veronika Alexandrov said... I can't believe, as easy as it truly is, that people allow themselves to be so relaxed out in public. It's true, Starbucks is very good at mesmerizing us all, but be on guard. That's what this article tells me. I've seen people do this - walk away from their laptop to go order another drink or take a quick stop in the restroom before coming back to their table. Computers are too expensive to be leaving lying around and my goodness, cellphones are chocked full of personal data too. Play it safe and be alert. Yes, even in Starbucks. And enjoy the free Happy Hour they're having starting tomorrow. I just saw the info this morning on HTtp://bit.Ly/c4pJQ3 Half priced drinks got my attention!! :)
5-02-2011 @8:39PM Richard said... Thanks for the info never thought about it before, I guess were prey any where.
Reply
5-02-2011 @9:23PM Jackson said... There are petty thieves everywhere. Given the opportunity, they laugh at the absent minded trusting. Some get caught but rarely serve time. In America approximately 15% of the population is on parole. My home has been burglarized twice, the last one died from gunshot wounds. His body was sent back to Mexico, unidentified. Corporate thieves are never punished, because they have politicians in their pockets.
Reply
5-02-2011 @9:48PM Sonny said... Illegal aliens have no respect for American laws. And theres now 50 million illegal aliens here that we know of, many 10's of millions more are believed to be here because they hid from census takers as LA-RAZA instructed them to. Most mexicans are into illegal activity.
Reply
5-02-2011 @10:05PM Deb Bailey said... Yeah, right! I'm going to leave my cell phone or my laptop sitting on a table at Starbucks so I can go to the little ladies room!!! WHEN HELL FREEZES OVER!!! I can't believe there are people dumb enough to do that! HER'E'S YOUR SIGN!!! You idiots deserve to lose your equipment!!!!
Reply
5-02-2011 @10:06PM Deb B. said... Yeah right! Leave my cell phone or laptop on the table at Starbucks while I go and use the little ladies room. WHEN HADES FREEZES OVER! You idiots that do that deserve to lose your equipment! If you have to use the facilities, and you're not sitting with a friend or whoever, pick your stuff up and take it with you!! I can't believe people can be this stupid!!
Reply
5-03-2011 @12:56AM Dr. Electro said... Believe in the stupidity. People are that clueless. If ignorance is bliss these people are ecstatic. I learned more than half a century ago that kids who leave candy lying around untended will be sorely disappointed to find it missing. Actually it's just in another kid's belly.
There are people in this world who prey on weakness. Mobs who gang-rape reporters like Lara Logan in Egypt, thieves who jump at any opportunity and gangs who attack little old ladies for their Social Security checks. If you are percieved as weak, you will be a victim.
Anyone who leaves their expensive toys lying around unattended deserves the Dumbass of the Day award. It's what you get when you say, "Duh! I left mah compewder raght thar!"
Reply
5-03-2011 @1:06AM gtp said... Home Depo is another store where theft is a frequent occurrence. I own and run a small construction company with normally three to five carpenter employees. I have had three men loose all of their tools while they were shopping for materials.
The police told us that it is a common problem. Thieves pounce as soon as they see a tradesman leave his truck and relieve him of thousands of dollars worth of tools. The security is almost always poor or non-existent and the crooks are very seldom caught according to the police.
Of course Home Depo does not advertise this part of shopping experience. Why should they? People knowing what can happen may not shop there as often. My men certainly are afraid to. Besides, the men must buy new tools somewhere.
Reply
5-03-2011 @1:39AM cokeandpilates said... If you go off and leave your laptop($500-1000), your iPhone($700), or anything else of value unattended in a public place, you are a MORON!! I have no sympathy for someone who gets their belongings stolen because they had to drag all their crap into Starbucks and then, after consuming large amounts of liquid, need to use the restroom. What are they doing all damn day at Starbucks?
Reply
5-03-2011 @4:47AM Shell said... Disney is another place where people are bad about watching their own things , they will leave cameras and other things on tables or leave valuables in strollers and just walk away from it ..
I don't understand why people would think this way or should I say have a lack of thinking then expect the place to replace the item they should have been watching..
Reply
5-03-2011 @10:32PM TogWoo said... This is like the coolest thing ever man.
www.real-privacy.es.tc
Reply
5-06-2011 @3:08AM Sietse smith said... Its so very tasty juice and benefit for the health.Everyone can be drink this juice.
http://pages.rediff.com/lean-muscle-x-maintain-your-weight-and-build-fit-body/176834
Reply
5-14-2011 @5:26PM cathy said... About as dumb as leaving your belongings on a towel on the beach and then going swimming. http://newsy1.wordpress.com
Reply
7-01-2011 @1:04AM AdamWPrillis said... I would say that this is just horrible, poor customers are being robbed? That is insane. Where do we live in folks, in what world do we live in.
Sincerely, Adam
http://ebookreader101.org/
Reply