Real SHTF scenario Would you loot if you were stuck in NO with no food or water ?

What if the police tried to stop you from getting food and water for your family

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From what I've seen, the police aren't doing that.

Last night as I was watching the news with my 8 year old daughter, I said to that the food in the grocery will go to waste (spoil, even in cans) if not taken and used. No one minds if people take what they need to survive. But the jewellry store doen't have anything in it necessary for survival. That is stealing.

Anyone seen Les Miserables? Food & water, if I and my family are dying? Heck yes. Survival is survival, and trumps ALL other concerns.

If it's happening to me, it's prolly happening to the emergency responders who are friends. So I'd go in with them and protect the contents as a community asset.

- pd,

first off, i'm not likely to be one of the fools still in the area after a week of warning. however were we to postulate that was the case, the answer is hell yes. i would do whatever necessary to provide for my family.

just finished reading a collection of essays and short fiction by heinlein. btw, one of my all time favorites. his dissertation on morality as it relates to survival is top shelf. start by realizing that there is NO action, moral or otherwise if you do not survive, therefore action that is required for survival is, by nature, moral. he goes on and more eloquently than i ever could. if you're interested the book is "expanded universe" by R.A.H.

Who wouldn't?

I am a New Orleanian. Regardless of where this thread goes, know this: if you were looting my city right now, I would shoot you dead. The decent people are breaking into attics with axes to save people. Meanwhile, the looters have besieged Childrens' Hospital (where at least a hundred very sick children are) in an effort to steal drugs. This is a national emergency, and the looters are promoting disorder and violence instead of helping others. I would be quite pleased if we plugged the levy with their dead bodies.

What did you have for breakfast, today?

Nope, I wouldn't loot, for food or anything else.

Ya know, just a random thought. If Al quaida operatives really wanted to heap injury upon injury to our nation and economy, it wouldn't take much to place a few shaped charges along other spots on the Lake Ponchartrain dike. I'm sure they've already thought of that - hope that wall is being monitored by security forces.

Anyone who says they wouldn't do what was necessary to survive is either a fool or a liar. When the wolf of hunger is at your door, you'll do whatever it takes to live another day. You don't have to beleive me, just look at history.

OK, so how many would keep track of what they looted, and (at least attempt to) re-imburse the property owner?

Real simple. Find a nice restaurant that is still intact. Trade them my least favorite long-gun in exchange for a sizeable quantity of food (if they are nice folks, then we could work out a protection/shelter arrangement instead). In that situation an 870 or M4 are worth more than their weight in gold.

If they have a lot of independant grocery stores that would be a better bet (chain stores probably stand empty or are not in a position to barter).

Looting an abandoned residence or store for food and immediately necessary medical supplies is something I would tolerate, if there is no other way to obtain those items and death is the reasonably certain outcome of not taking them. I'd even tolerate taking clothing from stores. The clothing would be ruined anyway.

Taking jewelry and flat-screen televisions? Disgusting, but if you want to weigh yourself down, go for it. I won't shoot you, but you'll make an easier target for the National Guard if they start shooting...and I won't complain if they do.

If the rightful owners of the property are present, you'll have to negotiate with them.

Well, if I was somehow stupid enough to get my family into this situation...sure I'd take food and water. And leave a note with my contact info and what I'd taken.

And if the police showed up, I'd happily hand them my rifle and ask them to take myself and family out of there however they got in, under arrest if necessary. My family and I would be better off in police custody than without food (or even worse water) as you describe.

Not nearly as exciting as shooting it out with hordes of evil looters or JBT's, but since all the decent people down there are actually HELPING each other I think I'd try to be part of the solution rather than the problem.

"Would you loot a food store to survive?"

You mean tactical borrowing?


Survival is a cruel mistress.

Have any of you actually tried fasting for a few days? If you haven't, you should try it sometime. It's an interesting learning experience. If nothing else, you quickly realize that (in the short term) food is a great luxury, but NOT a necessity.

It's extremely unlikely that hunger is a mortal threat after a mere 3 days. I'd be a little less forgiving than most if someone looted my home for food in these circumstances. The food in my house is a luxury for MY family, not for your family.

Lack of water is another matter entirely.

Would I loot someone else's stockpiles to give to my family? Probably not for food, after only three days. But I'd steal drinking water in a heartbeat if my family needed it.

To feed my family yes.But as others have said,looting tv's and other people's belongings,should not be tolerated.Also I feel bad for people who have no food or water,but I'd protect mine by whatever means it takes.I'm just thankfull that I'm not in that position.

Well, as mentioned, I wouldn't be there anyways. But if I were, yeah. If these people are taking food, I don;t have much of a problem. Not really acceptable, but not a big deal. And, a lot of that food will be ruined weeks down the road anyway. Might as well go to good use.

But yeah, no food at the jewelry store. Or the Best Buy.

Three days? If you don't get it now, it might not be available when you need it. I could see myself sizing up the situation quickly and realizing that my family may need food in a week so we better get on it now. But first of all, I wouldn't still be there.

No, Of course I WOULD NOT loot. That doesn't make me a fool or a liar, but a good citizen. LOOTING = STEALING = CRIME.

I think its funny how on the internet you always see "SHTF Scenario" threads and its always "I'd break into walmart and take guns" instead of "I'd be smart enough to already have them."

So folks, doesn't justify anything, if you loot, you are a criminal, and should be arrested.

Goes to show, most people's idea of survival isn't planning and preperation, its about reaction. If you have to loot, you suck at survival.

Hopefully, this situation reinforces the need to have at least 3 days food and water available (and a week is better, 3 weeks better still). In this particular situation, plenty of warning was available--that won't always be the case. But, some help usually will be arriving in the first couple of days for medical/rescue support. Likely, they'll be able to help.

But, I think you're asking if you get stuck somehow in a bad situation--say, you're on vacation and a tsunami hits or meteorite hits nearby and incinerates your food/water supply cache. There is no choice but to sit at home and watch your little children go hungry and die of thirst because the weather is too bad for the rescue choppers to come in...then do you go over to the local supermarket and break a window and take a few gallon jugs of water and box of crackers and peanut butter?

In that scenario, yes. And yes, I take note of what I take and damage caused for future restitution as the situation allows.

But, I take reasonable precautions not to get into that situation. I make a best effort to use available emergency service before doing that. And I never take a freakin' TV.

If somehow forced into that scenario, hell yes I will take, at gunpoint if required, whatever food and water it takes to survive. And I'll also call BS on anyone who says they wouldn't. No living organism on this Earth will willingly starve to death to save the local BiLo a couple bucks on food that is going to go bad anyway.

I agree that jewelry stores and Best Buy don't have anything to do with survival.

Officials Helpless Against Looters

What, the authorities are out of ammo? :banghead:

I think everyone recognizes the difference between taking food and water from abandoned buildings for survival, and stealing high dollar electronics and jewelry.

Taking food water and possibly weapons and ammo and survival gear would not bother my sense of ethics and morality