Update 4:34 p.m.: Rensselaer County DA ends practice of not prosecuting some Walmart shoplifters

It may be a crime to pay more than a dime, but it’s not too terribly criminal if you steal merchandise valued at fewer than $100 from Walmart stores in Rensselaer county, according to an agreement between the county and the Rensselaer County District Attorney and reported on in this story.

In order to ease court overcrowding, Walmart is unlikely to call the police if a customer is caught shoplifting something (or several somethings) valued at less than $100.

Let that set in before you keep reading.

Got it? OK.

“We’re not condoning stealing. Obviously, we’re going to prosecute the cases they send us,” said District Attorney Joel Abelove in this story in the Times Union. “We want to concentrate on a person stealing a $500 television, not a piece of gum.”

Um, what? Isn’t it quite possible that today’s pack of gum is tomorrow’s television? And why not cut the people off early, with the hope they’ll stop, instead of letting them get away with the small stuff as practice for the big stuff?

If they try to flee, get violent, have a history of theft then they may not get off so easily, according to that TU story.

This, to me, is like supporting gateway drugs or heroin houses where people can shoot up “safely.” (So much sarcasm in that word, BTW.)

Overcrowding is an issue, of course, but not only are you saying we’ll be loosey goosey on those who steal, but you’re broadcasting it and basically saying “hello, our doors are open and our shoplifting policies are lacking so step right up and then right on out without paying.”

What a weak, harmful and likely costly move.