Theft

[Bobruffles]

Okay, I have been thinking. Lets say it is the 1st day of WROL, there is no FEMA, no food at home, no water, no cops.
1.I have no preparations at all, few guns and ammo, few survival skills.
What will people like this steal, from where and why?
2.I have a month of food and water,guns and limited ammo, some survival skills.
What will people like this steal?
3.I am well prepared
What would be valuable enough for people like this to leave their home and go steal? Medicine, food, water? Gas?

Just food for thought

[Edited for clarity]

[Kobalt]

I fall into the category. I would probably head for some superior firepower. Then make my way to the food and water.

[NOLA556]

I consider myself t be closest to #2 except up the food supply to around 3 or 4 months. (and "limited" ammo is relative I suppose. some people think I have enough for a small army and others laugh and scoff at my humble little stockpile)

honestly, I'd have to be pretty damn desperate to steal anything. I also think that it depends on where you're stealing from and why. (like you said in the OP)... first off, stealing from individuals is completely out of the question for me. if I'm to the point of desperation where I'm relying on other people's stuff then it would have to be a mutual agreement. an exchange for whatever services they need that they may not be able to do? I don't know. I haven't put very much thought into this before.

if you feel like you can successfully make it in and out of walmart or some place like that, then I'd say go ahead and rape those shitbags. if it truly is permanent/very long term WROL, somebody's gonna eventually clean the whole place out anyway, so I guess if you can manage to do it safely then get while the gettin's good.

[rah45]

Okay, I have been thinking. Lets say it is the 1st day of WROL, there is no FEMA, no food at home, no water, no cops.
1.I have no preparations at all, few guns and ammo, few survival skills.
What will people like this steal, from where and why?

They don't have many survival skills, and probably haven't thought much about that subject. I'd bet they're going to go for food, and water when they get thirsty. People who haven't thought about this scenario at all ("Mom, what happened to Jersey Shore? It hasn't come on for three days! I'm hungry, why is the food spoiled in the fridge! Mooom!!!") are going to make up the majority of this category. They may not even realize they need it until they start running out. At that point, the people who realized what was going on (or just started panicking immediately) have already picked clean the good stuff from the easier places (grocery stores, hardware stores, possibly gun stores, pharmacies, etc.). Thus, the only way for the people who suddenly find themselves on the fast track to death to survive is to scavenge and take, by force if necessary, the supplies from those who have the supplies. I can definitely see house-to-house searches by marauding bands/gangs in the larger urban/metro areas that aren't prepared. Possibly in the first week, depending on the local situation. The rewards are potentially: food, clothing, water/fluids, weapons, currency/precious metals, unrestricted and immoral sexual behavior, fuel for vehicles, unnecessary luxury items (they may think the 20 T.V.s they have will well for thousands once order is restored), and many other things. There is no militia to stop them, so why not scavenge and have "fun" in the process? The world abandoned them, right? The government failed to provide for them, and they will now take what they want.

2.I have a month of food and water,guns and limited ammo, some survival skills.
What will people like this steal?

You have enough food and water to last long enough to start thinking about long-term survival. You go out and quickly acquire what you do not have in order to guarantee your long-term success. This may be better firearms, gardening tools, tools for chopping wood, fishing equipment, camping equipment, etc. Things that will be useful repeatedly, increasing the odds of long-term survival in this environment, that you did not have before SHTF. After this (or maybe during this), these people may also keep an eye out for like-minded folks to deal with and possibly establish friendly/defensive relations with. The goal for these people is to extend their life spans by several weeks/months/a year until order is restored.

3.I am well prepared
What would be valuable enough for people like this to leave their home and go steal? Medicine, food, water? Gas?

I think that people like this will be the ones who have the chance to plan for long-term survival of society itself. They'll be the ones concentrating on establishing and maintaining lines of communication between themselves and others in their community/county/state/nation. They'll be able to coordinate economic plans, defensive preparations and communications for miscellaneous individual and societal needs. I see these people as being the key to a moderately quick recovery for communities. They are the potential leaders, and not because they're necessarily leadership material, but because they have the survival goods already and can afford the time for deeper thinking and long-term goals and strategies. They will comprise the majority (I think) of the core controllers of the communities, the rock around which these communities are rebuilt.

It worries me, though, because power does not equate good leadership, and people in these communities, if they still value their lives and liberty, must be as aware and alert as possible to any hint of a miniature oligarchy or monarchy forming. In WROL, revitalized systems of government are not guaranteed to be smaller versions of these united states. The same watchfulness must be practiced then as has (or should have been) practiced these 200+ years.

[Outonowhere]

That's all well and good, but don't forget about Murphy.  He's a real son oh a bitch and he always shows up at the worst times lol

[Reaver]

Another thread I'm staying out of.

[Colombo]

Good subject Bob. Great reply Rah. Plenty of room Reaver (I always like another point of view).

Falling into the 3rd category the only thing I can think of that I plan on "stealing" is some unoccupied real estate for a few op/lp positions a little further out. There are a few spots I would like to be able to position some overwatch at or just have as a fallback- reposition point too that aren't on mine or my neighbors land that have some very nice cover, concealment and view. I suspect there will be some night time digging in and improvement on that land if things get that bad.

[rah45]

Plenty of room Reaver (I always like another point of view).

I think he's worried about starting another conversation that's a little too controversial. 

[Reaver]

Before I leave for the day,

All I'm going to say is, " I am not afraid to do what I have to, to feed my family "
DO NOT misinterpret that for me raping, pillaging, and burning. & DO NOT misinterpret that for me handing out bibles either.

Just over the second tier for me. BTW

[mountainredneck2051]

morality declines with the notches on your belt and the tears in your children's eyes

[Reaver]

morality declines with the notches on your belt and the tears in your children's eyes

That is an excellent phrase, yet if your keeping notches in your belt. Your morality isn't as strong as you wish it to believe.

[mountainredneck2051]

thanks, i just kinda made that up 

[RS762]

That's all well and good, but don't forget about Murphy.  He's a real son oh a bitch and he always shows up at the worst times lol

No joke there.

[Bobruffles]

Why can we no longer edit our post, I noticed those errors yet I couldnt fix them 

[WhiskeyJack]

I'm gonna say I'm half way between 2 and 3. And as far as what i would go for. See TacReq posting. But i think we would see a massive die off of tier 1 people. and tier 2 would clash with tier 1 and 2 on their way to setting themselves up for long term survival. Tier 3 would have the option of hunkering down during that initial shock. so perhaps you'll see a larger percent of those folks surviving the initial days. Just MHO. I think its a real good question man. And no easy answer. Something to contemplate for sure. I guess for the initial question i would say....
Tier 1 goes for food and water & fuel first and allot of them don't make it home in the process.
Tier 2 Goes for food water ammo & fuel and other shit in a armed & dangerous manner.
Tier 3 Hunkers down to wait. Or begins organizing the first two tiers in their general vicinity. As far as taking shit I cant answer that really tier 3 is gonna have allot of shit on hand already. So i would guess it would be a toss up as to their priorities.  Just my .02 cents.