Shoplifters Wearing Signs in Public as Punishment
DAYTON, Tenn. -- Shoplifters who've struck stores including Wal-Mart, Save-A-Lot, Dollar General, and Bi-Lo in this Tennessee town are being punished in an unusual manner: They're modeling signs proclaiming their guilt while standing in front of the stores.
About a dozen shoplifters in the area have stood in front of these stores for eight hours a day for four days, wearing signs admitting they are guilty of theft, according to a report in the Herald-News of Dayton, Tenn.
"I stole from Wal-Mart Store, and I'm wearing this sign by order of Judge McKenzie," read one sign on a convicted thief at a local Wal-Mart.
General Sessions Court Judge James McKenzie began offering the punishment to arrested shoplifters earlier this year, according to the report. If they don't want to wear the sign, they can spend 10 days in jail. He said he came up with the idea "off the top of [his] head."
McKenzie said he had heard of one other judge offering the same kind of punishment in Texas.
About a dozen shoplifters in the area have stood in front of these stores for eight hours a day for four days, wearing signs admitting they are guilty of theft, according to a report in the Herald-News of Dayton, Tenn.
"I stole from Wal-Mart Store, and I'm wearing this sign by order of Judge McKenzie," read one sign on a convicted thief at a local Wal-Mart.
General Sessions Court Judge James McKenzie began offering the punishment to arrested shoplifters earlier this year, according to the report. If they don't want to wear the sign, they can spend 10 days in jail. He said he came up with the idea "off the top of [his] head."
McKenzie said he had heard of one other judge offering the same kind of punishment in Texas.