Do you know anyone who has shoplifted? Have you ever shoplifted? How about someone, including yourself, who has shoplifted multiple times? Odds are you know a person who has shoplifted. How about this question – do you know anyone, including yourself, who has been caught shoplifting?

Given that most shoplifters get away with their crime, especially if they are only nicking small items here and there, think about how many times one would have to steal, or how bad a thief you would have to be to get caught more than 20 times. As reported in www.battlecreekenquirer.com.

A man from Battle Creek, Michigan could face a long prison term after stealing two cartons of cigarettes from a gas station. Why a long prison sentence for such a petty theft?

Thirty-seven-year-old Robert Fullerton has 25 prior misdemeanor convictions and six felonies and is charged with unarmed robbery and being a habitual offender after Battle Creek police said he took the cigarettes while dragging a clerk out of the store.

His sentence could be up to life in prison if he is convicted!

All this for $131 worth of cigarettes. Perhaps Fullerton needs to take a tobacco class in addition to a stop theft class. This was not the first time he had stolen smokes from this gas station.

Fullerton admitted the theft to police claiming he needed the cigarettes so he could trade them for crack cocaine. Hmm? What do you think? Maybe a drug class too?