Typically, people stop stealing simply because they get caught, I only wish that was the reason I stopped. So my friends and I would typically go to different malls to pick up chicks. One day we were in Sam Goody record store and one of my friends were looking at a CD in one of the cases that had the alarm on it. The case wasn't all the way closed and he popped it open. It made a loud cracking sound. He immediately put the CD down and we walked away.
We noticed that the employee paid the sound no mind. So I went to the counter to talk to him. My friend went back to where we left the cd. He put it in his pocket and started walking out the store. He walked out and no alarm sounded and no mall cops came. This event set off a chain reaction of us terrorizing local malls. We would steal the newest CDs and sell them to the older guys in the neighborhood for $10. At the time CDs were roughly $20.
One day, I decided I would see how many I could steal in one day. I was in summer school at the time, so I planned out my route for the day. I would leave summer school and head down to The Gallery at the harbor, then catch the light rail to Hunt Valley, then I would hit Mondawmin Mall's Record Town and Sam Goody. The first 2 stops went off without a hitch. I had about 30 CD's on my backpack. I had gotten so good at cracking the cases, I could crack them and stash the CD's in my pocket, tuck them in my shorts, or backpack in seconds. In and out of a store in less than 3 minutes. I always made it a habit to purchase something when I stole just to throw the clerk off. When I got to Sam Goody at Mondawmin, I realized they had changed the cases. These cases didn't open the same way.
I decided that it wouldn't be smart to try and steal anything at that time. Something told me that I should just go home with what I had already stolen for the day. I had already broken my personal best and I had enough CD's to make $400.
As I walked past record town, I noticed they hadn't changed their I cases and that it was only one employee in the store. I felt like it wouldn't get any easier and it was a quick move. So I went in like always, but for some reason I hesitated. I looked up and saw a cop passing. I decided that I was gonna take 5 and go. So after placing 10 in my bag, I decide I would put a few more in my pockets and tuck a few in my pants.
I had about 10 in my pants and another 10 in my backpack. As I walked out of the store, the mall cop called me over. I thought about running, but there was no point. Too much shit in my pockets and backpack were too heavy. He asked me what I had purchased. I said nothing. I was terrified of going to jail, so I just admitted I stole CD's and took them out my pockets. He walked me to the back of the store and took my picture for the wall of shame. He then called my grandmother to tell her what I had done.
Lucky for me, my uncle who actually taught me how to steal answered the phone. He spoke to the cop as if he was gonna whip my ass good. The cop then escorted me out of the mall and told me I was banned for a year. I got to my grandmothers and my uncle asked me how I got caught. I told him I didn't buy anything. He told me that if it doesn't feel right, leave immediately. I got home and realized that I still had gotten away with a few that were in my backpack. The cop never checked my bag at all.
So I hit the streets to make my money back. Everyone was asking for Snoop Dogg's No Limit CD, The Game is to be Sold not to be Told. I had sold most of the CD's from that day. As I was walking, a local hoodlum named Ace stopped me and asked to see the CD. I was terrified of him. He had a reputation of violence. He took the CD out of my hands. When I asked for $10 he told me, GET THE FUCK OUTTA HERE. Instead of walking away, I reached for the CD. Ace grabbed me, threw me to the ground, and proceeded to kick me in the face, like he was punting a football. My face hit the ground and it scraped up my skin.
I just laid there and he stood over me and said, Uuuughhh like Master P. I pulled myself up and walked to my boy Twan's house. He asked me what happened, and I said, "I'm ready for war" mimicking Canibus.
That was the last day I ever stole. I realized I wasn't built for that life. When I walked around the neighborhood, I avoided Ace at all costs. I would literally walk 20 or 30 minutes out of the way. If he stood in front of the building that I lived in, I would walk to my grandmothers house and stay the night.
I always told myself that when I got older I would whip Aces ass. I remember being home one summer a few years ago and asking if anyone had seen Ace. They told me he had life in jail for multiple homicides and beating someone until they were a vegetable....
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