Survival or theft: debate erupts after Hat Yai residents take items from flooded 7-Eleven
Public opinion is divided after residents affected by the severe floods in Hat Yai district, Songkhla, were filmed taking products from a damaged 7-Eleven convenience store as water levels receded. Some argued the residents were simply trying to survive, while others condemned the actions as theft.
TikTok user, @naruponnut, yesterday, November 27, posted videos showing the interior of a flooded 7-Eleven with its front window shattered.
Locals were seen quickly collecting food and snacks and placing them into plastic bags and foam boxes. Another clip showed a man filling his backpack with bottles of alcohol behind the cashier counter.
The TikToker said he also found a plastic bag full of coins on the counter and claimed he returned it to a convenience store employee he encountered that day.
The videos sparked wide debate online. Some netizens said the store’s food and snacks would have to be discarded anyway, arguing it was better for stranded residents to take them during a crisis. Others said hungry people had no choice but to take food and water to survive.
However, many pointed out that taking alcohol was not justifiable, as it is not an essential item. Others said the situation was still theft regardless of what was taken, insisting those involved should face penalties. They added that they had never seen similar incidents in flood-hit areas before.
The issue escalated further after a teenage boy posted on social media boasting about stealing alcohol and cigarettes from the store. He shared photos of the stolen items with the caption…
“Over 100,000 baht worth of products are with me. I took only alcohol and cigarettes. No one even thought of doing this, but I did.”
He later deleted the post following heavy criticism, but screenshots continued to circulate on news pages.
As of now, CP All, the operator of 7-Eleven stores nationwide, has not commented or taken legal action regarding the incident. Local police have also not issued any statements.
@naruponnut กระจกเซเว่นแตกคนก็แห่กันเข้ามาหยิบของกิน น้ำท่วม #หาดใหญ่
@naruponnut
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