The Daylight Robbery that Women Commit

Ingredients on display on Mechlin Strt.

A couple  recently broke up because, according to the boyfriend, his girl stole his Blackberry Bold, an allegation never denied by the young lady. She remorselessly admitted to stealing the mobile phone, which costs nearly $800 in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, to rent a flat for her mom. According to her, this boyfriend of hers happened to be a hard-to-spend type and so, stealing his phone was the only option left for her.

Was her approach to solving this financial crisis of hers the right way to go? Some might argue that if these two were a married couple, then what this young lady did won't technically   be considered as theft, which is a criminal offense. The idea is that in the institution of marriage, the term 'theft' doesn't exist ---a wife just can't steal from her husband. She takes, not steals. What is his, is hers and what is hers, is hers.

But stealing is nothing less than stealing. I see no point in being rosy about it. Unfortunately, many women seem to share this bad habit of discreetly "pinching" their husband’s money. They spare no cash left in his wallet and/or pockets. The situation becomes terrible with married couples because no matter what, staying together has a way of exposing all the annoying mannerisms that are otherwise concealed during dating. 

Whether they are given money for everything they ask for --- pedicure, manicure, hair, spa, latest fashion, eating out (regardless of being gainfully employed) ---, these drop-dead gorgeous, respectable wives would still not spare the $20, $50 $100 notes left  on the table, in the wallet or pockets.  They will go for the wallet, pull out a few notes each time it seems overly stuffed. I call this daylight robbery!

For other married women, the game is played differently. They would go as far as profiting from monies allocated for family purposes, by deliberately inflating bills. If a kilo of sugar costs LRD$50, they will inflate the price to $150. If a fresh cassava or pike fish costs LRD$150, they will inflate the price to $300. They will do so for every ingredient. For them, it's about nailing that 100% profit on every item.

But guess what? It is very wrong to look into anybody's wallets, purses or pockets and take something without their prior knowledge and consent. Even if you have been married for centuries. You still have no right to do so. Don't you think it is better and more dignifying to ask, even if you are refused, than to take it without asking?