Dobson told Today.com she made the video “because predators watch our patterns and routines and I wanted to give people permission to not return their carts if their intuition tells them they aren’t safe.”
In 2023, an “all-time high” 265 children were abducted during car thefts, according to Kids and Car Safety.
While Dobson intended her clip to be a public service announcement, many took it to be a perfect example of “the shopping cart theory,” the theory that a person’s moral character can be determined by whether or not they return their shopping cart.
“I absolutely believe in the shopping cart theory. Maybe the return was across the lot, maybe it was literally across from the spot where you parked. Either way the theory holds true.”
“Mom of a 6yo, 3yo and 9months. I simply unload groceries, return cart WITH kids, and then load them in. Same way that we got out of car. Simple.”
“I’ll always say the shopping cart is the ultimate test to see what kind of person you are 🤷🏻♀️even with a baby I bring her with me to return the cart
