History Main / NobleShoplifter

* In ''Literature/TheSurvivalist'' series by Creator/JerryAhern, John Rourke takes clothes from a store over the initial objections of Paul Rubenstein, whose objections are overcome when Rourke uses a Geiger counter to show that they've picked up radioactive fallout on their clothes. In the next novel they stop and help themselves to an abandonea d container truck, only to be arrested by a self-proclaimed militia group who declares them looters to be executed on the spot. Rourke naturally has other ideas.

* In ''Literature/TheSurvivalist'' series by Creator/JerryAhern, John Rourke takes clothes from a store over the initial objections of Paul Rubenstein, whose objections are overcome when Rourke uses a Geiger counter to show that they've picked up radioactive fallout on their clothes. In the next novel they stop and help themselves to an abandoned container truck, only to be arrested by a self-proclaimed militia group who declares them looters to be executed on the spot. Rourke naturally has other ideas.

* One episode of ''Series/{{Bones}}'', Booth makes a comment that "you gotta be bad sometimes to be good," meaning sometimes even the best people need to cut loose and do something "bad". Toward the end of the episode, while having dinner at the Founding Fathers, Brennan admits that she wants to try doing something "bad". Booth suggests that they skip out of the cafe without paying for their dinner and Brennan agrees. While she rushes for the door, Booth quietly leaves a few folded bills on the counter without telling her.

* In ''The Survivalist'' series by Jerry Ahern, John Rourke takes clothes from a store over the initial objections of Paul Rubenstein, whose objections are overcome when Rourke uses a Geiger counter to show that they've picked up radioactive fallout on their clothes. In the next novel they stop and help themselves to an abandoned container truck, only to be arrested by a self-proclaimed militia group who declares them looters to be executed on the spot. Rourke naturally has other ideas.

* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Home}}'', Tip leaves some money on the counter of a store she grabs some food and drink from, despite there being an alien invasion going on, and the shopkeep almost certainly being hundreds of miles away, like the rest of humanity thanks to the invasion.

* One episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' saw Homer working at the Quik-E-Mart and fell asleep at the counter. In comes Ned Flanders who not only pays in full for his purchase, but does so quietly as to not disturb Homer's rest.

* One of the triggers for the French Revolution was the government removing economic controls that kept the price of a loaf of bread low. Seeing the price of their staple foodstuff rocket overnight -- to more than the average daily wage -- the Parisian people took matters into their own hands and took over bakeries and flour-millers by force. However, by popular consent, they didn't just steal the bread: they very scrupulously distributed it to the people, who left behind the pre-inflationary price of seven sous per loaf, which they thought was a fair price. It was only when the Army was called in to quell the bread riots and summarily hang "ringleaders" that people started grabbing what they could and running. And so a revolution started... not over principles of liberty, equality and brotherhood, but over something as basic and important as a subsistence diet.

* The titular character in ''Film/{{Finch}}'' is a post-apocalyptic scavenger who collects resources he needs from abandoned supermarkets and various other buildings, despite this he is very respectful to the dead by making sure not to cause any unnecessary damage to the long since dead owners property.

It 's not uncommon for the Noble Shoplifter's companions to give him or her a hard time about it, arguing that the former owners are very likely dead and that priority should be given to the living. They may also argue that there is nothing to stop other groups of scavengers from taking the valuables the Noble Shoplifter leaves behind... in fact, a more unscrupulous member of the Noble Shoplifter's own party may find an excuse to backtrack and do exactly that.

Contrast DisasterScavengers, PlanetLooters and GentlemanThief. The NobleShoplifter is rarely seen in a ScavengerWorld, as those settings are usually far beyond the point where original ownership matters. Can overlap with WhatYouAreInTheDark.

* In ''ComicBook/GreenArrow: City Walls'', although the city is without power and looting is rampant, GA insists that his people leave payment whenever they take food or weapons from a store.

* Done unknowingly by Shaun in ''Film/ShaunOfTheDead''. When the entire town is deserted, Shaun just goes about his daily business and goes to convenience store to shop for groceries. When he notices the shopkeeper isn't there, he just puts his money on the counter rather than wait for him.

* ''Webcomic/StandStillStaySilent'': In the Sweden segment of the DistantPrologue, a family driving to their montain cabin to escape ThePlague stops at a gas station that turns out to be deserted. While the wife is simply happy that the place's personnel din't turn the gas pump off, the husband finds a delivery box containing the latest newspaper right outside the station's closed shop. He only takes one copy and leaves enough money for it behind.

* In ''Series/TheIncredibleHulk'' live-action TV series, David Banner often did things like steal pants when necessary after changing back from the Hulk, but left money behind. But... [[FridgeLogic where does he keep his wallet]]? On second thought, [[AssShove never mind]].

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** Captain Carrot in ''Discworld/TheFifthElephant'' who insists on leaving money behind when he takes food from isolated farmhouses whilst trailing a werewolf pack into the mountains. The houses themselves are not actually unoccupied, it's just that Carrot looks scary so the owners tend to hide when he approaches and acting as a NobleShoplifter is easier than dragging them out and buying it normally.

* ''Film/TwentyEightDaysLater'', after gamboling through a deserted greengrocer's, the heroes leave behind a credit card.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/o_brother_where_art_thou_stolen_pie.jpg]]

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-->Before they left, Will dropped some coins in the till behind the counter.
-->"What you doing?" she said.
-->"Paying. You have to pay for things. Don't they pay for things in your world?"
-->"They don't in this one! I bet those other kids en't paying for a thing."
-->"They might not, but I do."

[[AC:LiveActionTV]]
* In ''Series/TheIncredibleHulk'' live action TV series, David Banner often did things like steal pants when necessary after changing back from the Hulk, but left money behind. But... [[FridgeLogic where does he keep his wallet]]? On second thought, [[AssShove never mind]].

* Inverted at one point on ''Series/TheWalkingDead'' - an abandoned pharmacy that two characters scavenge has a sign (implied to have been left by the original owner) telling survivors they are welcome to take whatever they need.

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* A similar situation is found in ''Videogame/{{Earthbound}}''. In [[CrapsaccharineWorld Happy Happy Village]], there's a food cart with a sign saying they trust you to take what you need and leave the money. However, in this case, the player ''does'' have the option to [[VideoGameCrueltyPotential leave without paying]], so this trope depends on the player.
* Mario in ''Videogame/SuperMarioRPG''. When the Mushroom Kingdom is under attack, the item shopkeeper can be found cowering in the back of the shop, with a sign on the counter saying to take what you want and leave the money. Reading it allows you to buy items as if the shopkeeper was there, with no option to leave without paying.

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** Elan [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0471.html does it again]] to get a new lute while fleeing Azure City. This time, he leaves some money--even though the city is being ''abandoned.'' (When Haley and Belkar pass by the shop later, the money is gone.) Even though Elan is conscientious enough to pay for the lute, he thinks nothing of smashing the shop's front window to get to it.

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* This happens in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/CodenameKidsNextDoor'' when Number 2 has to go to the grocery store, but it's already closed. He picks up the items he needs and leaves money behind, but still gets accused of trying to steal.

* In ''{{WesternAnimation/Home}}'', Tip leaves some money on the counter of a store she grabs some food and drink from, despite there being an alien invasion going on, and the shopkeep almost certainly being hundreds of miles away, like the rest of humanity thanks to the invasion.

[[AC:RealLife]]
* One of the triggers for the French Revolution was the government removing economic controls that kept the price of a loaf of bread low. Seeing the price of their staple foodstuff rocket overnight - to more than the average daily wage - the Parisian people took matters into their own hands and took over bakeries and flour-millers by force. However, by popular consent, they didn't just steal the bread: they very scrupulously distributed it to the people, who left behind the pre-inflationary price of seven sous per loaf, which they thought was a fair price. It was only when the Army was called in to quell the bread riots and summarily hang "ringleaders" that people started grabbing what they could and running. And so a revolution started...not over principles of liberty, equality and brotherhood, but over something as basic and important as a subsistence diet.

** After escaping the prison where he was being held for his EvilTwin's crimes, Elan does this to get a change of clothes. Lacking any money, all he can do is leave a note.
-->'''Elan's Note:''' Sorry we stole from you [[note]]twice[[/note]]. It was for [[note]]really[[/note]] good cause.
** He does it again to get a new lute while fleeing Azure City. This time, he leaves some money - even though the city is being ''abandoned.''

* The music videos for "Is Anybody Home?" by OurLadyPeace shows a woman waking up in a suddenly [[GhostCity empty city]]. At one point she goes into a store to buy something. There's nobody at the cash register, and at first she simply leaves the money on the counter... the trope is then subverted in that she changes her mind and takes the money anyway.

* In ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'', Elan does this to get a new lute while fleeing Azure City.

It is not uncommon for the Noble Shoplifter's companions to give him or her a hard time about it, arguing that the former owners are very likely dead and that priority should be given to the living. They may also argue that there is nothing to stop other groups of scavengers from taking the valuables the Noble Shoplifter leaves behind... in fact, a more unscrupulous member of the Noble Shoplifter's own party may find an excuse to backtrack and do exactly that.

* After the three runaways from ''Film/OBrotherWhereArtThou'' swipe a pie left cooling on someone's windowsill, Delmar leaves $5 under a rock on the sill as payment.