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If they can't just give you the money they have on hand (perhaps deposited by other customers), you are increasing the cost of the transaction for them. Cash is

If they can't just give you the money they have on hand (perhaps deposited by other customers), you are increasing the cost of the transaction for them. Cash is expensive. People complain about card transactions, but wait until you need to deal with cash deposits and withdrawals regularly - that adds up quick, and is the main reason why a lot of businesses in the UK have moved to card only since the pandemic. It's also the case that criminals prefer cash, and a large number of small denomination notes could be used to facilitate a large number of small value crimes more easily. Drug dealing is the obvious one, but there are others. I witnessed a shoplifters being stopped by a security guard once, with £200 worth of goods in their coat (booze, steaks), and they offered a £5 note - "it's all I have" - and by making that offer of payment, they reduced the crime and the penalty somewhat to the point the manager and security officer removed the goods, asked them to leave and told them they weren't welcome any more - no police involved. For all that bank knew, you were running a gang of shoplifters doing this.

_nalply 4y ago
Why does offering payment reduce crime? In my jurisdiction it is enough if it is evident that you intent to steal something. Theft can only be prosecuted if there is intent. Usually if they suspect someone shoplifting they wait and spring the trap when there are enough clues, for example someone briskly walking to the exit. One story: My wife got stopped in a departement store because she took an item in a sub-shop in the underground floor. It's not a mall. Then she went upstairs to look for more things to shop. The police was there after a short time. This means the shoplifting surveillance system has already sent out an alert to the police when my wife was on the stairs, because employees aren't allowed to hold people. But my wife didn't walk briskly to the exit but strolled around and when stopped she told them she wanted to pay for all things together. The police people even laughed and the employee directed my wife back downstairs to pay.

_nalply 4y ago

Why does offering payment reduce crime? In my jurisdiction it is enough if it is evident that you intent to steal something. Theft can only be prosecuted if there is intent. Usually if they suspect someone shoplifting they wait and spring the trap when there are enough clues, for example someone briskly walking to the exit. One story: My wife got stopped in a departement store because she took an item in a sub-shop in the underground floor. It's not a mall. Then she went upstairs to look for more things to shop. The police was there after a short time. This means the shoplifting surveillance system has already sent out an alert to the police when my wife was on the stairs, because employees aren't allowed to hold people. But my wife didn't walk briskly to the exit but strolled around and when stopped she told them she wanted to pay for all things together. The police people even laughed and the employee directed my wife back downstairs to pay.