Curious Why Shopping Carts Aren't Put Back

WBZ

You see them in just about every parking lot. Wayward shopping carts.

Kathy in Groton wants to know: "Why are people too lazy to put their shopping carts in the cart corrals?"

And Liz in Norfolk says "Instead they leave them to roam free in the parking lot to dent up cars."

I went out on a shopping cart stakeout of sorts, just watching how people behave.

About 3 out of every 10 shoppers ditched their carts during a few hours of observation at the Watertown Mall.

"The people who come out need to put these back," says Bill Pilon who is clearly ticked at carts being left all over the lot. "It could cause an accident. It could get hit and roll and hit a child. Put them away. Don't be so lazy," he says.

Some people even left their carts in handicapped parking spots, blocking access.

Simple laziness?

Psychiatrist Dr. Robert Pyles says it's more than that. His theory is that we don't care if our cart hits someone's car because we've lost our sense of community.

"A social contract exists when we feel a sense of identification with that other person and you think... I wouldn't want that done to my car," he says.

I should come down from my high horse, or high cart in this case, to admit I've done it, too. I've left behind my cart. I'm embarrassed, but I've done it.

Not the words Bill Pilon wants to hear. "You shouldn't have, that's all I can tell you," says Pilon.

And you know, Bill is right.

© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.