its ok Bundy, i have done the same thing. in my book, it's not
stealing its more like
liberating . it actually becomes somewhat of an art.
theres the sneaking technique like you did, theres the "oops a little one went up my shirt sleeve" and the most crafty of all, is.........
the death technique!! (this one is kinda sad though)
after you buy a crab ( ive only done this from petco becausse i don't like them) and you get the 14-day live guarentee, go back like a week later, find a dead crab in the store tank, and bring it up to an employee with a really sad look on your face and say "my poor little (name) died" then they take it back and you can get another one. this also helps the crabs by removing a live one (the one you're getting) to reduce the overcrowding, and a dead one, to improve its tankmates health.
and i would just like to say, that i don't condone stealing without just cause. i have only done this when i see that there is no water or food, or if there are lots of dead crabs that have obviously been dead for a long time. i don't do this for personal gain. i have no problem with paying for happy, healthy crabs. i just do it for the crab's sake. so please don't hate me
Today at the Royal Adelaide Show (a big fair) I got 4 new C. Variabilis! 
. I never steal but this tank was way over crouded and they wern't being looked after propely.
