“It’s another enemy in the battle against urban ugliness: stolen shopping carts. The carts are strewn along roadsides, under bridges and in neighborhoods. Takers range from the homeless to the poor to the elderly. But never mind who made off with the carts. Local leaders are just sick and tired of seeing them. In theory, stealing a shopping cart is punishable by up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine. But police rarely catch anyone in the act.”