Property During Crisis

"No matter how bad it gets, we don't steal."
--Jim Braddock (Cinderella Man)

Recently watched a movie called World War Z. I wouldn't recommend it. However, the chaotic tone did raise a few interesting questions for the survivalist in me.

One came early in the film when the East Coast is being overrun by the zombie plague. The family of Gerry Lane (played by Brad Pitt) was caught in the middle of it and trying to escape. However, Lane's daughter had asthma and was in need of medicine. The family pulled into the parking lot of a Kroger's like grocery store.

The store was being looted. People scurried out of the store with filled shopping baskets. Not batting an eye, Lane told his wife to grab a cart and fill up while he headed to the pharmacy in search of medicine for his daughter. There, he joined several others who were looting the drug drawers.

Watching the scene, I wondered whether I would similar. Would I be willing to take someone else's stuff during times of crisis? When does respect for other's property dissolve into grabbing what you can from whomever?

Seems to me that property rights are particularly important during times of crisis, lest we digress toward the animals wreaking havoc in the movie.