Final answer:
When DVD players become obsolete, the marginal utility of stealing them decreases because their value and usefulness decline, aligning with the law of diminishing marginal utility. Hence, the correct answer is B. marginal utility of stealing them decreases.
Step-by-step explanation:
When DVD players start becoming obsolete, the marginal utility of stealing them decreases. This is because as a product becomes less desirable or less useful, it loses value, which means that the additional utility or satisfaction a thief gets from stealing an additional DVD player is less than what might have been obtained from earlier units.
This is in line with the law of diminishing marginal utility, which states that as we consume more of a good or service, the utility we get from additional units tends to become smaller than what we received from earlier units. Hence, the correct answer to the question is B. marginal utility of stealing them decreases.
Furthermore, the opportunity cost of stealing an obsolete item could become higher than the utility gained, making it an unattractive target for theft. This is because the opportunity cost measures the value of the forgone alternative that thieves might have targeted instead, which potentially could have provided higher utility.