Anyone else fess up to this "crime"?

[cheekymonk]

I was in Tescos yesterday when a security guard stopped the woman behind me at the till and picked up a toy that said mum had disgarded asking her if she was going to pay for it. The mum went blood red and said no because it was broken. The security woman then said yes because you broke it, now you must pay for that and the pastry your child has been eating throughout the store!!!! We have been watching you on video!!!
I was [shocked] at the aggressive tactics but acknowledge mum was in the wrong. I just felt sorry for her. I could see she was skint as most stuff was tesco value.
Its just I've done stuff like that, not necessarily broken the toy but def given ds toys I knew I wasn't going to buy to keep him amused! Anyone else? Just curious really

[charliecat]

Dont give kids toys in shops that I dont intend to buy, no. Must cause more hassle than its worth when they want to keep them. Do eat going round and pay for it at the till, either buy handing the empty sandwich thingy in and asking for it to be put in the bin or by them scanning the 4 pack that oly has 3 left in it, pasties etc.

[Tutter]

probably not what you wanted to hear, but no

apart from toys provided for that purpose - eg ride-on toys at john lewis and mothercare

[pinkspottywellies]

I would be totally paranoid that that would happen to me so no, I've never done it.

I would give her something to eat but out of a packet that I could put the empty wrapper through the till and I give her something out of the trolley to play with (like a bag of seeds the other day to shake - although I realise this probably wouldn't work when she's older!)

[Tutter]

(olnly a matter of time before someone mentions grapes and this kicks off)

[Charlee]

I have given DS's something to drink - a carton of juice but i went to the service desk first and asked if i could pay for the empty carton with the rest of my shopping! DS had been sick in the car and wanted a drink to clean his mouth a bit!

I always take toys and food/drinks with me shopping in my handbag for kiddie emergencys!

[saltire]

I've never given them a toy to play with because as charliecat says it would just be hassle trying to get it off them, and also if it did get broken then I would need to pay for it, as it wouldn't be very nice if someone came in to buy it and it was broken.
As for the eating food - yes done that as well, but have always given the wrapper to be scanned.

My DB though was in a supermakret with my mum,DH and myself, he's diabetic and he felt his blood sugars going low. he took a bottle of lucozade from the shelf, and drank it to get his sugar levels back up - he was at the shaking stage. Anyway, a security guard came up and starte dhaving a go at him, saying he was stealing etc. DH pointed out that unless my brother actually left the shop, then he couldn't be accused of stealing, as the goods hadn't yet left the shop.

[ELR]

yes to the food thing and pay at the end, sometimes to toys but always stuff i think i may buy anyway sort as like a try before i buy!!

[Trinityrhino]

I give them stuff to eat and then pay for the wrapper or carton or opened packaget

[Tutter]

ooh exactly the same happened to my db saltire - also diabetic, also in tesco, also with lucozade

(are you my sister?)

[KaySamuels]

I will often buy a mutlipack of something and let ds have one out of it, then get lady to scan pack and don't see the harm in it. Most checkout ladies tell me they do the same with their dcs. Wouldn't give him a toy with no intention of buying it - would be more hassle than it's worth. DS is into cars so he knows if he is good he gets a little car of his choice (can get them from supermarkets and woolies for less than £1).

[OrmIrian]

Yes to food, no to toys - well he'll 'look' at them in the toy aisle for a minute or so but not pick them up and take them with him unless I'm going to buy it.

Sorry for the poor woman though. So embarrassing. No need for him to be so rude.

[LowFat]

I do let DC's nibble the french stick or have a cookie etc, but always pay. And I do let her have a toy to play with but only if I intend to buy it, the only time I would not buy it is if her behaviour had been bad and she had been warned it would be taken away. However if broken I would defo pay, as I would have to leave the toy at the checkout and why would I take a broken toy to the chekcout!

[WaynettaVonSlob]

Yes to food, no to toys....not worth the hassle.

Is eating bananas as bad as eating grapes??? I will pick a bunch of bananas, give a couple to the kids, but I will get the person at the checkout to re-weigh two similar size bananas.

[cheekymonk]

Interesting... apparently there are even signs up now saying not to open packets etc unless paid for.
As for the toys thing, feeling guilty now. You all have a point!

[Cammelia]

I didn't give my dc's toys tp play with, but if I was the woman in the op I would have said I was going to buy that toy but as its obviously so badly made I won't be buying it.

[TinyGang]

No to toys and no to food.

I have taken in toys and friut and drinks of my own.

[kittylouise]

No, had it drummed into me as a child that you had to pay for things before you eat/use them. DP thinks it's silly and happily eats something and has the wrapper scanned (probably just to see the scandalised look on my face).

[gringottsgoblin]

if i were her i would have paid then asked for a refund as its obviously not fit for purpose (being played with!). then written a long letter to head office complaining about security guard.

[mumblechum]

My ds was always too much of a goody two shoes to eat or drink anything even though the wrapper would be scanned.

He just didn't accept it when I quoted Section One of the Theft Act to him

[harleyd]

i wouldnt do it with toys, i tend to avoid the toy aisle anyway. i have done it with food or a drink though

[elesbells]

i do it with toys if i forgotton dd's and food

she screams in the trolley so it keeps her quiet. i always end up buying it though if i do it.

[Cammelia]

pmsl mumblechum

[vacua]

No, Tesco is not nice.