Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Mum shoplifting in Tesco

157 replies

1000yellowdaisies · 25/11/2022 20:33

Not so much an Aibu but its bothering me.
I was in tesco before, just arrived and was faffing about near the entrance getting a scan as you shop scanner thing.
A lady was leaving the shop and the alarms went off. Security took her to one side and found she was leaving with stuff she hadn't paid for. The security guard and 3 staff from the customer service kiosk went through her push chair and when they found more unpaid for stuff they took her through to the back.
Her child was roughly same age as my youngest.

I feel sorry for her. Yes I know she could be a thieving chancer with enough money but she wasn't nicking luxuries like bottles of booze, it was nappies and calpol from what i saw. What will likely happen to her? She looked so embarrassed.

OP posts:
TrainspottingWelsh · 25/11/2022 20:46

If she’s stealing nappies and calpol, hopefully they’ll give her a few other basics. Supermarkets are all for encouraging their customers to buy their stock to donate to those in need, I see no reason they can’t do so directly. Unfortunately I doubt that’s likely.

hay5689 · 25/11/2022 20:42

Nothing will happen to her if it's under a certain amount because it's a civil recovery and not worth the hassle.

We are seeing this in retail more often and sometimes it's genuine people who can't afford things but others are professionals who steal to order and they use kids in prams as a ruse thinking it makes them look less suspicious. The professionals know they'll shift items like nappies, baby milk etc and they know they've got a chance of getting away with it if they are good enough actresses and can shed a tear on cue.

MiniCooperLover · 25/11/2022 20:40

People have stolen those kind of things for years, it's why security keep an extra eye on buggies. It's a shame but it's been happening a long time.

Greenshake · 25/11/2022 20:39

Impossible to say without knowing the full circs. There are a lot of professional shoplifters around, and ultimately we all pay the price.

MrNook · 25/11/2022 20:36

They might not have called the police, they could've just banned her from the shop.

Very embarrassing for her and sad that she had to do that ☹️

PlaitBilledDuckyPuss · 25/11/2022 20:36

A sign of the times Sad

Fundays12 · 25/11/2022 20:35

The police will likely called and involve social services who hopefully will put some support in place or ensure she has adequate supplies of these things. It’s highly unlikely a judge or the police will come dow hard on a mum trying meet her babies needs of financially she is unable to. Poor lady my heart goes out to her.

Swipe left for the next trending thread