AIBU to “steal” this?

I spend a lot of time in magistrates’ courts covering the cases of persistent shoplifters. They are undoubtedly funding a crack or heroin habit. Not only that, but these people frequently walk into shops, swipe as much as they want off the shelves and terrify the shop assistants. They’ll think nothing of using a knife if needs be, or threatening shop workers. I’ve seen several assistants giving victim personal statements in court saying that they’ve had to leave their jobs and have been left anxious and depressed after such incidents.

Many little shops round here have had to install full time
security guards for their entire opening hours, costing them 60k a year.

I wouldn’t be funding that shit however skint I was.

Of course you’re wrong for buying stolen goods. Why is this even a question?

Yes, you are and no I wouldn't. You can justify it in 9 different ways but your friend is correct. He steal items to sell them for drugs. You then buy stolen items and justify it to yourself. I wouldn't do it, I haven't done it, and if I was doing it I would have said no thank you when I had a friend there and not tried to make her a part of it.

It is wrong to steal from any business, and remember, she isn’t the one doing the stealing, the stealing is being done by someone with a drug habit, who is then using the money the OP and others give him to line the pockets of drug dealers, contributing to horrendous violence and corruption in countries where the drugs are grown, and also here in the UK where cannabis farms and pill factories are owned by criminals but run by trafficked young people ,and where children are exploited by county lines organisers who draw them into criminality, often leading to gang cultures and the horrendous stories we read about knife and gun crime. It’s a big jump from someone buying knocked off washing powder, but believe me, the links are all there.

And if you want to talk money I expect trafficking and drug dealing is a lot more profitable at the top than most politicians, or supermarket bosses could dream of.

I'd buy the formula if I was struggling to make ends meet. £10 a week for laundry though? A big box of supermarket brand powder lasts me months, you only need half of what it says. I use white vinegar for softener as we have hard water, 5L containers. I should work out what it costs me but it's pence per week.

I am shocked you can spend £10 a week on laundry products but are tight on money.
That seems an awful lot to even spend in store.
Personally, I would consider this stealing as you know that's exactly how it has been obtained. So you are partaking in it knowingly.

I wouldn't point this out to a friend but I wouldn't give them a hard time over it. Though I would firmly suggest if saving money is that important you can definitely by cheaper in lidl or aldi and this would be an honest purchase.

You are supporting the drugs trade which inflicts misery on hundreds of people and supports organised crime

Whilst I sympathise with your plight I cannot in all conscience condone your actions

See what benefits you are entitled to. Also visit your local food bank.

I think you are morally wrong, and no, I wouldn't do the same. No way ever in a million years, even if hell froze over, would I give my baby milk off a drug addict. God knows how that's been stored or what's in it. Your baby could potentially be very ill. Why take the risk?

If op was so skint she had to shoplift baby formula I wouldn't say a word, and I would sympathise.

She is funding someone's drug habit, and a world where people get hurt, murdered and trafficked to get a branded laundry items though.

I genuinely know someone who did six months for this, buying obviously stolen goods off some dodgy fucker. They, like you, thought that they were in the clear because they weren't doing the stealing. They, like you, are a dumbass.

How well you think you'll be able to do your £10 a week worth of laundry or feed your child if you get done for handling stolen goods?

Everyone taking it seriously though 🤣

I don't entirely disagree but this could turn out very badly indeed for the OP. (And her DC.)

I’m also wondering how you can spend £10 a week on laundry detergent.

I just use own brand and everything’s clean.

I was just about to say "Are you really this bored OP?"

Then I realised you lit the touch paper and ran anyway 🙄

It's incredibly unwise of you to do this. It's all been pretty much covered by others, but the most important bits are that you're risking precision yourself, and your feeding your baby formula from a potentially unsafe source.

Couldn't care less. That the CEO of Tesco got a $12.6 million bonus this year (what cost of living crisis eh) strikes me as bigger issue in the realm of theft and wrong doing. Carry on as far as I'm concerned.

What a pile of fucking horseshit.

Somebody who is spending £40 A MONTH on laundry detergent clearly isn't 'going hungry'.

I've been properly, bones of my arse, 'when will I next eat?' poor and trust me, at no stage was I buying shoplifted Lenor off a junkie.

You’re buying baby formula from an addict/dealer?

You need your head examined.

It’s wrong, it’s theft and you are funding his drug habit. You probably won’t get caught but if he does he might go to prison stealing the things for you. If it was my friend, I wouldn’t pass comment though, it’s not my place to scold a fully grown adult.

Different people posting?

There is a MYOB culture in MN where a sizeable group think you should MYOB about everything immoral. I don't know how they'd feel about directly buying this guy's drugs because that's what's indirectly happening here.

I don't agree with either scenario but people like the OP will tie themselves in knots trying to defend it.

i also sometimes get baby milk formula from him if I’m running low because it’s cheap

Jesus. I wouldn't feed my dogs food from someone like that let alone give a baby formula from him! You're crazy. You don't have a clue what's in it.

A couple of years ago a bloke who lives opposite us was convicted of theft and sent down for a few years. His wife/partner was convicted of receiving or handling stolen goods, also received a jail sentence and I think has just come out now. It may not have been a first offence.
You are risking jail time, OP.
I get that times are very tough but it could get a lot tougher for you and your family if you go to prison.

£10 a week on laundry? Wtf.

You are morally wrong for doing this. I'd probably do it too, wouldn't steal from a shop myself though.

I don’t know why people are making out like the OP is skint. Someone who is skint isn’t spending £10 on laundry products a week!