So, this happened today...,
I went for a quick shop in M&S after work, to get a few items, including a bunch of bananas.
I was in a hurry, so went to the self-service checkouts, as there was a queue at the tills.
I scanned everything through, until I got to the bananas, at which point I realised that I needed to weigh them and I was at the type of machine that didn't have scales. The scales were at the end of the row, so I left my stuff and went to do it there. However, there was a staff member at the scales, pulling out the ticket / sticker reel (there were loops of it everywhere... it looked like she was having a problem!).
I asked where I should weigh my bananas, and she replied that I couldn't do it there, as she was going to be a while. I was looking around, thinking that I'd either have to start again and queue, or leave the bananas behind, and I asked her if there was somewhere else I could weigh them. At this point she said: "Just take them". I said "What?". She said, "Just take them". I said, "What, put them in my bag without paying... surely I can't do that", and she said "Don't worry, just take them". So I did.
Driving home, I had this internal dialogue going on... "that was weird.. do M&S employees have discretion to waive payment in certain circumstances..? etc etc", and inevitably came to the conclusion that of course they don't. She was probably just hassled and wanted my out of her hair, so took an easy option.
So, was I given free bananas, or did I steal them??
YABU - of course you stole the bananas, you didn't pay for them
YANBU - you were given permission to take them, by an employee, it is not stealing.