Do people have no shame any more?

tachetastic · 2026-04-06T14:38:52+00:00

I don't know if the worst part of this story is the fact that its theft or the fact people don't care. I was in Tesco this morning buying eggs (the normal type, not chocolate) and a couple were standing by the egg display swapping the eggs from two half-dozen boxes of the fancy premium brand eggs into a box for 12 Tesco own-brand eggs. They weren't even being subtle about it. He was just standing there holding the boxes while she swapped the eggs over. He then double checked that the designer eggs she had put in the Tesco box were all unbroken, and then they put the expensive box containing the cheap eggs back on the shelf and put the cheap box with the expensive eggs in their trolley, and off they went. During all of this I and three other customers were just standing openly watching them and casting glances at each other. The difference in price was probably about 50p per box, so about a quid in total. But is that the point? Are the eggs so much better that it's worth a heist, or are people just so pissed off with the CoL crisis that anything they can do to feel that they are getting something for nothing is worth while? The couple so clearly didn't care that I couldn't see the point in telling them it was theft, but when they left I moved the two boxes containing the cheap eggs to one side and left them open, so nobody would pick them up not realising they weren't the fancy eggs. AIBU, this is fine and large supermarkets have it coming? or AINBU, this is still theft and cheeky fuckery of the highest order? And more interestingly, what cheeky fuckers have you seen lately who could beat this?

OonaStubbs · 18/04/2026 21:37

It wouldn't cost so much if we got rid of all the "human rights" crap. Just concrete structures with the prisoners manacled to the wall, like in medieval times. Just chuck in a few out of date sandwiches as food every once in a while. Make people actually scared of prisons for once, instead of looking forward to a reunion with their mates and free food and playstation, with a potential shag from a sexy lady prison officer.

grumpygrape · 18/04/2026 21:29

tachetastic · 18/04/2026 21:01

I think the ones that claim to steal out of necessity are the hardest to judge because that comes down to an individual's subjective view. There is the extreme (and hopefully largely hypothetical) example you often hear quoted as a possible justification where a mother is stealing baby formula to feed her starving child, but in most cases there is a subjective element as to whether something is a necessity as opposed to something they just really want.

The group you don't include in your message is the people who feel a sense of entitlement, and they actually irritate me the most (along with the organised criminals who are carrying weapons or use intimidation as a threat). People who want something and probably can afford to pay for it, but resent paying because they feel that's for mugs, or they are prepared to pay so much but not as much as other people. These are the people that switch labels around or scan three items but not the fourth and justify it on the basis that the price is too high without thinking that part of the reason the price is so high is precisely because people are doing what they are.

I actually had an full on argument with a friend about this today, because when we went to a supermarket for lunch he put both a pastry and a cookie in a paper bag at the bakery counter, but then when we paid he only put the pastry through at the till, basically getting the cookie for free. I had also put a pastry and cookie in my bag but did pay for both. When I picked him up on it he just laughed, and I wasn't going to report my friend to security. He earns six figures and always gives to charity, buys the Big Issue, rounds up at the till, etc. He was actually honest and said that he didn't intend to take the cookie until he had put the pastry through at the till and realised that nobody would know (apart from me obviously) if he didn't put the cookie through, so he didn't bother. I gave him hell clearly and we compromised that he promised to pay for an extra cookie next time, but who knows if he will. The cookie only cost about a quid but it annoyed me so much that he didn't see the problem with not paying it.

Though @OonaStubbs suggestion of a mandatory prison sentence would probably make sure he paid for his flipping cookie next time! 😂

Show quote history

With the increase of Food Banks, I haven’t seen so many of the necessity group and I agree there is a subjective boundary regarding need and want. I also think there more likely have been ‘blind eyes’ and stern tellings off in the past.

I haven’t come across any of the entitlement group. I suggest the egg changers may come into that group and your double dipping friend too. On the edge of that group might be the weight changers, buying expensive fruit or veg and choosing to weigh them as cheaper items.

I hope OonaStubbs is going to fund the building of more prisons 😉

Original poster

tachetastic · 18/04/2026 21:16

OonaStubbs · 18/04/2026 21:04

Surely the machine would've realised that the pastry was much heavier than it should be?

I would have expected so, but it didn't. Perhaps there is a lot of variation in the weight of all the different baked goods so it didn't pick this up.

OP posts:

ThatFairy · 18/04/2026 21:10

It isn't something I would care about seeing happening but I would think it was wrong only because someone else will pick up the cheap eggs without knowing. I hate cheap eggs because they can have blood and those big white string things in them

OonaStubbs · 18/04/2026 21:04

Surely the machine would've realised that the pastry was much heavier than it should be?

Original poster

tachetastic · 18/04/2026 21:01

grumpygrape · 18/04/2026 19:27

I do think we need to stop categorising all people who steal from shops as the same.

There are a some who steal from necessity, for their own use – basic benefits level income, poor budgeting, etc. Mostly small value essential items. Baby milk/food, nappies, etc. Bread, tins of beans, etc.

There are those who steal to sell to feed a drug or other habit, not for their own use – often mid value items – boxed or mid-priced toiletries, alcohol, joints of meat. Sold on an ad hoc ‘down the pub’ basis.

Some who have addictions and/or debts are recruited by middle-men and steal to order – similar items to above but handed over to the bosses for minimal payment.

Then there are the professional gangs who sweep tech and similar off shelves and sell at huge profit. Often armed with knives or other weapons but usually just bagging the swag and blasting out of the shop regardless.

I think, when caught, they should be treated differently – depending on the motivation and style of theft. Difficult but not impossible.

I think the ones that claim to steal out of necessity are the hardest to judge because that comes down to an individual's subjective view. There is the extreme (and hopefully largely hypothetical) example you often hear quoted as a possible justification where a mother is stealing baby formula to feed her starving child, but in most cases there is a subjective element as to whether something is a necessity as opposed to something they just really want.

The group you don't include in your message is the people who feel a sense of entitlement, and they actually irritate me the most (along with the organised criminals who are carrying weapons or use intimidation as a threat). People who want something and probably can afford to pay for it, but resent paying because they feel that's for mugs, or they are prepared to pay so much but not as much as other people. These are the people that switch labels around or scan three items but not the fourth and justify it on the basis that the price is too high without thinking that part of the reason the price is so high is precisely because people are doing what they are.

I actually had an full on argument with a friend about this today, because when we went to a supermarket for lunch he put both a pastry and a cookie in a paper bag at the bakery counter, but then when we paid he only put the pastry through at the till, basically getting the cookie for free. I had also put a pastry and cookie in my bag but did pay for both. When I picked him up on it he just laughed, and I wasn't going to report my friend to security. He earns six figures and always gives to charity, buys the Big Issue, rounds up at the till, etc. He was actually honest and said that he didn't intend to take the cookie until he had put the pastry through at the till and realised that nobody would know (apart from me obviously) if he didn't put the cookie through, so he didn't bother. I gave him hell clearly and we compromised that he promised to pay for an extra cookie next time, but who knows if he will. The cookie only cost about a quid but it annoyed me so much that he didn't see the problem with not paying it.

Though @OonaStubbs suggestion of a mandatory prison sentence would probably make sure he paid for his flipping cookie next time! 😂

OP posts:

OonaStubbs · 18/04/2026 19:48

Just lock them all up.

grumpygrape · 18/04/2026 19:27

I do think we need to stop categorising all people who steal from shops as the same.

There are a some who steal from necessity, for their own use – basic benefits level income, poor budgeting, etc. Mostly small value essential items. Baby milk/food, nappies, etc. Bread, tins of beans, etc.

There are those who steal to sell to feed a drug or other habit, not for their own use – often mid value items – boxed or mid-priced toiletries, alcohol, joints of meat. Sold on an ad hoc ‘down the pub’ basis.

Some who have addictions and/or debts are recruited by middle-men and steal to order – similar items to above but handed over to the bosses for minimal payment.

Then there are the professional gangs who sweep tech and similar off shelves and sell at huge profit. Often armed with knives or other weapons but usually just bagging the swag and blasting out of the shop regardless.

I think, when caught, they should be treated differently – depending on the motivation and style of theft. Difficult but not impossible.

AntiqueBabyLoanSmurf · 18/04/2026 12:26

tachetastic · 18/04/2026 12:19

@AntiqueBabyLoanSmurf it's obvious what overall effect that will have on those who do bother to pay for their goods.

But I’m not sure it is obvious to a lot of people. The news is constantly saying the price of oil is pushing prices up, war in Ukraine is putting prices up, Trump is pushing prices up, China is pushing prices up, global warming is pushing prices up.

I don’t remember the last time I saw a news story telling me that shoplifting was pushing prices up and that works both ways. It makes consumers miss the connection between what their friends and neighbours are up to and the price the pay at the till, while shoplifters continue to think that what they are doing is a “victimless crime” that only affects faceless supermarkets and not anyone they know.

Edited

No, you're right - and I probably phrased that badly.

I should have clarified: it's obvious if you stop and think about it properly; but as you say, most people won't ever stop to think about it.

CopsandRobbers · 18/04/2026 12:22

I got a box of 12 free-range expensive eggs on my home delivery around the time you posted this.

They had been swapped for cheap, bleached white eggs and now I know why! I'm still frothing over it.

Original poster

tachetastic · 18/04/2026 12:19

@AntiqueBabyLoanSmurf it's obvious what overall effect that will have on those who do bother to pay for their goods.

But I’m not sure it is obvious to a lot of people. The news is constantly saying the price of oil is pushing prices up, war in Ukraine is putting prices up, Trump is pushing prices up, China is pushing prices up, global warming is pushing prices up.

I don’t remember the last time I saw a news story telling me that shoplifting was pushing prices up and that works both ways. It makes consumers miss the connection between what their friends and neighbours are up to and the price the pay at the till, while shoplifters continue to think that what they are doing is a “victimless crime” that only affects faceless supermarkets and not anyone they know.

OP posts:

AntiqueBabyLoanSmurf · 18/04/2026 11:54

ToffeeCrabApple · 18/04/2026 05:26

It will get where all the shelves have shutters & you have to scan your card to open

Or tbh they will just push people to delivery/collection only.

At the moment people don't think through that part of the high prices is the supermarkets pass on the cost of losses through theft to customers.

Yes, people aren't angry enough (or maybe they are but just feel powerless) about the costs that theft add for everybody else. If it were, say, one person in 10,000 who were thieving, it could be absorbed relatively easily; but the sheer number of them nowadays, coordinated and emptying multiple whole shelves of goods into their bags - several times every single day - it's obvious what overall effect that will have on those who do bother to pay for their goods.

Aside from that, though, putting everything in plastic cages is an additional loss on several levels. Firstly, there's the cost of buying the cages. Secondly, there's all the extra time it takes the staff to load them and unlock them again on purchase. How much time does it take to put 100 chocolate bars straight out on to the shelf versus having to put hem in 100 cages first?

Thirdly, it massively reduces the amount of stock that can be put out on one shelf for sale. Fourthly, it looks so unappealing and the hassle will tip the balance for many between "Oh, go on, then, I'll grab one for the trolley" and "Nah, I can't be bothered with the faff - I'll leave it". Also, the very act of taking an item in a plastic cage to the till for them to unlock it before you can buy it will make honest people feel like they're under suspicion and somehow potentially 'naughty' - so another deterrent from buying it.

Original poster

tachetastic · 18/04/2026 07:42

OonaStubbs · 18/04/2026 04:24

Shoplifting of any kind should result in a hefty prison sentence. There really needs to be a major crackdown on this.

I’m not sure we can afford the prisons.

Eight weeks of genuinely hard unpaid labour would get my vote, ideally productive but even unproductive work digging holes. Bring back chain gangs for shoplifting and antisocial behaviour. And for poor grammar. 🤣

OP posts:

ToffeeCrabApple · 18/04/2026 05:26

It will get where all the shelves have shutters & you have to scan your card to open

Or tbh they will just push people to delivery/collection only.

At the moment people don't think through that part of the high prices is the supermarkets pass on the cost of losses through theft to customers.

OonaStubbs · 18/04/2026 04:24

Shoplifting of any kind should result in a hefty prison sentence. There really needs to be a major crackdown on this.

ForWittyTealOP · 17/04/2026 22:40

Labour’s manifesto promised to “scrap” what it said was an “effective immunity for some shoplifting introduced by the Conservatives”, although it did not specify what that entailed.
However, ministers have since said this refers to a section in the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, introduced under the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition, which defined “low-value shoplifting” as a summary offence, where the total value of stolen goods is less than £200. It specified that a person can be sentenced to a maximum of 51 weeks in prison, fined, or both, for such an offence. However, the maximum sentence is, in effect, six months, as this is the maximum sentence allowed for a summary offence in magistrates’ courts.
From Full Fact.

So not only did Mr Starmer not say anything about decriminalising shoplifting if the value of the goods was under £200, that level of theft was made a summary offence (magistrates) rather than an indictable offence (Crown court) under the coalition government 12 years ago.

I'm not a fan of Starmer but I am a fan of the truth.

https://labour.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Labour-Party-manifesto-2024.pdf#page=65

Borborygmus · 17/04/2026 22:20

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/04/17/sainsburys-threatens-shoplifters-with-police-action-over-eg/

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/04/17/sainsburys-threatens-shoplifters-with-police-action-over-eg

HeyThereDelila · 11/04/2026 21:47

Why didn’t you confront them and tell security?

4kids2cats · 11/04/2026 21:44

SquallyShowersLater · 07/04/2026 19:14

On a recent shopping trip I saw an elderly gentleman browsing the alcohol aisle and later he walked past me at the checkout clearly carrying a clinking carrier bag.

Are you sure he didn't pay though? I regularly load up my own bag with stuff when I am doing a light shop and don't need a trolley, because I find it easier and more comfortable to carry than the wire baskets. But I simply empty it out at the till and pay for everything then load it all in again. If the staff want to stalk me around the shop, worried I might be stealing, or watch me on cameras they are very welcome to. I don't steal and they can't assume I do until I actually leave without paying, which I don't.

Yes absolutely sure - he walked straight out of an unmanned checkout!

AntiqueBabyLoanSmurf · 11/04/2026 19:43

Wot23 · 11/04/2026 10:41

so you think shops should take no action whatsoever to impair the ability to steal?

Show quote history

Not at all. All I'm saying is that this adds another step for many honest shoppers, and thus all of them need the assistant to come to them. Any security that puts ordinary paying customers to inconvenience, whilst having no effect at all on those who are determined to steal from you, is probably not a great idea for good customer relations, is it?

Meanwhile, the actual thieves have several very easy, obvious ways to hide/pocket items so that the camera won't pick them up and they needn't be held up at all; and of course, the ones who don't trouble themselves to go to a till at all are just grand as they are.

As security goes, it's about as effective as the message on iPlayer that asks if you have a TV licence before letting you straight through to watch. I always click 'yes', because I do indeed have a TV licence; but if people don't have one for whatever reason, how many of them do you reckon click 'no' so that they can be turned away from watching?

If they're so paranoid about people stealing when using the self-service tills, they should probably just get rid of them and go back to staffed checkouts only, with a gate to stop you from walking out freely without being checked... and then we end up with people on NMW will ending up seriously at risk from armed and violent thieves who are determined to take goods without paying for them.

Wot23 · 11/04/2026 10:41

AntiqueBabyLoanSmurf · 11/04/2026 02:17

I presume it's a nationwide thing and not just in our local Morrison's whereby they've recently beefed up their tech on the self-service tills so that you have to wait for the assistant to come along and confirm that you haven't stolen your own baby?

It's an amazing idea that some genius must have had: that it films a very small, specific area around the till and calls you out as a potential thief if you click to pay for your shopping whilst it can still detect something left in your trolley or basket in the appropriate area. This applies whether it's a free paper that you picked up on the way in, another of your own shopping bags, a handbag or indeed - as one of the wearied assistants today told me with a sigh - your baby sitting in there. It's also useless if you need to pay for things in two transactions and are not, indeed, intending in any way to steal the stuff for the second one whilst paying for the first.

It's absolutely foolproof and the inventor and whoever signed it off for use should be so extremely proud of themselves. Now, you couldn't possibly get away with stealing anything whatsoever... unless you move the items that you intend to pilfer to a slightly different position out of the trolley (such as under the opaque shelf or straight into your own pocket) OR - and I'm confident that no thieves will ever have thought of this one - just brazenly walk out with it, unchallenged, and don't trouble yourself to go anywhere near a checkout in the first place if paying for stuff really isn't your vibe.

so you think shops should take no action whatsoever to impair the ability to steal?

Original poster

tachetastic · 11/04/2026 10:37

AntiqueBabyLoanSmurf · 11/04/2026 02:17

I presume it's a nationwide thing and not just in our local Morrison's whereby they've recently beefed up their tech on the self-service tills so that you have to wait for the assistant to come along and confirm that you haven't stolen your own baby?

It's an amazing idea that some genius must have had: that it films a very small, specific area around the till and calls you out as a potential thief if you click to pay for your shopping whilst it can still detect something left in your trolley or basket in the appropriate area. This applies whether it's a free paper that you picked up on the way in, another of your own shopping bags, a handbag or indeed - as one of the wearied assistants today told me with a sigh - your baby sitting in there. It's also useless if you need to pay for things in two transactions and are not, indeed, intending in any way to steal the stuff for the second one whilst paying for the first.

It's absolutely foolproof and the inventor and whoever signed it off for use should be so extremely proud of themselves. Now, you couldn't possibly get away with stealing anything whatsoever... unless you move the items that you intend to pilfer to a slightly different position out of the trolley (such as under the opaque shelf or straight into your own pocket) OR - and I'm confident that no thieves will ever have thought of this one - just brazenly walk out with it, unchallenged, and don't trouble yourself to go anywhere near a checkout in the first place if paying for stuff really isn't your vibe.

Oh is that what it does? Our local Morrisons has new automated gates that supposedly only open if you paid but as there are about 20 self service tills I have no idea how it knows.

In fairness I did recently pay for my items in two tranches (making sure the three for two offers included the three expensive items and not two expensive items and one cheap on) and it still let me out. Never tried taking a baby without paying though. 🤣

OP posts:

AntiqueBabyLoanSmurf · 11/04/2026 02:17

I presume it's a nationwide thing and not just in our local Morrison's whereby they've recently beefed up their tech on the self-service tills so that you have to wait for the assistant to come along and confirm that you haven't stolen your own baby?

It's an amazing idea that some genius must have had: that it films a very small, specific area around the till and calls you out as a potential thief if you click to pay for your shopping whilst it can still detect something left in your trolley or basket in the appropriate area. This applies whether it's a free paper that you picked up on the way in, another of your own shopping bags, a handbag or indeed - as one of the wearied assistants today told me with a sigh - your baby sitting in there. It's also useless if you need to pay for things in two transactions and are not, indeed, intending in any way to steal the stuff for the second one whilst paying for the first.

It's absolutely foolproof and the inventor and whoever signed it off for use should be so extremely proud of themselves. Now, you couldn't possibly get away with stealing anything whatsoever... unless you move the items that you intend to pilfer to a slightly different position out of the trolley (such as under the opaque shelf or straight into your own pocket) OR - and I'm confident that no thieves will ever have thought of this one - just brazenly walk out with it, unchallenged, and don't trouble yourself to go anywhere near a checkout in the first place if paying for stuff really isn't your vibe.

OonaStubbs · 10/04/2026 22:58

Forget about giving shop security guards truncheons, they need to have tazers. And in some areas, guns. And they need to be free to use them on felons.

rosycheex · 10/04/2026 14:37

We should boycott Tesco and other supermarkets where it’s allowed to happen. I said previously that Aldi where I am has one narrow till route out and a single door which you have to cross an open space to exit. So probably has little shoplifting -also their stuff is not premium so not such a target.
WE are paying for the shoplifting in our prices but Tesco finds it cheaper to charge us more than to pay for staff /security staff. They also have cctv in the car park which they could track the culprits cars but I e only heard of this happening once where I live (if it was true). The honest working public get stuffed at every opportunity . £200 of stolen goods -yeah! But if the go to every supermarket in town that’s £Ks
Only good thing is Starmer pissing off more people before the elections