Shoplifting food

[Bananavape]

What's your opinion on someone shoplifting food, sometimes the more expensive items within their weekly shopping (cheese, sauces etc), or sometimes when they're out and starving but no money to actually buy anything to eat (a sandwich or wrap etc), if they genuinely can't afford to feed themselves?

What will these lovely thieves do if confronted?

Well, because you'd be a meddling heartless husk if you said anything.

HTH.

@Nightlystroll
We're discussing food theft not my personal morals, personally I wouldn't approach staff and say that young woman stole a pack of nappies, not my place. As has been said you have no clue what people are living through, having worked with the homeless community it opens your mind to a life other than your own.

You didn't see owt if someone is taking pet food either.

I think everyone is different. Personally I think stealing is stealing and it's just wrong. I've been robbed a few times and I have no sympathy for thieves.

I saw this once on holiday in the States. On an independent shop.

Good for them, I say.

Theft is theft no matter which way you look at it

Normal paying punters end up paying for the thieving by getting charged extra by the shops for the goods to cover it

I have seen people where I live shoplift basics.

I turn my head. It’s a deprived area and people are struggling. I care more for them than the profits of Tesco.

For me, I just wouldn't be comfortable with theft that affects someone personally. It doesn't matter if they are rich or not. Stealing from a supermarket affects us all in increased prices etc but not on a personal level. So I suppose that's where my moral compass lies.

Love this!

I think you have to put yourself in that situation. If someone is so desperate that they are stealing food. You saw nothing. It could be you one day.

It's easy to care when it's other people's money. Why didn't you go over and give them some of yours?

I shoplifted food from asda a couple of times when my dd was small. It was her first year in school and the costs of her uniform, shoes were crippling me, as well as universal credit messing up my childcare costs over and over (worked full time).
I was on a pre pay electricity meter that was 20 a day for a few hours of heating. Didn't drink /smoke/have days out.

I didn't 'qualify' for any of my local food banks, as I had a job. I ended up stealing cheese and butter and went down to 6.5 stone because I didn't have enough to have 3 meals a day.

I have been very fortunate in that my circumstances have changed beyond all recognition in the last 10 years through a mixture of dumb luck and very hard work.
So no I don't judge.

Because I have fuck all too.

Not at the stage where I need to steal to feed my children, but I’m not flush enough to feed other people.

What should I do? Tell on them, have them arrested? Be outraged?

This. It’s not so simple as saying well there are food banks around so there should be no need to steal. Lots of people don’t know about or have the options of food banks. My closest official council food bank only takes referrals and people need to meet a certain criteria. There is an unofficial one set up by volunteers that no ask any questions. I try and donate when I can. I spoke to one of the organisers a few days ago and apologised as we’ve been struggling since Xmas, she said it’s been the same for a everyone and they aren’t getting as many donations as usual, meaning more people going without.

I know a girl at my DDs school (yr6) who has been seen stealing food from the local coop, given she wanders the streets till all hours and hasn’t parental supervision its not surprising. I’m also certain another boy in yr4 steals from Aldi, I’ve seen him in there on his own a few times and he definitely looks like he’s watching his surroundings to make sure no one’s watching him. Given he’s been left to his own devices for at least 2 years again, it’s not surprising. The school is aware of both children, they aren’t the only ones on the schools radar. The school is very good and dose what it can but there is only so much they actually can do.

I would never judge anyone for stealing food to survive.

As I said, it's easy when it's someone else's money being stolen.

I turn my head too, because I just don't get involved with things that have nothing to do with me. But I don't pretend it's because I think what they are doing is right or harmless.

Hungry people

And as I said, I care about someone who is desperate enough to steal food more than I care about the profits of Tesco.

And as an aside, I mentioned tesco as I have seen shoplifting there in the free from section.

I am coeliac and I only go there once a month when I can justify the extortionate price of a loaf of gluten free bread, or some gf biscuits as a treat as Aldi doesn’t do them.

I’ve seen a few people shoplift GF
products as they are so bloody expensive, three times the price of “normal”
food - it’s an absolute scandal as coeliacs don’t have a choice.

So actually, I really couldn’t give a shit about tesco’s money when they are profiting from a medical need.

I wouldn't report it, but it's still stealing. Stealing from a large business which makes millions is no different to stealing from a small corner shop. Where do you draw the line, we all have times when we can't afford something, we don't resort to helping ourselves.

whitleybeyone excuse me but I HAVE been on the bones of my arse with young kids so I DO know what it's like so live hand to mouth as a single parent living on bloody baked beans, so I could feed my kids whilst waitting on benefits and child support.
Before some idiot askes if I want a medal actually I've already got one from my first late husband who died in the Falklands. The kids are from 2nd marriage.

We didn't used to see mothers shop lifting baby milk and baby essentials when I worked in a shop. 😉 Turn the other way! Babys and children, their parents need to eat. You never know when they last had a meal.

Children/teens - I would turn a blind eye (I was that child).

Adults - no. In this country there is no reason for an adult to steal, especially things like cheese and sauces which are luxury products.

If I saw a genuine homeless person who looked like they were starving and stole some food from a big chain (not things like alcohol etc) then I probably would turn a blind eye but there are food banks and soup kitchens which feed them and so I shouldn’t really.

And no I've never stole anything.

Can we steal a few more things once we've got comfortable with the basics?

Can we add on a few 'treats' too?

A few things to stock up our cupboards for next time?

Can we steal top brands not basics?

Food banks can be difficult to access at times and you’re limited how often you can. Not only that, there’s been news stories recently about the package given to feed a family of four for a week was utterly and unforgivably inadequate.

Think: single loaf of bread, one can of beans, one can of chopped tomatoes, one box of cornflakes, one small bottle of squash, one can of lentils and not much more.

If I saw anyone shoplifting basics, I’d feel very, very sad for them.