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Original poster

Shoplifting food

221 replies

Bananavape · 06/03/2023 15:18

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?

OP posts:
NowDoYouBelieveMe · 06/03/2023 19:37

CaptainAlatriste · 06/03/2023 18:47

I know a young man with a drug habit which is killing him, who shoplifts to feed his habit. He doesn't use any of the things he steals,mostly top end joints of meat etc, because he's a vegan.
I wish to god someone would report him, just to get him off the clock for long enough for him to get on top of his habit.

He won't, and someone will find him dead in their lockup one of these cold nights but there we are.

How would reporting this guy "get him off the clock"? What does that mean?

He'd just end up with a criminal record and even less hope for the future. And prisons are rife with heroin so him going away wouldn't help him get clean.

As a pp said, if he couldn't shoplift he'd just have to find the money somewhere else, which could mean doing something that actually hurts people like burglary or mugging.

SunshineGeorgie · 06/03/2023 19:38

Well I guess they would need to use threats or cause alarm and distress in order to get that pint of milk off the person

sukiwh · 06/03/2023 19:39

24601!!

NowDoYouBelieveMe · 06/03/2023 19:44

Nightlystroll · 06/03/2023 19:34

But I don't think it's right to steal from a small shop or an individual.

But if a desperate person has starving children, and they see a very wealthy individual, with many shopping bags bursting with all sorts of luxuries and several pints of milk, would stealing one pint of milk be that unacceptable?

I was making a general distinction, but if we want to go into extreme and unlikely examples then I would say if you have starving children then you can have all my milk, and more. And I'm not very wealthy.

Nightlystroll · 06/03/2023 19:45

SunshineGeorgie · 06/03/2023 19:38

Well I guess they would need to use threats or cause alarm and distress in order to get that pint of milk off the person

Not necessarily. Say, they put their shopping trolley at the boot of the car and went to the drivers door, opened it and leaned inside for something. The milk's sticking out of the bag. Easy to just pick up and keep on walking. And those people do have a lot of money. They own a new Rolls Royce SUV.

Nightlystroll · 06/03/2023 19:47

NowDoYouBelieveMe · 06/03/2023 19:44

I was making a general distinction, but if we want to go into extreme and unlikely examples then I would say if you have starving children then you can have all my milk, and more. And I'm not very wealthy.

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But you're donating the milk, I'm asking if it's OK to steal the milk?

NowDoYouBelieveMe · 06/03/2023 19:48

Nightlystroll · 06/03/2023 19:45

Not necessarily. Say, they put their shopping trolley at the boot of the car and went to the drivers door, opened it and leaned inside for something. The milk's sticking out of the bag. Easy to just pick up and keep on walking. And those people do have a lot of money. They own a new Rolls Royce SUV.

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What's your obsession with rich people's milk? Did you get caught doing this before or something?

Flavabobble · 06/03/2023 19:49

And yes not steaks or alcohol, I mean cheese, butter etc
They're not taking those 4 packs of butter home to eat, they're getting sold on. And not to buy more food. See also coffee, meat, corned beef.

user1494050295 · 06/03/2023 19:52

Read the first chapter of Kes. Stealing a bar of chocolate to feed himself. My friends sister weighs the cheaper tomatoes at Waitrose so she doesn’t pay the higher price. I told my friend this is theft and wrong.

NowDoYouBelieveMe · 06/03/2023 19:52

Nightlystroll · 06/03/2023 19:45

Not necessarily. Say, they put their shopping trolley at the boot of the car and went to the drivers door, opened it and leaned inside for something. The milk's sticking out of the bag. Easy to just pick up and keep on walking. And those people do have a lot of money. They own a new Rolls Royce SUV.

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No, you should steal it from the supermarket directly rather than pilfering from someone in the supermarket car park who might thump you or press charges. You could end going to hospital or prison and losing your kids.

SunshineGeorgie · 06/03/2023 19:54

The rich person with the milk and rolls Royce may be disabled.....or bereaved.....suicidal......still ok to thieve?

Nightlystroll · 06/03/2023 19:58

What's your obsession with rich people's milk? Did you get caught doing this before or something?

If I had been, would it have been you that reported me? Or would you have stayed quiet?

Nightlystroll · 06/03/2023 20:00

NowDoYouBelieveMe · 06/03/2023 19:52

No, you should steal it from the supermarket directly rather than pilfering from someone in the supermarket car park who might thump you or press charges. You could end going to hospital or prison and losing your kids.

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So I shouldn't steal from an individual because I might get thumped? Not because it's wrong?

NowDoYouBelieveMe · 06/03/2023 20:04

Nightlystroll · 06/03/2023 19:58

What's your obsession with rich people's milk? Did you get caught doing this before or something?

If I had been, would it have been you that reported me? Or would you have stayed quiet?

Ooh I'm intrigued now, the marvellous mystery of the Mumsnet milk mugger!

I'm a bit lost as to details of your specific case though.

You robbed a rich person of a pint of milk to feed multiple starving children?

I think you're doing shoplifting wrong.

SunshineGeorgie · 06/03/2023 20:04

Try not stealing full stop? Might be good for you

Nightlystroll · 06/03/2023 20:13

Ooh I'm intrigued now, the marvellous mystery of the Mumsnet milk mugger!
I'm a bit lost as to details of your specific case though.
You robbed a rich person of a pint of milk to feed multiple starving children?
I think you're doing shoplifting wrong.

Oh OK. You don't want to answer. I'd guess because if a desperate parent stole something petty from a wealthy individual, you'd think it was ok. Fair enough. I have my answer, I won't bother you again.

Mummybearto3bg · 06/03/2023 20:16

When I worked in a food shop, kids as young as 7 or 8 would come in and steal. At first I thought they were taking sweets and then I saw they were actually taking sandwhiches. I looked away. This was every school holiday, kids. Stealing. Sandwhiches.

SunshineGeorgie · 06/03/2023 20:21

Stealing at 7/8 years....wonder what they have moved on to doing next?

Original poster
Bananavape · 06/03/2023 20:22

SunshineGeorgie · 06/03/2023 20:21

Stealing at 7/8 years....wonder what they have moved on to doing next?

Maybe focus on the fact they are clearly desperate enough to STEAL SANDWICHES

OP posts:
SunshineGeorgie · 06/03/2023 20:27

I can focus where I like

Thieves get confidant. Doubt it stopped at sandwiches. Nobody does kids favours by turning a blind eye to it

NowDoYouBelieveMe · 06/03/2023 20:29

Nightlystroll · 06/03/2023 20:13

Ooh I'm intrigued now, the marvellous mystery of the Mumsnet milk mugger!
I'm a bit lost as to details of your specific case though.
You robbed a rich person of a pint of milk to feed multiple starving children?
I think you're doing shoplifting wrong.

Oh OK. You don't want to answer. I'd guess because if a desperate parent stole something petty from a wealthy individual, you'd think it was ok. Fair enough. I have my answer, I won't bother you again.

And I shall presume that you would gleefully play the role of Sheriff of Nottingham, given half a chance.

Mummybearto3bg · 06/03/2023 20:31

I'm happy with my choice to let them steal sandwhiches. I'd do it again and again and again. These kids aren't fed properly for weeks during the 6 weeks holiday.

Nightlystroll · 06/03/2023 20:34

NowDoYouBelieveMe · 06/03/2023 20:29

And I shall presume that you would gleefully play the role of Sheriff of Nottingham, given half a chance.

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😂😂 Seriously, though. Why would you presume that? Have I criticised you, or indeed anyone's, stance on turning a blind eye to theft?

Hooklander · 06/03/2023 20:39

NowDoYouBelieveMe · 06/03/2023 20:29

And I shall presume that you would gleefully play the role of Sheriff of Nottingham, given half a chance.

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I'll be Robbin' Hood

NowDoYouBelieveMe · 06/03/2023 20:44

Nightlystroll · 06/03/2023 20:34

😂😂 Seriously, though. Why would you presume that? Have I criticised you, or indeed anyone's, stance on turning a blind eye to theft?

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I think it was your increasingly implausible hypothetical situations that made me think that you might somehow be against stealing food for starving children.

I'm glad I'm wrong about that though.