Be honest, zero judgment - how often do you steal from supermarket self-checkouts?

[Alwaysthelastone]

My theory is, “decent, up-standing” people do it a lot more than they’d ever admit. Let’s try to stop this thread descending into judgement and criticism of people who are just answering the question honestly. Otherwise they just won’t be honest. No judgement from me, as long as we’re talking large chain supermarkets only. I’ll admit that I sometimes forget to weigh fruit & veg, get to the till and can’t be bothered going back so don’t bother paying. Occasionally in the past when money’s been tight I haven’t paid for a few of the more expensive items like laundry detergent, nappies, the odd bottle of wine. But we’re talking 3 or 4 times I year. I’m not some sort of serial shoplifter and I consider myself a decent person (although I’m sure I’ll swiftly be told I’m not on here 🤣) anyway, would be interested to hear how often the mostly upstanding, middle-class MN population really does it…

I don't - I get stressed enough that I have accidentally forgotten to scan something, never mind doing it on purpose.

Never.

I believe I once priced a turnip as a swede. Or vice versa. But that was an accident. I still felt bad about it.

I did once and I got caught by the manager. I can still remember the fear of that moment and it was 60 years ago.

Despite your desperate attempt to make it all just sound like jolly japes, I suspect this thread has not gone the way you hoped. Presumably you were hoping that many others would admit to being thieves too, to make you feel better about your own dishonesty, but that’s not what has happened, is it?

Either you are in a tiny dishonourable minority, or the other thieves know it is wrong and unlike you are too embarrassed and ashamed to admit toit.

Ha that’s quite the leap! Most people who nick the odd small item from a multinational corporation do not escalate to running drug gangs! Or even escalate beyond a bit of light shoplifting. If they did the country would be overrun with wrong uns wouldn’t it. It’s really not a ‘gateway crime’! I also think Mumsnet is an especially pearl clutchingly, moral righteous shouting part of the internet. If this question was asked on Reddit, I can guarantee the answers would be different

I gave up once with a birthday card .When I'd had assistance 3 times. And it still doesn't let me scan/ put in baggage area.
I hate them.
Only use them if I'm forced to .
I spend nearly all my money at this supermarket so...

Hard disagree.

Never.

You do know they watch on the cameras over the self service tills and build a larger picture of your shoplifting don't you?
I love my local shops and would never cope if I got banned.

As posted above shops are legally obliged to charge. And the Co-op donates the profit from the bag charges to charity.

Never

May I suggest you watch Stacey Dooley's documentary on shop lifting and see how underpaid supermarket staff suffer for your bit of fun?
Not stealing is judgemental?
Ok.

I think you're minimising, personally. I understand why you might feel the need to do this in order to feel ok about yourself. But that does not make your stealing right.

Never. I'm surprised you think it is common

I’ve always wondered how could it be “a thrill”?
Did hear on radio4 the other day how some will swap expensive eggs into cheapest egg boxes…just seems pointlessly daft, where potential for accident as well as being caught for swapping exactly same things but just paying a little less 🤷‍♀️.

I never steal from self checkouts.

Although, come to think of it, the closest I got was when our local Tesco had run out of the loose bananas. The only bananas they had were the organic ones in bunches of five. They had loads of those, but I didn't want to pay £1.60 for a bunch when I only wanted one 16p banana. I took one banana from a bunch and paid for it at the till as a standard loose banana.

@Alwaysthelastone I could understand nappies, baby formula, essentials - but you lost me when you said 'a bottle of wine'

And in answer to your question - I did it once - when i was 11 years old in y6, i sneaked a chocolate bar into my coat sleeve and left the shop.

So that's over 40 years ago

Well maybe you should stick to posting on Reddit if you want to find your tribe.

Then you can all lol together about how you're 'sticking it' to the big corporations.

Never, I'm not even sure how you would? Do you mean put your avacado through as a carrot or something?

I did once accidentally steal a magazine at a normal checkout, the bottom of the trolley had a load of leaflets in it and I didn't notice the magazine until I was back at the car, didn't go back to pay.

Also got stopped at ikea, I'd picked up some curtains I didn't go for then piled all the boxes I did on top and forgot about the curtains. They must have cameras at ground level because they grabbed me the second I walked towards the door. Didn't get into trouble though thank god.

Genuinely never. I accidentally 'stole' some milk i had put under the buggy and forgot about when I was emptying my basket, found when folding up the buggy, and ran back and paid.

Saying mumsnet is pearl clutching is not justified here. Shoplifting costs all of us more, it is a dick move. If you are starving and need to steal to survive or feed kids that is one thing, but anything else is just selfish.

Never. As others have said, I tend to act with good morals as I believe society would break down if we all just do what ever we want to suit ourselves.

Also, my dd worked in home store/shop rife with shoplifting and it it was very depressing for her to have to witness on a daily basis. I imagine all staff must feel the impact of it - hence why they sometimes flip and physically tackle the perpetrator even when they're not supposed to.

No never . I work In a supermarket and see people get caught a lot . If you can’t afford it don’t buy it or use a food bank . If you get caught you will get banned , it’s a slippery slope . I’m ok for money now but have been destitute when I was young with 2 kids , didn’t steal then either

You really don't get it do you?

It is a typically defensive "argument" to use "pearl clutching" to justify your unprincipled stance.

You are stamping your feet because most posters disagree with you.

It looks like you weren't brought up to think that stealing is wrong. I hope it catches up with you.

I was in a big Boots the other day and they have stickers on the shelves saying variations on 'it's wrong to steal'. I was surprised, is it that common and do they help?

I do think people are normalising stealing with pretending it's a political thing. No, you're just a scumbag.

I've never stolen anything, ever! What a bizarre post.