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…

Does anyone use work things (e.g. paper, envelopes, send emails from work) for personal use? That's a more common minor 'infraction' people will often admit to.

I definitely have put the odd birthday card through our mailing system, probably two or three in an entire career though, so I'm not a habitual criminal.

Never, Lidl now has barriers when you need to scan your receipt to exit in self scan, great idea

You’re a thief and the rest of us will pay the eventual higher prices.

I can't afford pearls, i pay for my groceries 😁

You haven't just stolen something once though have you. Your first post said that you've stolen wine, bananas, laundry detergent and nappies 3 or 4 times a year. Its not about pearl clutching. Its not worth it. An ex boss of mine had a second job in Asda and he told me they once prosecuted someone stealing a 99p item.

Would your bananas taste as good if you ended up in the back of a police van ?

I personally don't think it's a great idea. Its forcing people to get a printed receipt for a start. Morrisons can do it without people having to print receipts off. The gates open after you pay.

are you quite all right?

It's an anonymous forum, where people can change user name for every thread. There's no reason not to admit something as petty as stealing a banana.

People do have morals in general, and you complain about it?

YOU are already the reason why shops put their prices up and everybody pays more (because the cost of stolen items and the cost of security is being passed on to clients, who do you think pick the bill?)
and I bet you would be the first one to complain if someone nicks your child's bike, or your jumper because they could. 😂

You are lucky that not everybody is like you, nothing else.

Never.

I'd hate to be a person who thought it was OK to steal. Loads of judgement from me coming your way, OP.

Never. Integrity is a pretty important personal quality IMO.

Genuinely never, and I do heavily judge people who can afford to pay and dont.
Ive been a young mum reliant on universal credit, and I still never did steal even a carrier bag.

my only caveat is, if I saw someone stealing baby nappies, or formula I would turn a blind eye as I do understand stealing for my baby if desperate. However, I always prioritised those things for my baby even if it meant I went hungry.

Never.

I have confessed to two incidents this year and because I was honest I have not paid for damage to a car - he repeatedly told me it could be polished out, wouldn't take my details just in case and I didn't have to pay for something I'd accidentally dropped in Waitrose. Honesty does pay, well it did in my situations

In 1991 I got to my car after shopping and discovered I hadn’t paid for a roll of wrapping paper ( it was silver and I hadn’t noticed it). I had a newborn baby and didn’t bother to go back. That’s it. I think I may be one of the most honest people I know 😇

I teach my kids that stealing is wrong, including stealing small items from chain supermarkets, but that’s because they’re at an age where they can’t understand the complexities of different types of stealing. They very much still think in black and white because they haven’t had the life experience to understand the grey areas. Eg. People go to prison because they’ve been bad, rather than someone’s suffered a lifetime of abuse, got caught in a cycle of addiction due to the abuse, which led to petty crime. Not comparing my thieving to that, just giving a different example of how children’s brains work and why we simplify complex subjects for them till they’re old enough to understand. I’m not saying there is zero problem with stealing from supermarkets but I’m also not saying people who do are bad people or that it can never be justified. I think there are far worse low level things that I’d judge someone for that genuinely have a significant negative impact on others. Can’t think of an example right now, but dropping litter or not recycling or something

There is nuance, of course.

If someone genuinely didn't have enough to eat, was struggling to feed their children and didn't have anywhere else to turn, then I would certainly not judge them for stealing. I imagine that most of us would be pushed to that if desperate.

That "nuance" doesn't apply, though, when we're talking about stuff that people really don't need to steal, like a bottle of wine, or essential items that could probably be obtained from a food bank or similar, if someone was really desperate.

The fact that you're stealing from big corporations really doesn't make it any better - that is just something that you tell yourself to help you feel less guilty. The rest of us end up paying for the stuff that people like you decide to take without paying for

And you can call me self-righteous or pearl-clutching or whatever you like if it helps you to feel better about yourself. I get that it must be hard to live with yourself when you know what you're doing is wrong, and I guess that's why you're seeking the validation from others who say that they do it as well. We all want to believe that we are fundamentally decent people. But what you're doing is wrong, and deep down, you know it.

I actually feel sorry for you. If you didn't feel some degree of shame about what you're doing, I don't think you would have started this thread.

Never done this. Its shoplifting

Never.

And it's not a grey area, it's black or white, pay or don't.

And I don't think I am pearl clutching to say never.

What on earth? Never!

By accident I have, if that counts. I went back the next day though (it was closed by the time I realised, I went right at the end of the day).
On purpose no, absolutely not.

3-4 times a year is serial shoplifting?!

With the use of cameras & smart technology supermarkets are catching up with people.

Your image & any loyalty cards & payment cards that you've used in shops part of an industry scheme are likely already in the database.

If you get nicked for anything else or possibly stopped for a driving offence etc you may find those offences catch up with you.

Contrary to what people think most of the people convicted of shoplifting are the small shoplifters - a bottle of wine or ready meal here or there.

The professional ones are more clever & avoid being identified

Never, but without excusing it, I can see why some people might do it for a little thrill. Doing the big shop can make you feel rather boring, although I'm at a stage where I welcome boring.

never deliberately, once accidentally (@ garden centre tho! small plastic pots stuck/sealed together so paid but only for half).
Always try to set a good example to my children & wouldn’t like them to have to be related to a criminal.

This. For me, yes I fundamentally think it’s wrong but it’s as much about getting into trouble for it (would also mean losing my job as a member of a professional body). No “free” banana or box of Ariel is worth the risk.

A friend that did criminal law said most crimes were committed by a surprising small pool of people. As this thread bears out.

So much pearl clutching on MN

Never