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…

You say there is no judgement yet call us pearl cluthing fuckers 😂

I do make my own cards, i just had to buy one this week and i was shocked at how much they have increased in price, it's daylight robbery

Literally never… what on earth is wrong with you?!

“I’m not some sort of serial shoplifter”

Erm… yes you are mate 😂

This is a good point.

She's asking on the internet so there will thousands by law of probability. I'm not one of them by the way.

Theres no consequence on stealing from supermarkets? What do you think they do, just say oh thats fine? No they raise prices and it affects all off us. Justify if all you want, but you are a petty thief. It's entitled and a bit sad. https://www.facewatch.co.uk/supermarket-sweep-how-out-of-control-shoplifting-is-hitting-every-consumers-pocket/

I hate this “no judgment”’ approach we are supposed to have now. I get that society used to be too judgmental but we have gone too far in the opposite direction imo. You should be bloody “judged” for stealing!

it very much reflects the kind of place I think MN is -full of self-righteous, pearl clutchers who think in black and white

AKA “not shop-lifters” 😄

I'm involved in retail and I can categorically tell you that there is an enormous issue with theft on a daily basis on most high streets. But if you need to get a cheap little thrill out of not paying for a banana, that's between you and your conscience. It certainly wouldn't make me feel like I was winning at life.

You keep telling yourself that nicking from shops is nuanced. It's not nuanced. That's bullshit.

Wtf. It’s like dropping litter; I physically couldn’t do it.

So you'd rather steal a totally unnecessary item like a bottle of wine than just go without it - seriously?

You do realise that thieves like you make the prices higher for all the rest of us? I really hope you are caught doing this. And are publicly humiliated. Your sense of entitlement is off the scale.

You must have missed the part about the people who work in supermarkets having their balancing buggered up and it impacting their bonuses. They're hardly raking it in so, yes, it seems your discrepancies can directly impact hard-working people.

Yep. Everything’s expensive nowadays. Partly because of shitty world leaders and their shitty wars; partly because of greedy CEOs and shareholders. And partly because a proportion of humans are greedy and selfish and want everyone else to pay for their stuff.

do the plastic bags count? I never scan those… out of principle really! Nearly everything I’ve bought has plastic in it anyway … it’s just not gonna save anything by paying a £ for a bag

Are you writing an article based on this research OP?

YES.

Have done and would probably do it again, from supermarkets.

I'm not sure that everyone is being honest on here.

Never. Even when we had 3 children under 3 and were desperate for money it did not occur to me to steal. I’m now a pensioner and better off than I was in those days and still won’t think of taking something I have not paid for .

Never.

But we’re talking 3 or 4 times I year. I’m not some sort of serial shoplifter

Yes you are - whatever you tell yourself. And yes, I do judge you! Stealing wine? That's hardly an essential item.

And in answer to your question - never. I have never stolen anything.

You are utterly delusional! You are a serial theif. It is not a victimless crime - the prices in supermarkets reflect the fact that people like you think it is okay to steal - so all customers pay more on every shop.

Never - I even go back if when I have realised. I could get struck off for a criminal conviction so really not worth it on my part.

I've never stolen anything in my life. Come on OP, you know that's not okay. It makes me wonder what else you get up to in life if you have such a casual disregard for taking stuff that doesn't belong to you. It says something about your character generally. It's not funny.

It simply wouldn't cross my mind to steal!

This. How would you anyway?

You are lying to yourself. Shoplifting is not the victimless crime that you want to believe it is.

It is theft and a criminal offence. That makes you a thief and a criminal. Pretending it is no big deal won't change that, even if it makes you feel ok about yourself.