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…

How did you manage that?

"I also think Mumsnet is an especially pearl clutchingly, moral righteous shouting part of the internet"

Or truthful and honest to put it another way and that winds up low lifes like you

I've never stolen food or other items, but have had the odd occasion where it turned out all my shopping was too much for the bag(s) I brought with me, and I've just helped myself to a carrier without starting a new transaction to pay for one. Possibly a slippery slope, but I'll try and stay on the right side of the law otherwise.

This, I did the same when with DS and forgot some yoghurts were under the buggy! My conscience wouldn't let me steal anything, even if it was accidental, I'd have to take it back and pay.

I understand you’re being sarcastic @Judystilldreamsofhorses , but the good news is you can usually pay for the bags at any point during the transaction rather than having to start a new one. You can definitely add them at the end, just before you pay.

I steal a carrier bag if I forget to bring mine. I just scan everything through, select 'no bags' then pack it into a bag. It's easy because it's just me so I only ever need one bag. I don't know why I do it. I'm struggling for money but not to the extent of 40p for a bag! I just resent paying for it so I don't. Still stealing though, I'm aware.

I've never (to the best of my knowledge) stolen an actual item though.

Never ! it would never occur to me to do that .
If something won’t scan I leave it at the checkout or on the shelf if I’m using the handheld scanner.
I then choose an alternative item that will scan

Thanks - I'm talking about when the shopping is paid for, I'm putting it in bags and realise that there's just not quite room and I need an extra one, so it would be a new transaction. I'm also talking about it happening about once a year, so I'm not a career criminal.

I was arrested when I was a tween for shoplifting. It was actually my friend doing it not me but we both got caught. I have generally never stolen another thing tor the rest of my life this far intentionally. I usually go back in etc and I’m an honest person. It did me a massive favour really as I didn’t get a criminal record from it, but really shaped my adult morals. My parents were/are ‘dodgy’ but it really meant I don’t have the same moral code as them!

I once had two crates of beer under the trolley and completely forgot to scan them - the assistant luckily noticed and pulled me over. I was mortified trying to do 3 people's Christmas shopping in one go while making sure they were ok and not wandering off, and had forgot I'd put anything under there.

Even if I'd walked out with them, there's every chance I would have left them there anyway, and just wheeled the trolley back with them still there!!

I was soooo embarrassed and so was my elderly gran who was with me at the time!

Never
I recently picked up something from the till when I was paying for my shopping. Didn't realise until I got home and returned the items.
Like many others would do.

Never!!

Another never here.

Never ,but my toddler (yrs ago) stole a pot noodle and hid it in her buggy ,she say on it. I found it when i got home and was mortified and returned it.

There is a danish saying that goes thiefs think everybody steals and I've never seen it represented so literally before.

Most people would help someone in need, have compassion and most dont steal either. There is no victimless crime. All the losses will be paid by you and I in the way of price increases. Peaceful societies run on jointly agreed and adhered rules. There are plenty of societies out there that dont function based on those principles. Go and see if you'd like it?

Never.

Not at my M&S on the quick checkout. I look at the till and think I can just walk out with these items. The harassed staff won't know. I used to be able to weigh eg bananas and get a printed label.

My self respect. I am not a thief.

I have not been tested in the sense of having no choice or my children would go hungry, hard to say what any of us would do if that was truly the case. Desperation is brutal.

I did through a period in my 20s where sometime I ran out of food and had to wait until my pay check cleared in the evening to eat that day, it was that tight. Still, I did what I had to do and was able to get though it and back to stability without stealing.

I am not sure about the phrasing “feeling like a thief”. It sounds like language carefully phrased to avoid responsibility. Not sure if I am reading too much into a turn of phrase or if you are implying someone stealing at the self check out isn’t actually a thief because you perceive it as a victimless crime.

The thing is, if they do catch you they can ban you from the store. My friend got banned for doing it. It's daft to risk that for 40p.

Never. I really hate the attitude that it's okay to steal from large corporates - it's not okay to steal. Other customers have to pay inflated prices to cover the cost of people like you stealing.

Unintentionally once maybe. My mind was elsewhere at a stressful time. My credit card doubles as a reward card and I'm not sure I went through to the pay stage. Only dawned on me later that I might not have checked out. Security actually stopped me and checked my shopping and their screens since in my frazzled state I went out the wrong exit. But they said I was fine and apologised.

Intentionally - never, and I have money worries that keep me awake at night.

Have never stolen from self checkout......unless you count the bags.

Sometimes I scan the bags before I scan the other items and sometimes I press the 'number of bags' at the end.

But on occasion I've forgotten to scan the bags first and then hit 'no bags' at the end and realised when the payment comes up. On those occasions I'm too lazy to go back and enter the bags so just pay for the shopping and leave.

However, I would say at least a dozen times a year I arrive home and realise there's an issue with an item (mouldy fruit, raw meat that has yesterdays date on , bag of crisps not fully sealed and completely stale). I never have the energy to take the items back (not worth the fuel) or complain online so the way I see it I'm still at a loss even with a few free bags throughout the year.

I've actually only seen a couple of people try and steal from my local Morrisons. One guy got fed up with the queue at the till and went fuck it and walked off. Was something pretty small he had like a packet of crisps.

If you buy a box of wine at my local Morrisons sometimes the alarm goes off if it's been paid for. You can be stopped and asked to show your receipt.

I've never wanted a bottle of wine that much I've stolen it. Surely somewhere along the way what if I get caught must kick in.

Never stolen anything., not even when we had no money. I do remember DH thinking he'd have to steal a packet of nappies ( we had one nappy and no money until the next day). Luckily he had enough change and supermarket points to be able to buy them.
Having been so close I wouldn't judge but it does depend on what they're stealing.