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…

Never. Not once. I've gone back to query an undercharge more than once though.

Looks like you're in your own. It's not something I ever do.

Hardly the same as nicking an apple from Tesco is it. The responses on here are so disproportionate!

Never. And I am not sure what you thought you were going to get from this thread other then condemnation, despite your no judgement bull shit

It's not a victimless crime either. It's twats that steal that cause higher prices for everyone else.

I never steal from self checkouts. But I have been stopped two or three times. I obviously look like I would steal.

I live in a pretty deprived area and there are a lot of people being photographed named and shamed on Facebook for shoplifting from small shops including repeated shoplifting

I think it's quite interesting that some people think it doesn't matter as long as it's from a large supermarket. Presumably they wouldn't do it from a cafe or a corner shop?

Hardly self-righteous to say you're not a thief. Given that most people here probably have kids/are considering having them, it wouldn't be good if they did steal.
My mum accidentally forgot to scan something, but made a special trip to go back and pay the next day, OP, if that counts.

You said it's not something you have a choice over which is factually incorrect. Choosing to do what you want to do is up to you but it's insincere to rely on the reason being that there is no alternative.

Never

I use scan and go as well as self checkout. Never would I do this. It's just plain wrong. You might think there is no harm for a large chain but they just pass that onto food rises so overall more expensive for everyone else. It's very selfish and you should get judged for this.

If you can't afford it then don't get it.

Well at least you are a kind and considerate thief hey?

You can try and justify it anyway you like. It won't wash.

WTAF! On my children’s lives, the answer is NEVER.

Never.
ten fact that you automatically thing the people on here are the ones with the issue is quite telling… categorising us as pearl clutchers rather than admit that actually your own moral compass is the one out of line!

Never have. Never would. Have walked out of a shop twice by accident with things in my hand through not concentrating and felt too embarrassed to walk back in. Bath cubes and a reel of grey thread. Wish O'd walked out absentmindedly with a large £1000 TV.

Never.

I haven’t stolen from self scanners and it never crossed my mind.

do I look down on people that do, yes mostly. I have less concern about someone in genuine need stealing nappies or a loaf of bread to feed their kids than someone that admits to stealing wine though.

i think not stealing is an important social contract and it’s most important to uphold when others are not looking and there is little chance of being found out. It is the difference between being a good person or not. Not the one deciding factor but you can’t be completely good and be a thief.

I can’t imagine how you can instill good values in your children and knowingly break those values when you can get away with it. Doesn’t the hypocrisy feel awful 😬

Strangely, my friends SiL does this even though she can afford to pay. The first time was an accident - no judgment there, I've accidentally done the same thing. But now I think it's the thrill perhaps. It's usually in M&S, she makes a point of taking something that she hasn't paid for, these are food items, so not particularly expensive but still stealing.

It’s OPs assertion that “decent, up-standing” people do it a lot more than they’d ever admit that’s so ridiculous.

By definition, they absolutely don’t or they’d not be decent or upstanding.

The OP hasn't nicked an apple. Wine. Fruit. Detergent. Nappies. Because money has been tight ? Money is tight for loads of people. If someone really was on their uppers they wouldn't be running around a supermarket nicking wine and laughing it

Basically the OP pays for the parts of the shopping that she wants and steals the rest because "money is tight"

I spent an hour sitting waiting at a community pantry yesterday to get me enough food to last me a few days

That's what you do when money is right. You use pantries or foodbanks if you have any. You use Olio if theres any in your area. You buy yellow sticker food.

You don't top up the bits you can't afford by stealing them.

People who really have fuck all don't run around shoplifting bottles of wine and bananas if they do shoplift. That won't be their priority.

Never, it could potentially risk my future employment in the field of work Im in.
Supermarkets steal from customers as well.

All these justifications....
"the complexities of different types of stealing" 🙄
Someone stealing baby formula out of desperation is one thing - but you mention a bottle of wine, so you're not really in that category are you?

I can hand on heart say I never have.

You are a thief, OP. You may not like being called that, but you are.

This has never even entered my mind to do. WTF OP?

The OP lacks the social awareness to realise this, and probably mixes with people with the same low moral compass as she has.

As a result she is kicking back at people who don't think stealing is the norm.

It was the fact that they referred to wine as an expensive item that struck me. Its not. Particularly if you don't live in a country with min pricing