To think I can't be the only reformed criminal on mn

[Houseofmirth66]

I spent most of my teenage years cheerfully stuffing my pockets with loot courtesy of Boots, Woolworth's and WH Smith. Nowadays it would be unthinkable to take something without paying. Although I have to admit I can still summon up the thrilling feeling of an illicit nail varnish dropping into my pocket. I can't be the only ex juvenile delinquent on mn. Or am I?

I can't believe this post has been ignored

"stole a beautiful white throw from a client's house, as well as sheets and other small items (never told anyone this - the client was disabled too"

I know this is a confessional type thread but it sickens me that a post detailing behaviour as low as that would go unchallenged.

I accept I may be sensitive at the moment as we are discussing carers for me due to DH's work patterns, and that comment made me feel sick, to be honest.

Probably not. I never had the front to nick anything but was quite the arsonist in my pre/early teens.

Mymble I think it went unchallenged because the person admitted that was low behaviour and is ashamed. It happened ten years ago and I think everyone is allowed some redemption if they can admit their mistakes and take responsibility for their actions.

Under the guise of a namechange I did some awful things when working as a carer over a decade ago.

I'm so grateful I wasn't caught.

I'm so very ashamed, and I don't know what the hell I was thinking.

B and m was doing an offer on Sprite. 3 cans for £1.

I was pregnant and craved it so we bought £10 worth.

Got to the till and we was not going to load 30 cans on to the conveyor.

Passed the till assistant one, showed him the trolley and said there 30 altogether.

He nodded and carried on scanning everything the other products we had also bought.

Paid up and then got out the shop. Both of us were amazed at how cheap it was.

Checked the receipt....the bloke hadn't charged us for the Sprite.

Didn't go back.

The stealing from a disabled person is horrible

It was, and I'm not proud, I'm ashamed.

I don't want to fall onto excuses, but I was a pretty nice person until I was about 18. My life just fell to pieces and I did all sorts of horrible, mean, petty and cruel things.

I did have some counselling and I was open and honest about these things then. It was a way of hitting back at the world I think.

Why is stealing from a disabled person worse than stealing from someone without a disability? I'm not saying it isn't, but I think it's worth challenging. I agree that taking advantage of a vulnerable person seems to be stopping particularly low, morally, but "disabled" is a broad category.

Is nicking the purse off the desk of a dyslexic colleague morally worse than nicking it from a colleague with a hearing impairment? Or a wheelchair user? Surely the morality comes from the crime rather than the victim.

I know what you are saying but stealing pick and mix from Woolies is bad but nothing like stealing from a vulnerable person that you are in a position of trust of caring for them.

Kippers are you seriously asking people to explain to you why stealing personal items from a disabled person you are being paid to care for, is particularly reprehensible? Really? I'm not sure why you find this "worth challenging"

I've never stolen anything, however, reading this thread and realising how many apparently middle class women were thieves, has made me feel very sorry for the amount of working class boys who've started out with less opportunities and had their lives ruined by committing similar youthful 'hi jinks'.

Some people caught stealing in the 2011 riots were jailed for stealing bottles of water or handling stolen goods. It will be very hard for them to turn their lives around now they're in the system. No looking back and laughing for them.

When I was eight, I found a packet of crisps sat on the windowsill in the school cloakroom. I took them and ate them, was found out, and taken to the head, parents called.

In my defence, I was very hungry and they'd been abandoned.

As an adult I forgot to pay for the bottle of milk under the pram. Had opened it by the time I realised.

My DS was a right crim when he was still in his pram. He used to stash all sorts in there when I wasn't looking. Fray bentos pies, ravioli, peas. He could nab a 3 course dinner in a ten minute dash round Morrison's.

I once put 22p of sweeties in a bag and told the bloke at the till I only had 20p. Was pretty nerve wracking but I got away with my dastardly crime. Still feel guilty though.

I've never stolen as I was always too much of a wuss. I did however as an adult get arrested and cautioned for harassment. i came home from work one day to find the house empty - my ex had twken all his things and left. I hacked into his emails, found he had been using prosititues and having an affair and told everyone - including his work. I then Called him lots over the course of a week, and forwarded his post to his parents addressed to the "lying, cheating bastard" He had me arrested and charged for harassment (he is a copper) i was pregnant at the time. I fully admit I was not acting rationally and I will always be ashamed of havig a criminal record, but even the copper who arrested me said it was a bit harsh considering what he had done and that I was pregnant. I wish I had had mumsnet to guide me through it back then - Anyfuckers straight talking would have been invaluable!

Never stole anything as a teen although I had need as my mother never bought me clothes or toiletries (I had to sneak mother's/sister's Lil-lets, luckily had very light periods). It never crossed my mind to.

DD came home with a dress that her friend has shoplifted for her once when she was about 13. She never wore it as she was afraid someone from the shop might see her in it , .

I used to eat chips and nuggets and anything else that wasn't nailed down in the kitchen at McDonald's when I worked there.

Should say, when I was a teen.

Primary school:
I used to steal my dad's coins when I was little. He never challenged it, but started wrapping the coins up carefully and explained they were set amounts.

I used to pinch sausage rolls off the trolley at school if the man wasn't looking - another kid once confronted me and I swore blind that I hadn't done it. We both knew I had though.

Secondary school:

Limited to thinking about how easy it would be. Once left the corner shop after considering it in detail, only to find the assistant of the owner sprinting after me to make sure I got the rest of my change guilt made me never consider it again.

Later life:

I feel no qualms about leaving shops with the occasional small item I've put in the pram and forgotten about. I'd certainly never go back to return anything!

This morning I spotted a Batman set that DS2 used to have and adore. It was in the reduced section at Tesco and open, so I eagerly opened it to check if the figures were loose and if Batman was there - I fully intended to take him home for DS2 if not! Alas, theplaymat was gone but the figures still secured. In retrospect I should have just opened it and taken Batman, it's not like the set was still sellable.

My finest moment was as a 4yo, running excitedly out of Tesco with the Care Bear that my nan said she was GOING to buy me. I raced to the car to show my mum, who expressed appreciation of the item. My nan ran out, huffing and puffing, to find me. Remonstrations, whereupon it became apparent that the Care Bear I was clutching had not been paid for. My mum and nan exchanged glances, then Mum said 'Get in the car'.

She made me what I am

My sister got thrown out of brownies for stealing a crunchy from woolworths so this meant I was;t allowed to join by association.

My friends used to steal loads but I'm one of those people that get in trouble all the time even for stuff I haven't done so I rarely risked it.

We've all helped ourselves to a nice glass from the pub, right?

Self scanning checkouts are made so that things can be stolen from supermarkets.

They used to be shit. You could pick up two items and scan one bar code.

Also toilet roll on the back of the trolley

At school I would occasionally steal food from my classmates lunch boxes. Some days I'd not eaten since lunch the previous day. I'm sure they knew it was me. It would be mentioned during assembly and the headmaster would catch my eye but nothing came of it. When I moved to a different school it wasn't possible. My new teacher told me I looked like a "Jippo" and to smarten up. On my way home I tried to pinch a hairbrush, bobbles and a roll on but got caught in the chemist. My neighbour was there and said she was my grandma. She walked me home and gave me a lecture about stealing but didn't tell my mum. At the time I was grateful. But now when I look back there were too many adults that knew I was neglected but looked the other way. My cousin was picked up by the police and received loving care from a foster family and turned his life around.

My brother and myself were regular shoplifters as younger teens.

I stopped when I was heading towards 15, as I knew the laws would make me more accountable if I were to get caught.

My brother got caught in our local corner shop (this was in another country btw) and had to pay back some money, which he came to me for, and I gave him and he paid straightaway.

Our parents would have been devastated.

We stopped around our 15th birthdays

I dont know why we did it. For me it was small makeup items, chocolate bars, etc. For him, video tapes (blank ones) and stuff like that.

We are both now in our 40's (well i'm about to be) and neither of us have been involved in anything illegal ever, since then. It's weird. I dont really know why we did it.

TBH I think it's harder these days. Perhaps it was all too easy? We probably weren't the only ones doing it, but there probably were many more it wouldn't occur to to try either.

unimaginativename13 the self scanning and 5p charge for bags has apparently resulted in more shoplifting as fewer security guards patrol this...

I did the other day when coming out of Boots with one mascara that hadn't had its tag taken off and I was paying via a Boots no 7 stand the security guard stopped me... I had no bag had just shaved both items in my bag as always, I went back showed receipt but was quite pissed off at the assistant for not removing one of 2 tags and the guard for just thinking I'd stolen based on the tag being on...

I really do think guards should be more alert or alarms but not so much so they accuse all and sundry. In fact the guards are paid to watch out.

One of my male friends inbetween jobs got a job as an instore detective I think for sainsburys, he sort of disguised, used a stick a few times, and apparently was successful, at least that way it's a bit more sly I'm not sure whether I agree with that or not though.