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?

Very reformed over here

Criminal record to remind me of the delinquent days

Luckily hasn't held me back

Only about 15% of population have a criminal record and a lot of those will be traffic offences. And it's a lot more men than women so it's a lot lower than stated up thread.

I didn't scan the Ellas kitchen pouch my toddler had eaten on the way round Asda BUT I did try! The machine wouldn't accept it as the weight was wrong so I put one of the others I'd got in its place. That is the sum total of my theft history! I was too scared when younger and never had that rebellious streak.

The boots tag thing got me one November. I'd bought bags and bags of stuff. I saw the lady scan the security tags so just presumed one hadn't done right. I'd bought big boxy gifts for Christmas. When the alarm beeped I stopped and the lady shouted that I was ok. I thought no more of it and stashed the shopping away. When I came to wrap it weeks later I found several tubes of mascara, tins of Vaseline, packs of smints, anadins, and tissues. ds had obviously been loAding up while I was doing the transaction.

mymblemother what I categorically didn't say was that stealing from disabled people wasn't bad.

My challenge was why stealing from disabled people was specifically morally worse than stealing from non-disabled people in similar circumstances.

So a nurse stealing some jewellery from a temporarily incapacitated person is not as wrong as a nurse stealing the same from a patient in a wheelchair?

The reason I challenged this is that I dislike it when disabled people are singled out for extra pity.

This isn't a clear cut view as there are many situations where disabled people are particularly vulnerable so there are few direct comparisons to a similar situation with non-disabled people.

I wouldn't single disabled people out for more pity at all. My dad is disabled and other than having me as his daughter I don't pity him
But if someone were to steal from someone who is housebound, vulnerable and lonely or unable to communicate - rather than me, a not disabled person, I would be angry and pissed off but it would not be so bad. I have not explained it well I know, I hope someone understands what I mean!

mmmm I think I know what you mean and mostly agree. I just struggle with moral relativism!

I was also caught shoplifting in Superdrug at age 14....the manager took us to his office and gave us such a bollocking i never did it again x

There was a girl in my class at school who used to take shoplifting requests for Superdrug. People would make lists for very specific things and she would endeavour to supply. She had a special coat for shoplifting. Everyone was devastated when Superdrug upped their security and she retired

Never been caught but I used to take a lot of drugs. Sold some too.

I was three points away from getting banned from driving (approx fifteen years ago). I was an idiot. I've had a clean licence since those nine points expired. It was the same speed camera that caught me three times in the space of a week. I still can't believe how dumb I was.

yep i spent many an afternoon robbing c&a blockhouse blind as a teenager, id never steal now and i have a very respectable job.

clock house not blockhouse

Criminal record (18 years ago) representing.

100 hrs community service, mega fine, threatened with prison.

no, I haven't ever committed a criminal offence.

oh i have done all sorts

i got done for criminal damage when i was a teenager

shoplifted loads

i have several driving offences

regularly driven with no insurance

switched labels in shops

dealt drugs

taken drugs

committed fraud on more than one occasion

bought and sold fake designer stuff

I got caught stealing chewits in Woolies, the sour ones; I cried so much that they felt sorry for me. My dad was pissed off but only because he had to leave work to pick me up. My mum grounded me but because I didn't stop crying she wasn't as harsh on me as I thought she was going to be.

I didn't steal for a couple of years then I stole an eyeliner and lipstick.

That was the end of my criminal activity.

Well, apart from the few times I said my child was younger than they were to get in somewhere for free.

i committed violent assaults, was subject to violent assaults, and went to trial on a charge of Grievous Bodily Harm.

Mymble I'm so sorry to have caused you distress. It must be very stressful to be relinquishing some of your independence and trusting a virtual stranger to behave decently towards you.

And I agree with those who have said that it's "worse" to steal from a disabled person - at least it was in this particular case. My client was in a wheelchair and unable to go upstairs on her own. So she was in a position of vulnerability in that there was no particular risk in stealing from her.

To me that's the same as stealing from a child or an elderly person - it's taking advantage of their vulnerability.

I was very young and selfish.

If I were your carer I wouldn't dream of stealing a piece of toast. I've changed greatly and I plan on raising my children to have a strong moral compass (unlike my own upbringing).

Considering how many people have stolen from Boots, the advert at the top of page is showing me "my free gift from Boots" Coincidence?

I think my criminal past was purely a couple of sweets in my youth and the occasional missed pack of toilet roll hanging of the back of the trolley.

I was caught eating pick n mix from woolies and was removed from the store was told it wasn't try before you buy
I have on occasion left a bottle of formula on the hood of my pram and forgot about it
Or when I went shopping, I got some sheets and duvet covers. It was so hot I took my jacket off and ended up covering them, it wasn't until I got to the car that I realised

Or another time, I swear i don't do it all the time used to leave ds in his car seat then put the seat in the trolley. Stocked up on baby food jars, 24 of them but they were all hidden by the car seat, I didn't have enough money for them after buying too much so took it as a little present to myself

Well, this thread explains why food prices are shooting up, doesn't it.

Nope Foxes. Retailers always have an amount built into their profit/loss and insurance policies to cover petty theft. This has been done for decades and, especially large retailers, are really very accurate at it.