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Original poster

Shoplifted by accident, should I take it back?

199 replies

guiltymind · 18/02/2017 16:49

Been on holiday for half term with kids. We went to a shop that is unique (there isn't one near us for about 100 miles). We were looking at some things, and I put something on the buggy (about 10 pounds). I was fully intending to pay for it but then 2 year old DD started to have a tantrum and I had to rush out of the store. It was only when I got back that I emptied the buggy and found that I still had it! I feel incredibly guilty, someone please tell me what to do....Blush

OP posts:
EmeraldScorn · 18/02/2017 21:50

I did this at Christmas, I had put a stack of tape over my wrist and I didn't realise until I was half way home, although in my defence I was running around at speed, crowds galore and I just forgot that it was on my arm when I was paying for my other stuff.

It was only £2 though but I did go back to the shop a few days later and the manager told me not to worry about it, so I didn't have to pay.

OP it's easily done, no big deal!

Piehunter · 18/02/2017 21:54

This happens to me so often, I put things on my lap (wheelchair user) and leave with them. I try and remember to give myself a pat down before leaving now Grin I've taken everything back except for a tube of glitter glue from hobbycraft because I really couldn't be bothered and it was less than £3. I did return a £2 car air freshener I stole from Halfords though.. As I'm not intentionally thieving it makes sense to take it back!

CaraAspen · 18/02/2017 21:56

Of course you should take it back. Or pay for it.

FrenchCat · 18/02/2017 22:02

I did this with oranges once over the wrist...
However that was Tesco and for the number of times I've been overcharged by them I feel it balances out.

RortyCrankle · 18/02/2017 23:17

You really need to ask? Either take it back or phone and pay for it.

reuset · 18/02/2017 23:21

What have you decided, OP?

Blinkyblink · 18/02/2017 23:23

Frenchcat... in what context have you been overcharged by Tesco??

CaraAspen · 19/02/2017 00:50

FrenchCat

I did this with oranges once over the wrist...
However that was Tesco and for the number of times I've been overcharged by them I feel it balances out.

Then YOU are a thief. I hope you're proud of yourself.

twinklefoot · 19/02/2017 01:07

I am in the minority but I would leave it to be honest. The amount of times Tesco have over-charged me I would still be in credit! Grin

twinklefoot · 19/02/2017 01:07

I see someone has already used this tack!

CaraAspen · 19/02/2017 01:12

Can't you read?

CaraAspen · 19/02/2017 01:13

Times is a countable noun, by the way.

Trainspotting1984 · 19/02/2017 07:53

Caraaspen

"Then YOU are a thief. I hope you're proud of yourself."

And again- so? Someone has already said they've done it. Why is the label of thief so important to you? What does it add to what they've already described and admitted doing?

Sundance01 · 19/02/2017 07:59

My standard answer - if it's a small independent retailer who may be struggling then call and pay. If it's a major company or overpriced ponce crap then enjoy your good fortune guilt free.

Major chain stores are robbing us, their suppliers blind and paying their staff crap wages they can afford the loss.

Monkeypuzzle32 · 19/02/2017 08:00

People saying it's not theft are wrong, the theft occurred when you realised you had the item (but only if you don't now pay or return it) if you do there's no problem.

OliviaStabler · 19/02/2017 08:16

Wow, surprised there are so many thieves about.

WetPaint4 · 19/02/2017 08:25

Honesty is a big thing for some people and not so much for others, you should do what you feel is right. It wasn't deliberate, no one will call the police to your door but you do have something that belongs to else.

FrenchCat · 19/02/2017 08:30

There was a local show recently about how Tescos overcharge (if you don't check your receipt - deals constantly fail to register).

I'd never not return it to an independent- an hour going back to Tescos - I don't think so....

Giddyaunt18 · 19/02/2017 09:18

Take it back. You didn't realise at the time but now you do so do the right thing. I did this once as a teenager and walked 2 miles back to Boots to return a simple cleanser! Conscience was clear.

Quimby · 19/02/2017 09:20

""Today 18:42 Salmotrutta

Ethics and morals might mean different things to different people but the law is the same for everyone.

And I'm fairly sure it's against the law to remove goods from a shop without paying - so, its theft."

It's not though as she lacks the mens rea

Still the right thing to do would be to pay over the phone.
Also fuck the hassle of having to argue about mens rea should the cops miraculously show up now.

Giddyaunt18 · 19/02/2017 09:22

As so far away you had better phone, explain and post a cheque.You might be on CCTV, I wouldn't be able to sleep lol!

alicedrablow · 19/02/2017 09:36

Like a couple of other posters, my actions would be influenced by the type of store it was. A small independent retailer would be a no brainer - of course I would either return to the shop or ring them up, depending on the practicalities of returning.

A large multi-national chain? Probably not. Does that make me a thief? Probably. Would I care? Er, no.

EnormousTiger · 19/02/2017 09:57

MN is a den of thieves. I am ashamed of these attitudes.

Of course return it. It is no less a theft if you steal from someone who has a lot. Eg are people saying as I could afford to lose £100 mumsnetters should be free to take £100 from my house but not from my neighbour who has less cash? Where does your slippery slope of illegality end?

limitedperiodonly · 19/02/2017 10:02

Tesco was caught overcharging people very recently. A BBC investigation last week found it happened in 33 of 50 stores visited.

That's a big mistake in a lot of Tesco stores in a relatively small area. It doesn't justify theft, but it's the sort of thing that leads people like FrenchCat to decide that if Tesco makes a little mistake with a lot of customers, then their own little mistake would go some way to evening up the score.

I liked this bit of the report: The investigation was triggered after discrepancies in receipts were discovered by a member of BBC staff. This is my kind of person Grin. I always check receipts, but most people don't.

It's retailers' responsibility to make sure they are charging correctly. Otherwise they could fall foul of laws on unfair trading. What luck for Tesco that the BBC picked it up. Now they can put it right and make every effort to trace and refund the people they've overcharged.

I think the OP should call the shop. It would be a nice thing to do. But if she doesn't, I don't think karma or the cops are going to get her and I'm sure she'll get to sleep eventually.

iamavodkadrinker · 19/02/2017 10:02

Lol a den of thieves. I don't think not being arsed to take back an accidentally stolen orange makes one akin tin Ronnie Biggs tbh.