I accidentally didn't pay in a shop today.

[Whoyagonna]

In mitigation (though I think it would count in a court), I'm highly stressed.

So I went through the self scan thing and it kept asking for approval because I was buying paracetamol. I paid no heed, cashier came and scanned them for me. Then I needed a bag, So she had to do that for me too. Last was the machine telling there was something undedected on the belt. I walked out and ignored the machine because it is forever going on at me.

Got to bus-stop, checked for wallet. Eh. I didn't have it. So if I had been caught doing this stressful thing, it's not as if I forgot to pay, (which I did) as I didn't even have the means to pay. They'd have thought it was pure theft!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wallet is here at home. It was only £4, but Jesus I need to recover my senses.

DD stole a sponge from Primark, not even accidentally, I had told her no and she'd stuck it under the pushchair I watch her a lot more carefully in shops now!

Honestly, it's my lack of brain functioning that is worrying me.

I accidentally stole 2 pairs of mittens and didn't give them back, I'm sure Asda can spare £3, and maybe hire staff that scan all of your items instead of using the mobile scanner to hover over the visible tags then swishing all the stuff into a bag

I'm good at doing the opposite. Leaving stuff behind. I live in a small town with independent shops and more than once I've been chased down the street by someone from a shop with a loaf of bread, ham etc.,

My best was when I'd bought some underwear in the nearest big town. I phoned up and said, "I came in this morning and left my knickers behind."

We went round a supermarket the other day with DS in his pram and DH with a basket as we only needed a few bits. Got to the car (a fair distance from the shop) and as we were unpacking the pram basket found a tin of coffee!!! We couldn't get work out how it got there but as it was only a couple of quid decided to take advantage of good fortune and keep it.

Go back and pay tomorrow. That way your karma is in tact

I don't think I'd go back and pay
I like to think I an honest person... but obviously a lazy one.

How did you get home? I mean, how did you buy a bus ticket with no wallet?

What’s the for pass?

The op walked out without paying. And is posting on MN rather than going back to the shop and owning up to a supposed honest mistake.

Once in restaurant with my sister. We had 4 kids between us so a bit chaotic. I nipped to toilet before we left, bill had come so assumed she would pay it. Her turn as I got kids into coats, buggies etc, strolled off down road and I said
“ how much do I owe you?”
She thought I had paid! Went back to find manager pacing up and down in rd looking for us. [embarrassed]

OP I don’t think you sound like your a thief or have dementia. It sounds to me more like you’re under extreme stress or suffering from anxiety.

Not doing armchair diagnosis but just putting it out there as a possibility. Do you ever relax or get support? Are you eating healthily and exercising? Are you sleeping well? I’d certainly try and check those things out before worrying about any other causes.

I wouldn't bother going back for £4 the next day, its a big chain and they wont even know its gone. If you were still in the shopping centre or it was larger sure but not in this case.
I don't know why people feel guilty about this, you haven't done anything wrong its purely an accident. If you notice and take it back then where's the harm. I dont know why you'd even tell anyone you'd done it? I just go back and go through the till like im buying it fresh or put the "stolen" item back where it came from, if you do this its exactly the same as carrying the item round the store, its not a crime you have to admit to. You really don't need to show the shop how honest you are, they wont have a clue you've done it.

You’re not your!

When dd was about 18 months she swiped a large claw hammer, I didn't notice until I was strapping her into the car seat. I took it back and was told by two different members of staff that I was daft and should have kept it.

I have put a weekly shop through and realised I didn't have my purse several times, a couple of times I knew exactly where I had left it and once or twice I have had that horrible lost my purse feeling. The cashier have just put the items aside and I have given an estimate of when I will be back - my regular Sainsbury's let me take the bag of frozen food with me, which was greatly appreciated.

I have walked out of woolworths holding a bag of pick n mix after queueing and paying for other items only realised when I asked dd to hold them whilst I put my purse away. Back in we went to pay, staff laughed at me as they had watched me walk out and were discussing whether I had paid or not.

Recently got to the bottom of the escalator at Tesco and realised that dgs was still holding the item we had gone for - I had paid for all the other bits and pieces. Went straight back up to pay, I was complimented for my honesty rather than laughed at for my absent-mindedness.

I also want to add, i went through a period where I did this sort of thing loads op so don't worry, I think it was just stress.
I once went to Primark, I was wearing leggings, vest and jumper so tried on an outfit over the leggings and vest, then got distracted and accidentally put on my jumper over the outfit I was trying on and walked out. I even went to the till to pay for other stuff wearing the stolen clothes! I didn't notice till I went to the toilet much later that I was wearing the wrong clothes.

I'd go back and pay. It may be a small amount, but these mount up and cause prices to be higher than they should be. They will thank you for being honest.

Years ago, I managed to take a bra home without paying. I didn't realise until I got home and saw the security tag still on it. The tag set off the security alarm (of course) when I took it back, but the staff were very grateful that I was honest.

The unknowing thief eh?

and Brandy, it was actually all the hassle that made me forget I think. 3 paracetamol for a pound, so that's 3 times the bleeping thing kept telling me I needed assistance, then she came over and scanned her security thing and I scanned the last items. When the machine started telling me 'unknown item in the bagging area' I said a 'fuck off' under my breath, as I figured the machine was just being a pain in the arse.

I would have been mortified if stopped by security, not least because I didn't have the means to pay so I would have looked guilty as hell.

And I got there using my oyster card which is in a separate oyster card specific part of my handbag.

Note to self: despite buses only every 25 minutes, please pack your hand-bag BEFORE you check what time the bus is at.

What a drama over four bloody pounds. It was an accident forever it, move on. Don't go back to pay as they may decided to try and get you prosecuted.

If my biggest worry was that I accidently didn't pay for a £4 item, I'd be a very happy woman!

I've decided to give the four pound to the next street homeless person I see. And believe me, this is the least of my worries unfortunately.

MN is full of 'little miss goody two shoes' types who will all tell you to go back and pay.

Yeah the nerve if people who don't like breaking the law hey

I didn't break the bloody law. I forgot to friggin pay! Do you think I'd be on here otherwise? No, I'd be out robbing other pour souls.