self checkout stealing

[starshipsweremeanttofly]

Yes IABU.
I started this around 2 weeks ago, a shop I visit several times per week. The first time, I can't remember if it was an accident or a conscious choice. I put through most of the items and threw one in my bag unscanned. This shop doesn't weigh the items on self scanner and doesn't have security bleep things on the exit. I have been maybe once since where I paid for everything.
Has anyone else done this sort of thing? It's partly a rush I guess, sounds cringey to say it. Partly driven by money worries. I'm not in a great place mentally.
It's a big chain, not excusing it, just I'm sure someone will say I'm stealing from a small independent shop.
I'm just trying to understand myself and try to bloody stop.

@WhatifIfeellikeacat

A plain clothes man {I won't name the shop!} said ''Are you going to pay for the smoothie you drank?''....He had retrieved it from the bin by the self service till.

I was mortified, said ''I'm really sorry, no excuse for what I did''...and paid.
I was lucky he didn't call the police

So he didn't get a medal then

No, He didn't.

But his gentlemanly behaviour was so shaming that it made me sure I never repeated it.

The reproach in his eyes as he proffered the empty bottle was really, really shaming.

Wherever he is, I am thankful.

I wasn't banned from the shop, either. It was just when 'self service' tills came in, and they were a novel thing.

''Let he {or she} who be without sin cast the first stone... ''

I bet it’s Waitrose. My local store has non-weighing self-service checkouts and the temptation to not pay for stuff is obvious. It’s just too easy. One of the Bake-off winners recently got caught shoplifting from her local store.

I don’t, of course, partly because I don’t need to, partly because it’s the wrong thing to do and partly because I like Waitrose. They sell stuff that other supermarkets don’t, and being banned would be a significant PITA.

Yabu but these harsh responses are a bit ott

kleptomania is a common condition and many people suffer from it, many celebrities have been known to suffer when other stresses are present (Anthony Wirral Thompson, that Quinn from bake off, wyonna Ryder to name but a few)

You need to work out what is triggering the need to shoplift

No I havent personally done it. However my mother in law who is in her 70s and not struggling financially told us boastfully a couple of years ago shed stolen an expensive jacket from a shop and a couple of other things cause it gave her a buzz. I'm not sure if she ever done it again as I told her I was shocked and made it clear how much I disapproved so she wouldnt tell me.

OP adults shoplifting it's not a good look, you'll be mortified when (not if) you get caught and could end up with a criminal conviction.

You will get caught eventually, don't think just because you get out the door you are home free, there are cameras watching the tills and next time you go in you might be asked to leave.

Go to the staffed tills so you don't get the temptation. If money is tight then I'm sure there are items you don't need (for me, crisps, squash etc) so there is no need to steal.

Big firms also have staff to pay, suppliers to pay etc and many are struggling, but even if they were super profitable it would still be wrong to steal from them.

Omg this is SO common.

I used to work in fashion retail and our shrinkage was huge - baring in mind most of our items were large in comparison to the wide range of items supermarkets sell and we didn’t have self service. I can just imagine how my company’s losses would pale in comparison to large retailers.

All I’m going to say is stop. Especially if it’s your local store where the staff recognise you as it would be a massive inconvenience if you get a permanent ban. Being arrested for shoplifting is minor in the grand scheme, but extremely embarrassing and in certain sectors would lead to dismissal or at least work against you when job hunting.

There’s an implicit trust given when using self service options in store. You’re just fucking over the rest of us when you abuse their trust. Prices will raise.

I have tried self-checkouts at a few supermarkets. In Asda, they do a random check quite regularly. Makes me feel like a thief. Once they scanned a few items and told me that one item wasn't scanned and I had to add it to the list. It was one of the last items I scanned actually. So now I am aware of their scanning machines as well

Hey op, are you struggling for money and or food? What do you have going on at home? You started a post for a reason what do you want help with lovely?

Oh I could never do this. YABU

You are stealing. Stop it

I wouldn't be able to enjoy something if I knew I'd stolen it, which would make it a pointless endeavour for me. Perhaps you have a lower sense of shame or guilt than your average upstanding citizen?

I expect it gives you a horrible feeling as you are sharing this on here. I can understand the money worries and I’m sure you can’t be the only person doing this. You know it’s not the right thing to do & I think some of the suggestions such as use the manned checkouts are a good idea. Perhaps shop in Lidl too, no self checkouts to tempt you & it’s cheaper too.

I'd be interested to know the race of the women who were caught stealing and let off. I'm guessing - white?

If this is real then you should stop. You could end up with a criminal record. Don’t use the self checkout. Get some help with your mental health, start with your GP.

Thieves cost retail millions every year. That puts up prices and keeps staff wages down. Retail workers are often on minimum wage or just above it. You’re making it harder for people already struggling in the current situation. Still feeling that rush?

Seriously, get help.

Don’t you feel stressed out and anxious about getting caught? Sorry but I have enough on my mind to deal with that too

I used self checkout without any issues. One time, they did a random scan on my bag and told me I had scanned plain croissants instead of chocolate croissants. In the same shop, I had scanned whole meal bread instead of a seeded loaf. As there were two mistakes in the same shop, it looked like I had done this deliberately. The reality is I must have scanned the wrong shelf and I think I must have been doing that for ages (this was pre Covid when baked items were loose). My cheeks were on fire and I looked so guilty. I was so mortified I haven’t used self checkout since.

What ever about stealing is wrong which it is no doubt, I would just imagine the sheer embarrassment of being caught. Like imagine being that one who gets caught robbing a tin of beans or whatever it is. Is it really worth it? Being confronted in front of everyone, dragged off to the office or whatever they do, being banned from your local shop, all for a tin of beans or muffin. Really not worth it.

I am going to put my hands up and admit in my younger days when I was skint I did this a lot I'm pretty sure it's why I have such bad luck now lol.

You are a thief

Just googled ''Self service tills'' and Sainsbury's Local in one of the Wealthiest London Boroughs has had to implement a ''proof of purchase'' for the 5p {now 10p} carrier bags as so many customers were nicking them.

It says self service tills have caused an upswing in theft.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5215073/Shoppers-steal-3-2bn-self-service-tills-year.html

You may be feeling there is some unfairness in your life that means you are entitled to a little extra. Obviously YABU, but I would be thinking about your underlying beliefs about what you are entitled to and why you might be hard done by etc. Bear in mind, it may be something outside of your awareness that is driving you to do this.

Honestly this thread has to be wind up. A thief coming on asking for sympathy, empathy, permission, validation, whatever.