To ask if you’ve ever accidentally stolen something

[Sevendaysaweek]

Did you return it?

I’ve done it plenty of times! Never take it back cause it’s always been some big corporate company. If it was an small business I’d take it back.

Accidentally stole a bag of cat litter that was hanging on the back of my trolley, so I forgot to scan it and the cashier didn’t notice. I only realised I’d stolen it when I got home. I hadn’t kept my receipt and didn’t think I could very clearly explain to the shop so didn’t return it. I would have done if it had been something valuable or from a small business.

My 18 month year old was in the pushchair in the sweet shop. I paid for my magazine and when we got outside I noticed he had picked up a small kinder egg that had been on display at his level in the pushchair! Took it back straight away and paid for it. The owner was not impressed at all! She really glared at my toddler !
I once forgot to put a cheap lipstick on the belt at the checkout and only noticed once all the bags were in the boot of the car and it was rolling around under all the bags. I hadn't put it on the belt to pay for it by mistake then all the bags on top of it meant I didn't see it and held it in place.
It was pouring down and the car was a long walk away and nobody chased after me and it didn't have a tag on it or anything so I left it. I did feel guilty thought and didn't go back into that store for months afterwards!

A pair of sunglasses from TopShop in my university town when I was 21. I tried them on and then pushed them up on my head. Pottered around the shop a bit, paid for the things I wanted and forgot the glasses and their tag were on top of my head until I got home. Never took them back or went into that TopShop again as I felt so worried.

Grass seed from B&Q. I’d carried it around for so long I forgot I had it. When I got home and I was unloading the car I checked the receipt and realised I hadn’t paid for it.
Also bananas in Co Op. the self serve machine had a glitch and charged me 0p for them. I told the cashier and he put them on manually. Second time it did it, weeks later I was in a rush so I didn’t tell him.

Pushchairs are clearly the theme here!!

I stole a packet of Fruit Pastilles. Just wandered out with them balanced on the buggy hood having self-scanned everybody else. Walked back and paid.

I bought a number of items.including two individual muffins from marks and Spencers bakery counter a couple of weeks ago.. When I scanned the first muffin and put it in the bagging area it kept saying I hadn't put it in the bagging area. The self scan woman was busy with someone else and I was annoyed and didn't know what to do so I put the second muffin on the bagging area without scanning it and that sorted it right out. Waltzed out of there with my free muffin and my heart pounding. Not sure if it was completely accidental shop lifting but certainly my first ever shop lifting experience aged 47 😱

I stole a Labrador once. Wasn’t accidental though. Owner was going to have him put down the next day.

Didn’t return him. He was my boy from the moment I chucked him in the back of my car.

My son stole a clear fake foot you display shoes on from a shoe shop when he was a toddler in buggy! We got to the park and I noticed it. I didn’t take it back but if it had a shoe on it I would gave returned it.

Years ago at a huge Christmas Fair at a stately home 60+ miles away.

We went round the stalls first, before going into the house to see the decorations. I bought some beautiful glasses that were quite pricey and a few baubles. The stall holder wrapped them very well and offered to keep them until we'd been around the house - she put our name on the boxes she placed them in.

We collected them and went home. I didn't open them for a few weeks, until Christmas Eve. As well as my beautiful glasses there was a matching decanter in one of the boxes. Nothing I could do then.

I phoned the stately home after Christmas was over and they said if I didn't know the name of the stall holder there was nothing they could do. I felt awful, it was very expensive. We'd paid cash for a change instead of card. I'd been saving up my expenses.

So we went back the next year. DH said I was daft but I insisted. She wasn't there. I asked at a couple of other stalls if they knew her but nobody did. So I still have it, unused.

I still think the stately home could have done more, they must have had a list of stall holders somewhere.

Yes.. well this one is not technically me but DS did put a toy in the basket of the pushchair! To be honest when I returned it they looked at me like I had gone mad!

I remember being about 5/6 and my dad took me to the shop for some sweets I chose pick n mix and a lollipop.. I remembered I didn’t pay for the lolly as it was still in my hand when I got home! I was so scared I ate it all and then hid the wrapper and stick in the bottom of the wheely bin in case the shop phoned the police

I have accidentally stolen things by forgetting that I'd had an item in the basket under the kids buggy. My kids have accidentally stolen items by grabbing stuff from the shelves and dropping them behind their backs in the buggy when they got bored. Only small things so I've never gone back with them. An onion, apple, carrot etc.

Recently I "stole" a top from Zara. I bought a shirt, a dress, and 2 mini jumper tops. I put them all on the counter together, intending to pay for all of them. The counter has a Perspex divide between customer and salesperson. The salesperson appeared to scan all items (I didn't watch closely) and then I said I'd pay on my card. I didn't try on the items. When I got home I tried them on and the shirt was too big so I took the receipt from the bag to keep it safely for exchanging and realised that I had been charged only for 3 items, and that one of the mini jumpers was in the bag but missing from the receipt. I didn't take it back. I clearly intended to and tried to pay for it.

One earring - got to the till to pay, found only one earring on the card, looked around, couldn't find it. Shop assistant got me another pair. At home I found the single one in my bag. And no, I kept it! But now I only have two, having lost the third.
Really, they should sell all earrings in 3s (or singly) for serial earring losers like me.

Toddler once grabbed a child’s top from a rail while I was browsing, I thought he was hugging his muslin as he’d scrunched it into a ball! Didn’t notice until we got home and I realised it had glittery unicorns on it 😳

I went through the self checkout at our local co-op, got halfway across the car park and couldn’t remember paying. Went back and sure enough I had scanned, packed and walked out. No-one noticed. Had to re scan it as someone had come after me and started scanning theirs.

A very expensive Goose for Christmas Dinner one year from a well known posh supermarket. It didnt scan and I forgot to declare it at the till as I was chatting to my mum at the time.

It was only when I got home that I thought ‘hang on, that wasn’t as much as I thought it would be...’ and checked the receipt.

I didnt go back for months. The goose was delicious.

Yes! I once brought a play tunnel and it felt a bit heavy but didn't think anything of it... when I got home and opened it there was a massive jar of coffee and I mean massive in there.
I didn't take it back and have justified it as it must have been a free gift

I accidentally stole a pair of knickers from TopShop I think, many many years ago. I was carrying a carrier bag in front of my chest and they somehow got hooked onto the bag. I walked out of the shop and down the street, I happened to look down and saw them. I went straight back to the the shop and gave them back without any problems. God knows what people thought seeing them. 😁

I did, and still feel bad about it!

A few years ago I took baby Gdd in her pram to dd’s local small supermarket for a few things.

One thing on the list was their very fussy cat’s food, so since they had his preferred variety I took - as I thought! - two fairly large packs.

When I got to the checkout there was only one in the basket or on top of the folded hood (basket had been getting full) so I thought I was going even more bonkers than usual, and since Gdd was getting restless I just paid and left.

It was only after getting back to dd’s that I realised that cat food 2 had slipped down between the folds of the pram hood, where it was invisible unless you really looked.
I went cold to think of how easily I could have been done for shoplifting! Who on earth would have believed me?

By then it was getting dark, and raining on top, and I was due to drive an hour and a half home. But I should have taken it back regardless - I still feel guilty!

We’ve all done the putting things on the hood of the pushchair thing. (Well I have)
I accidentally stole a comb from our local supermarket when I was 9. Was day dreaming and half way to meet my mum (I’d been allowed to go off and buy Christmas presents alone). I was so mortified I shoved it to the back of my drawer and was convinced they had my name up on “the wall of shame”.
My dh when about three, picked up a strawberry that had rolled off a greengrocer’s display and ate it. The shopkeeper saw him and played merry hell. Even barred him and his mum.

My 18month old son grabbed a Halloween tinsel garland 12 years ago while he was in the buggy and I didn't notice until we'd got to the car. I thought it was cute that he'd chosen it so went pack to pay for it. We still put it up at Halloween every year!

Oh and another time I was in a clothes shop and when outside my friend noticed that there was a top on a hanger attached to my backpack It was funny but I did take it back.

Many moons ago drinks mix up. Also another one who was treated like a thief! Won't make that mistake again, although so far am happy to say I haven't accidentally stolen something since.

DD was a pain in the arse for this in her buggy.
Always smarties in our local shop
The first time i walked back to offer the money and an apology, they laughed and said don't worry, we're surprised you came back.
She also pinched a toy from Woolies (a while back!)