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Original poster

I accidentally stole an entire big shop

624 replies

Rayoffingsunshine · 07/12/2023 20:17

I spent about £95 on a big shop 3 weeks ago. I went through the scan and go. I had my two boys with me (2 and 3 months) and I paid using contactless. I didn't grab the receipt which I didn't notice until I got home and was annoyed because the supermarket had an offer for money off voucher if you spend so much that I had intended to grab but only realised I didn't have it when I got home.
I budget everything and wrote the shop on my budget app straight away so I noticed the discrepancy on my account within a few days. I thought it was just taking a little longer than normal to process but 3 weeks later there's still no record of it. I've checked every account I have including my husband's just in case I had his card though I'm certain it was just my day to day debit card. The only thing I can think is that the payment didn't process and I just didn't notice and walked straight out. But surely someone would have stopped me! I remember a friend telling me once, with a tiny shop, just a quick lunch on the go kind of shop, this happened to her once and she was stopped in the car park by security. I don't understand how this has happened. I wouldn't have been quick to leave because my 2 year old moves at a snails pace.

If I go and talk to customer service in the shop will they believe that is was a genuine mistake and just let me pay for it or will I get in trouble?

OP posts:
Comedycook · 07/12/2023 21:41

Just forget about it.

You don't work there therefore you made a mistake. Perhaps these shops should employ more checkout assistants and get rid of self checkouts then mistakes like this wouldn't happen.

tachycardigan · 07/12/2023 21:41

MonZb · 07/12/2023 21:38

Posters on there are horrified over a 30p bag not being paid for! Confused

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It’s not about 30p. Supermarkets don’t even keep the money, it goes to charity. The bag charge is meant to discourage people from using too many plastic bags that end up in the ocean choking sealife.

If everyone steals the bags then they won’t reuse their existing ones.

Duh · 07/12/2023 21:41

Shakeylegs · 07/12/2023 21:40

The chances of any legal recourse against OP are absolutely tiny, and even if some was taken the mitigations are such that there would be no public interest in prosecuting and very little chance of a conviction.

I’m a Magistrate and if this case came before me I’d a) be angry and b) extremely surprised.

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Incorrect. The act (actually rea) and intent (men’s rea) do not have to be simultaneous.

I edited this as the post I commented on was edited. In the original they said ‘but it can’t be theft as you didn’t intend to steal at the time’ which is absolutely incorrect.

BrieAndChilli · 07/12/2023 21:42

If you were using scan and shop you will have had to scan your Clubcard so it will be linked to you.

Nanaof1 · 07/12/2023 21:42

onlysortoflikegardening · 07/12/2023 21:05

I would and have. I got out to the carpark and unloaded my paid for groceries into the back of the car recently. I found a small item I'd missed underneath. We went back into the store and paid for it. Honesty is important to me.

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Ditto. I get angry when people steal from me, so I would be a hypocrite if I stole from others. Even accidentally; at some point you realize what happened, and what you do after that knowledge shows your level of integrity.

Millymollymaisy · 07/12/2023 21:42

I had something happen with Asda home shop about a month ago now. The delivery was on the way to me then it said delivered I called customer services because it hadn’t been they said the van had broken down and it wouldn’t come today and issued me a refund . 20 mins later the delivery man pulled up and delivered my shopping which was £100 worth. I kept it and didn’t say anything and don’t feel guilty at all

Comedycook · 07/12/2023 21:43

Lots of goodie two shoes on this thread.

allmyliesaretrue · 07/12/2023 21:44

LauderSyme · 07/12/2023 21:13

@FatFatMary "Just because your morals are different to mine doesn't make yours automatically right"

Just because I think it's fine to keep something I haven't paid for and should have paid for, and know full well I haven't paid for but don't intend to ever pay for, doesn't make my morals lacking in any way whatsoever.

🤔🙄

It does.

Butterflywings18 · 07/12/2023 21:44

Dontopenthetrapdoor · 07/12/2023 20:35

This happened to me. I went back to the shop and advised them what had happened. They called over security (told me not to panic), and security went over the CCTV footage of the time and till I had been at but couldn't find any record of me. As they didn't have any record of me not paying/taking stuff there was nothing they could do and I got the shopping for free. I would have been happy to pay for the shopping as I had not deliberately set out to steal but they said without any evidence they couldn't do anything.
I went back as 1. I'm honest by nature and 2 it's my local shop and I didn't want to have to avoid it forever in case I got stopped as a shoplifter!.

If it was one item I'd noticed on my receipt I'd probably igore it. A full shopping I'd do as quote. You'll be fine 👍

allmyliesaretrue · 07/12/2023 21:44

Comedycook · 07/12/2023 21:43

Lots of goodie two shoes on this thread.

Lots of dishonest people too...

SD1978 · 07/12/2023 21:44

Personally- I'd go back/ call to explain. Whilst the chance of being caught is small, it's possible, and I (personally) wouldn't be comfortable with knowing I'd taken goods without paying. All the arguments of they are a big corporation, they won't notice, etc doesn't align with my personal morals which is what would be effected by this situation- I wouldn't feel comfortable or be happy I'd 'gotten away with it'.

allmyliesaretrue · 07/12/2023 21:45

Millymollymaisy · 07/12/2023 21:42

I had something happen with Asda home shop about a month ago now. The delivery was on the way to me then it said delivered I called customer services because it hadn’t been they said the van had broken down and it wouldn’t come today and issued me a refund . 20 mins later the delivery man pulled up and delivered my shopping which was £100 worth. I kept it and didn’t say anything and don’t feel guilty at all

Glad you can live with yourself. I couldn't.

socks1107 · 07/12/2023 21:45

I did this. My daughter had been for a pcr test, was unwell and in the car so ran in grabbed everything we needed to stay home (it was late 21 so only they needed to isolate) thought I'd paid.
It never came out my bank so I bought some bags that morissons pre make for charity the next time I went there

CommonOrNot · 07/12/2023 21:46

onlysortoflikegardening · 07/12/2023 21:05

I would and have. I got out to the carpark and unloaded my paid for groceries into the back of the car recently. I found a small item I'd missed underneath. We went back into the store and paid for it. Honesty is important to me.

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More fool you. I’m sure the billionaire owners are so grateful that you realised your error and as a result put food on their gold slab tables 🙄

FatFatMary · 07/12/2023 21:46

allmyliesaretrue · 07/12/2023 21:45

Glad you can live with yourself. I couldn't.

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Don’t you think that’s a bit extreme

allmyliesaretrue · 07/12/2023 21:47

CommonOrNot · 07/12/2023 21:46

More fool you. I’m sure the billionaire owners are so grateful that you realised your error and as a result put food on their gold slab tables 🙄

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Rubbish! only can look herself in the mirror knowing that she is honest and did the right thing!

Can't fucking believe the dishonesty out there!!

Differentstarts · 07/12/2023 21:47

I work in a supermarket when this happens security takes a photo and then will approach the person when they see them next. They wouldn't contact the police as they can see on camera you attempted to pay and your card declined

SuspiciousSue · 07/12/2023 21:47

One time, we were in a big rush and scanned our shop through. We scanned the card and a ‘receipt’ came out. It was only when I got home and looked at the receipt I realised it was a decline slip. Must have used the wrong card or something. I was back there the next day so I took the slip to customer services and they said they didn’t know how to take the payment. It happens 🤷‍♀️

allmyliesaretrue · 07/12/2023 21:48

FatFatMary · 07/12/2023 21:46

Don’t you think that’s a bit extreme

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No, I don't. Integrity and honesty are massively important to me.

Theunamedcat · 07/12/2023 21:48

Did you swipe your club card or anything so they can see your transaction?

Are you certain it isn't pending in your account?

VegeBurgers · 07/12/2023 21:49

The supermarkets pay 1 employee (who’s rushing around fixing the tills, helping customers and much more) to watch over 8-10 tills. Theft and mistakes will happen and they need to suck it up 🤷‍♀️.

FatFatMary · 07/12/2023 21:49

People who think it’s morally wrong, were you raised in a religious environment ?

onlysortoflikegardening · 07/12/2023 21:50

CommonOrNot · 07/12/2023 21:46

More fool you. I’m sure the billionaire owners are so grateful that you realised your error and as a result put food on their gold slab tables 🙄

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It's not even about that. It was a small tube of sweets. I feel better about myself knowing I didn't steal. If I did, I'd feel wound up about it and I don't want to feel that way. So it's as much about my own comfort as anything.

Lavender14 · 07/12/2023 21:50

I would absolutely go back and raise it with customer services and pay it if they have a record of the amount you owe.

BorrowersAreVermin · 07/12/2023 21:50

Honest mistake. You could have tapped the contactless card and for whatever reason it hasn't gone through. Happens all the time, if you're not giving it your full attention how are you to know? Personally I wouldn't worry about it.