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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Was I unreasonable to do this?

180 replies

KissyMissy · 21/12/2023 22:24

So..done my usual supermarket shop this evening and noticed the food/toy donation trolley looking a bit bare.

I paid for my shopping as usual, then went back round the aisles and picked out two toys worth around £10 each and put them in the bank (didn't pay)

Supermarkets make a huge profit and felt sad for families in hostels etc this Christmas!

OP posts:
littleblackcat27 · 22/12/2023 07:34

You are stupid.

HTH

cranleighma · 22/12/2023 07:40

People saying it's not that bad because the supermarket makes big profits are also a bit thick if they don't realise the supermarket will continue to make a big profit and will bump up prices to cover thefts.
DOH!!!

3luckystars · 22/12/2023 07:41

Like Robin Hood?

SparklyMularky · 22/12/2023 07:45

cranleighma · 22/12/2023 07:40

People saying it's not that bad because the supermarket makes big profits are also a bit thick if they don't realise the supermarket will continue to make a big profit and will bump up prices to cover thefts.
DOH!!!

We can realise both but thanks. I think those that have said that are willing to cover this amount for some vulnerable children.

LadyMacbethWasMisunderstood · 22/12/2023 07:46

You were totally unreasonable.

And just in case you are tempted to do it again, or anyone reading this is because they think it’s not stealing, you are entirely wrong about that. It definitely is.

The definition of theft is the dishonest appropriation of property belonging to another with the intention of permanently depriving.

You appropriated the toys by treating them as your own and putting them in the donation box.

The only reason security usually wait until after a person leaves the store is that from an evidential point of view it’s easier to prove dishonest appropriation with intention to permanently deprive if the person has left; it prevents the person from a credible claim that they were going to put the item back. But once you have put it in the donation box the evidence that you were dishonestly appropriating with the intention to permanently deprive the store would be pretty watertight.

25 years ago when I was a very junior barrister I successfully conducted a prosecution of someone for theft when they had put the item (a piece of costume jewellery) in their underwear. They never left the shop, but the evidence that they had dishonestly appropriated the item with the intention of permanently depriving was overwhelming.

JustEatTheOneInTheBallPit · 22/12/2023 07:53

Mumsnet really ramps up at Christmas. Come for the MIL rants… stay for the petty theft.

AllAboardTootToot · 22/12/2023 08:00

Not quite getting the pat on the back you thought you were OP, eh?

I love when threads develop like this 😂

mottytotty · 22/12/2023 08:04

I can’t imagine being so tight that I would steal £20 worth of toys for the food bank instead of just paying for them. And then brag about it on Mumsnet as if I was Robin Hood, along with the imaginary donations to charity.

Allfur · 22/12/2023 08:04

Ladymacbeth, she didn't hide them in her knickers though, she just moved them from one part if the shop to another, hardly the same.

mottytotty · 22/12/2023 08:07

Allfur · 22/12/2023 08:04

Ladymacbeth, she didn't hide them in her knickers though, she just moved them from one part if the shop to another, hardly the same.

The intention was to appropriate the goods, so she would be found guilty if the store prosecuted her, 100%.

LadyMacbethWasMisunderstood · 22/12/2023 08:11

@Allfur. I know she didn’t hide them in her knickers. I read the post perfectly well. My point is that you do not have to leave the store to be guilty of theft. I have no doubt at all that the OP’s actions fulfilled the test for theft.

cranleighma · 22/12/2023 08:19

@cranleighma
'People saying it's not that bad because the supermarket makes big profits are also a bit thick if they don't realise the supermarket will continue to make a big profit and will bump up prices to cover thefts.
DOH!!!'

@SparklyMularky
We can realise both but thanks. I think those that have said that are willing to cover this amount for some vulnerable children.

Yeah right, because of course the supermarkets only put up prices for those shoppers who express a willingness to cover the cost of thefts. Everyone else (including those who are really struggling to cover the cost of their own shopping) have some magic discount.

Dear god....

SparklyMularky · 22/12/2023 08:20

@cranleighma no, they'll put it up for you too because you're not very nice. Please don't assume I'm an idiot who can't work these things out because you want a bun fight or to feel superior. I'm saying I don't care if they put the price up a little.

Allfur · 22/12/2023 08:22

I never understand why people can't disagree without being rude or name calling

CaroleSinger · 22/12/2023 08:22

WhereIsBebèsChambre · 21/12/2023 22:27

So when the charity leaves the shop, they ll set the alarms off?

This ^

Really didn't think this one through did you? They'll know something in the bank wasn't paid for. Duh!

cosypompoms · 22/12/2023 08:23

Good for you. I'd love to have the guts to do it!

cranleighma · 22/12/2023 08:24

@SparklyMularky you might not care about supermarket price increases for people who are really struggling with the cost of living, perhaps because you're not very nice.

Gosbert · 22/12/2023 08:27

It's not really though is it. It's not like any CEO sits around saying, you know what ... theft has dropped dramatically, lets lower prices. You know how much profit they make? They don't care about the consumer, they care about money.

StrawberryWater · 22/12/2023 08:30

If you were that desperate to help why not buy the toys and put them in?

As it is you’re caused a mess for others to sort out. Highly likely someone will remove those toys anyway because they’ve seen what you’ve done (CCTV) and if not straight away then the alarm will go off at the collection point causing a nightmare for the charity collectors.

Slow hand clap for you but it’s ok. I’m sure you feel wonderfully warm and smug thinking you’ve done one over in the supermarkets (you haven’t).

CaroleSinger · 22/12/2023 08:31

cosypompoms · 22/12/2023 08:23

Good for you. I'd love to have the guts to do it!

She hasn't done it though has she? All that will happen is the alarms will go off when the charity try to leave the store and it will take seconds with a scanner to find out which items weren't paid for and they'll just go back on the shelf. OP hasn't really achieved anything with this. It won't work.

Wishimaywishimight · 22/12/2023 08:55

Don't be ridiculous, you are a thief and you know it, absolutely nothing to be proud of.

N0KIA · 22/12/2023 09:03

And if it make a child smile this Christmas then no harm is done!

Well there is. The shop is now down 2 items and it gets recorded on the years loses as missing stock. Think if more people thought like you and did this (which they probably do). Add that to the shoplifting bill and you've got shelf prices increasing to cover the loses. It wont come out of the big bosses wallets, they will pass the bill onto staff and public in the form of pay cuts and price increases.

BlastedPimples · 22/12/2023 09:09

Supermarkets making huge profits and rise in food banks are separate issues.

It was a daft move, an empty gesture really not to mention theft and the toys will be removed.

Fivepigeons · 22/12/2023 09:12

YANBU
they expect working class people to fork out extra to help poorer people whilst getting to look like the supermarket cares by supporting the food bank... this is a business that generates millions. They should damn well gibe these items to the food bank for free

cranleighma · 22/12/2023 09:14

Doesn't this post appear every Christmas? 😂

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