AIBU to “steal” this?

[AmiABadPersonn]

Hello everyone I just want your opinions on this as today I’ve been in a heated argument with my friend as to wether I am unreasonable or not.

I am off work on maternity leave so the funds are tight at minute. There is a man who lives near me I believe he is drug user, he sells half price stuff and also takes orders on what you want for half price. He knocks on my house about 1 or 2 times a week with a bag of half price goods. I always buy washing detergent and softeners from him because you can get a whole weeks laundry of the nice brands for around £10. Money is tight as I have just had a baby and I have 2 other children with my husband also. i also sometimes get baby milk formula from him if I’m running low because it’s cheap.

I feel like this is not wrong because if I didn’t buy it other people would. Even if no one bought it he would steal it anyway in hopes someone would buy it eventually.

Today my friend was at my house when he came so I offered her to have a look what he had. She immediately asked him where he got this stuff from and he replied “shop”. She didn’t say much after but when I finished buying my items she started shouting about how I’m funding his drugs addiction and I shouldn’t support it because I am now stealing too. I told her to relax it’s fine it’s only a couple of items. She didn’t say much and finished her coffee and left quick.

So am I morally wrong for this? Or would you do the same?

As above you are being awfully naive here buying stolen goods from a drug addict whose acquaintance you have encouraged

The OP's £10 per week detergent is after a significant discount for stolen goods. Assuming that's about half price OP is using detergent with a retail value of £80 per month. How is that even possible? I reckon I could keep us in washing powder for five years on that. Mind blown.

And every day small businesses are having to close because thieves come in and walk out with goods that eat into the businesses profit, not to mention the stress of worrying that a junkie thief carrying a knife or loaded syringe is going to threaten or hurt staff or other customers.

Can't say I'd buy or encourage him, but I am staggered at the shock horror double standards here. A couple of posts recently talking about people working and claiming benefits but general consensus was to butt out and mind your own business . Theft is theft, no?

Exactly this. You've got a bigger habit than him!!

When he's taking orders, that's you giving him a list of things to steal!

Home Bargains would be way cheaper for washing powder.

But she is making deliberate choices here, she is not “struggling to survive”, as others have said buying expensive laundry products is unnecessary, she could choose to buy cheaper ones and then prioritise buying the baby milk.

Nah, read the OP again- she’s not desperate. She’s happy to be getting nicked branded goods cheaply and doesn’t think she’s doing anything wrong. Desperate mums trying to feed and clothe their kids would switch to the cheapest supermarket value range, buy from charity shops, use food banks etc not buy stolen half price Persil.

Hes nicking it to order from the local shops. You buying it is funding his habit.

There are much better ways to get stuff cheaply (eg near to me there is a community supermarket - like a foodbank but you can get stuff cheap, no questions asked and no need to be referred. Its goods donated by shops/businesses that would otherwise go to landfill)

What you are doing is a crime. You won’t go to prison for it (unless you already have a string of convictions) as it’s the lowest culpability (for own use) and lowest value (less than £1,000). So the entry point would be a Band B fine (usually one week’s income). But you really do not want to acquire a criminal conviction for dishonesty.

The even bigger issue is having a known drug user come to your house where you have small children. That, for all the obvious reasons, places them at risk. If not from him then from his associates.

I am not getting involved in judging you. But I am advising that you extricate yourself from this toxic situation as swiftly as possible.

You are endangering your child by buying baby formula from a thief and a drug addict.

It is wrong to steal from small businesses, not supermarkets. Food and hygiene should be a right

Morally, of course you’re wrong. It’s wrong in so many ways.
That said I am not sure I wouldn’t do the same if funds were tight.
What’s that saying about never judging someone until you’ve walked in their shoes?

Of course it's wrong to steal from supermarkets. It's wrong to steal.

I don’t know why people are making out like the OP is skint. Someone who is skint isn’t spending £10 on laundry products a week!

You are morally wrong for doing this. I'd probably do it too, wouldn't steal from a shop myself though.

£10 a week on laundry? Wtf.

A couple of years ago a bloke who lives opposite us was convicted of theft and sent down for a few years. His wife/partner was convicted of receiving or handling stolen goods, also received a jail sentence and I think has just come out now. It may not have been a first offence.
You are risking jail time, OP.
I get that times are very tough but it could get a lot tougher for you and your family if you go to prison.

i also sometimes get baby milk formula from him if I’m running low because it’s cheap

Jesus. I wouldn't feed my dogs food from someone like that let alone give a baby formula from him! You're crazy. You don't have a clue what's in it.

Different people posting?

There is a MYOB culture in MN where a sizeable group think you should MYOB about everything immoral. I don't know how they'd feel about directly buying this guy's drugs because that's what's indirectly happening here.

I don't agree with either scenario but people like the OP will tie themselves in knots trying to defend it.

It’s wrong, it’s theft and you are funding his drug habit. You probably won’t get caught but if he does he might go to prison stealing the things for you. If it was my friend, I wouldn’t pass comment though, it’s not my place to scold a fully grown adult.

You’re buying baby formula from an addict/dealer?

You need your head examined.

What a pile of fucking horseshit.

Somebody who is spending £40 A MONTH on laundry detergent clearly isn't 'going hungry'.

I've been properly, bones of my arse, 'when will I next eat?' poor and trust me, at no stage was I buying shoplifted Lenor off a junkie.

Couldn't care less. That the CEO of Tesco got a $12.6 million bonus this year (what cost of living crisis eh) strikes me as bigger issue in the realm of theft and wrong doing. Carry on as far as I'm concerned.