Witnessing theft

[Oneapenny2]

Today I was in a well known big store putting my purchases through self checkout. As I was waiting for the guy looking out for customers in difficulty etc I was watching a woman in the next self scan area obviously stealing.She was up to all sorts of tricks like asking for help then the minute their back was turned starting again with one item scanned then one item pretending to scan & placing it in the bag. I can't believe how they get off with such blatant theft. It was an interesting sight to say the least. To be fair given she was elderly I found the cheek of it quite funny which I know is awful. I feel bad about finding it funny.

What’s the question for am I being unreasonable?

For finding it funny

I find it sad that elderly or anyone for that matter is having to resort to stealing from supermarkets in 2025

Seems sad that an elderly lady was going to such lengths to steal

I would have reported her though! She is stealing - which is wrong

I agree. It was just the way she was doing this almost like it was natural & OK. I found the whole episode shocking but in a way funny at how expert she appeared.It was probably nerves thinking any minute now she will be caught & I've just witnessed it.

So you stood there and watched but did nothing?

I reported blatant shoplifting before to be fair they were high as a kite and the product was sliding out their coats so the staff might have noticed but I still told the staff who called big kev to pick them up outside the doors nice man really REALLY tall and intimidating

I was shocked & to be honest almost like I was frozen. It was a nervous internal laugh given she was at least 80 & the whoke thing was like something out of a comedy sketch.

Well, I must be way more of a sceptic than you! I don’t think it’s funny at all.

Every self check-out I've been to weighs what is scanned. How did she manage to get through with only scanning half the items?

If I saw someone stealing luxury items or stealing from a small family run shop, I'd report it.

If I saw someone stealing essentials from a large chain supermarket, I saw nothing 🤷‍♀️

Unfortunately self service emboldens "normal folk" who wouldn't usually steal - to steal.

It's rather easy to get away with.

I've spoken to a manager of a supermarket. Their stance was : "what we save on employing staff, more than makes up for the theft- it's factored in "

I've no idea but the items didn't come up on the monitor & there was no beep. The reason I found it funny was how blatant it was almost like is this really happening. I know it's not a laughing matter but to be fair this woman had a funny approach to what she was doing.

I don’t make a distinction at all, as we all pay for it in the end. If you feel that strongly about people allegedly stealing out of necessity, why don’t you step in and offer to pay for the items?

No I don’t think it’s funny. But I also would have minded my business like you did, security and cameras are there for a reason and if they didn’t see her steal, neither did I.

You just never know what someone is going through and am I going to crucify someone for stealing who can’t afford to feed themselves or their family. Absolutely not. Not my place at all.

Unfortunately, people are motivated to steal for all sorts of reasons. Some people do it simply because they enjoy it.

I actually witnessed my mother doing this. She liked glass bottled water and put that in her shopping trolley instead of basket as it was heavy, I was carrying the basket.

I think I raised my eyebrows a bit when we'd got back and I realised but what on earth was I going to say?

So everyone else pays more because of theft? That doesn't seem fair unless we all do it?!

I used to report shoplifters but now, if it's food shopping, I just think it's fair play due to the price hikes.

It’s not in the least bit funny. And shows just how entitled you are for asking the question.
You don’t know her circumstances and whether it’s because she can’t afford the shopping and still needs to eat, potentially dementia related or as a result of other mental health conditions. These are far more likely than the ‘she just wants to steal’ view.
It’s also none of your business.
Laughing at an elderly person in these circumstances is just disrespectful.

you have a very strange sense of humour if you thought that was funny

I mean judging by the cost of stuff at the moment I completely understand why she was stealing, really sad that she most likely has to.