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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to keep a dvd that my 3 year old accidently stole from a supermarket today?

326 replies

goodomen · 12/08/2008 20:25

I was shopping at a major supermarket today and had agreed to let dd have a dvd for 5.99. She was holding it in the trolley.

Basically I forgot to give to the check out person to swipe so we didn't pay for it.
I only realised this after I had strapped my other 2 children in to the car and was lifting dd out of the trolley and saw it on her knee.
I didn't want to have to go all the way back in.
I feel a bit guilty, but then again I must have spent thousands of pounds at this shop over the years.

What do you think. AIBU to keep it? Is it stealing? Do I worry too much?

OP posts:
maidamess · 12/08/2008 20:27

Depends. is it one you want to watch? If so, keep it.

Original poster
goodomen · 12/08/2008 20:28

Maidamess it is one dd wants to watch. I am not that in to Peppa Pig.

OP posts:
misdee · 12/08/2008 20:28

its stealing.

CantSleepWontSleep · 12/08/2008 20:29

Yes it's stealing, and yes you were wrong not to go back in when you realised before even leaving the premises. How much you spend there is totally irrelevant.

SlartyBartFast · 12/08/2008 20:29

watch it, then take it back

procrastinatingparent · 12/08/2008 20:29

Ahem. It is stealing.

barnsleybelle · 12/08/2008 20:29

The same thing happened to me, with a teddy that dd was holding in the trolley seat..
I too noticed as i was putting her in the car seat.

I too felt a wee bit guilty, but i did keep it.....

I feel naughty just telling you!!!

DisenchantedPlusBump · 12/08/2008 20:30

They will know you have it

next time you go in alarms will ring, red lights will flash and a big cage will lower down from the ceiling and trap you till the bill turns up.

Or not... I'd keep it and bung £3 in a charity box

Heated · 12/08/2008 20:30

oooh tesco karma - you'll be massively overcharged next week

SlartyBartFast · 12/08/2008 20:30

we have all doneit, well our dc's!!!

may be not all, but 90%

honeybehappy · 12/08/2008 20:30

keep it, you worry too much.

SesQal · 12/08/2008 20:33

Black and white answer - it's stealing and you were wrong and you know it.

However, I think most people - myself included - would be tempted to just keep it. I like the suggestion of putting the money in the charity box but at the end of the day the right thing to do would be to go back and explain and offer to pay. (Sorry!)

yummymummy1405 · 12/08/2008 20:33

Twice this has happened to us both times cheap irrelevant things relax it's a supermarket they won't care and if they do u didn't realize.

Original poster
goodomen · 12/08/2008 20:34

I was thinking the same thing about giving the same amount to a charity.

Cantcleepwontsleep would you honestly have taken all 3 children (all under 5) out of their car seats and back in after a reasonably stressful shop?

If anything I was thinking that next time I go I will pay for it.

OP posts:
zaphod · 12/08/2008 20:34

Well, watch it, but pay for it when you next shop. The size of the supermarket is irrelevant.

LookattheLottie · 12/08/2008 20:35

Keep it. This has happened on a couple of occassions to me. Dd (14mo) has picked things up without me knowing a few times and I'm home before I've realised it's happened. She's had a book and a set of Dora figures from doing this!

It isn't stealing in the normal sense. Your dd didn't set out to steal the dvd and nor did you. You didn't even realise you'd left the store with it.

It's one of those things, just keep a closer eye on them in the future lol. I have to watch mine like a hawk now!

Egg · 12/08/2008 20:36

Last Easter DS1 accidentally shoplifted a 99p soft toy rabbit from Tesco. I had let him hold it in the pushchair as we walked round and then forgot to pay. I got halfway up the hill on the way home and realised and went back as I was mortified and I paid for it and apologised (they were very nice and had not noticed). I was walking though so easier to go back, but if I had been in your situation and had got all the DCs strapped in the car etc I would take it back on my next visit.

Dior · 12/08/2008 20:37

Message withdrawn

Heated · 12/08/2008 20:38

I always complain to the supermarket & get refunded if they leave anything out of my Internet shopping delivery, but have found they are not interested if I get anything extra by mistake so I don't bother even informing them now...isn't that also theft since I didn't pay for it?

BreeVanderCampLGJ · 12/08/2008 20:38

Oh dear God.

What a wonderful selection of role models you posters are for the next generation.

Here is a NEWS FLASH

It is stealing

You could have called the store when you got home and asked them to debit your card, but no you would rather come on here and seek dubious approval for your theiving.

Posts like this give MN a bad name.

Original poster
goodomen · 12/08/2008 20:39

I'm glad to hear I am not the only person this has happened to!
I will probably take it back next I go. DD has already watched some of it.

OP posts:
BreeVanderCampLGJ · 12/08/2008 20:40

LookattheLottie

No, but she knew she was leaving the car park with it.

doggiesayswoof · 12/08/2008 20:41

It's stealing, but I wouldn't lose any sleep over it. Keep it (I would have done the same).

I mean it's not like your dd came home with an old lady's purse by mistake

Original poster
goodomen · 12/08/2008 20:42

That is a bit over the top BreeVanDerCamp.

Obviously I am worried at the idea of being branded a theif!

OP posts:
piratecat · 12/08/2008 20:45

ld have kept it and not even posted tbh.

so shoot me