I got caught shoplifting

[RoseBiscuitll]

I really didn't know what topic to choose for this

I'm mortified, I got caught shoplifting in boots today, I was stealing baby milk and a facial moisturiser. I'm so ashamed of myself. It was in the city center aswell. They didn't call police but they took my details, took a picture and told me I can't return to the store again

Will this picture and my details go around to the other shops near by or will it just go to the other boots shops.

I can't believe I was stupid enough to do this! I'm so embarrassed and also feel really guiltily!

Baby milk is one of the most common shoplifted items, apparently.
If you genuinely need food for your baby then please get a food bank referral and speak to your health visitor about your struggles. You may have undiagnosed post natal depression if this is an inexplicable act for you.

Facial moisturiser won't feed a child or did you conveniently wipe that bit out?

There are options out there as listed on this thread for the OP to contact if so desperate for food for her child.

Shoplifting increases prices for everyone else and is why shops are now putting a number of products in locked cabinets which makes the place look like some kind of prison supply store - is that how you want to shop?

https://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/

Please talk to your health visitor about any support she might be able to refer you to.

Charming. I just think that the OP is focussing on the embarrassment, and not on the fact that there is help available and signposted here, to feed her child and that she did, after all, steal.

The hypocrisy in the tone of your comment is visible from space.

Shoplifting increases prices for everyone else and is why shops are now putting a number of products in locked cabinets which makes the place look like some kind of prison supply store - is that how you want to shop?

I am noticing this more, and more recently. I was surprised to see security labels on products like packaged raw fish. At first I thought that they were reduced items from afar. Things are getting harder for a lot more people nowadays.

you commented once in a disparaging fashion. you could have left it there. no hypocrisy from me.

Food banks do not distribute baby milk, UNICEF put a stop to it years back.

Go to your health visitor and they should be able to help you.

And facial moisturiser? Is that desperation too?

There will be a local facebook page, our one frequently has baby food offered and requested. Hope your health visitor can help.

Why would anyone steal baby milk for ‘a thrill’ ?

Are you struggling to the point you can’t afford baby milk? Can you reach out to friends or family for help?

I agree with Murasaki and don’t think she is awful for saying that

I used to shoplift OP, I was a lot younger than I am now, early teens to be precise and I got caught and arrested. I remember the embarrassment and shame even now but I got over it and didn't do it again. If it makes you feel better I was stealing for the sake of it, I enjoyed it. I got a buzz. You were taking milk for your baby, sometimes desperation makes people do things they may not normally do. You're obviously struggling. You have been caught and reprimanded so that's your punishment and you move on. Don't let people on hear tear you down because sometimes shit happens, you don't sound like a bad person xxx

For the baby milk, does your health visitor know that you are struggling this much? They can refer to the food bank.

Because in thrill based shoplifting it doesn't matter what the item is. However the OP did then clarify that she needed the milk, so it wasn't that, I was just asking and she answered. The moisturiser on the other hand wasn't clarified.

Exactly. Stealing is wrong.

This is a really common response nowadays. The police don’t attend unless it’s for quite a high value or the shoplifter has been violent. I’d be mortified too OP but what is done is done. You’ve essentially been let off with a warning. Deep breath and thank fuck for that. They can press charges for cumulative shoplifting and tot up the value of previous hauls using cctv evidence if this has become a habit. I’d take it as an opportunity for a fresh start and explore other avenues for help.

I used to work in a supermarket and my DW does now, yes you banned from that shop. They won't send your photo to every other store, no one has time for that shit. You could probaley walk back in the original store next month and they will have forgotten all about you.

Yep baby milk is one thing but moisturiser is completely different.

God, as soon as anyone mentions formula everyone starts telling others to get off their high horses, despite the fact it's one of the number one steal to order items 🙄

Sincerely hoping people aren't messaging the OP with offers of money.

OP, your photo will be distributed among the local shops but you'll be one of 100s of shoplifters, so it's not like they'll recognise you on the door.

The shops will just go through the photo database if you steal from any of them again.

Yes they will send to other shops most likely. The moisturiser kind of takes this from desperate mum to opportunistic thief I’m afraid,
.

Nonsense.

If you need baby milk go to the food bank. You don't need to steal it.

I agree on the moisturiser, but the OP has said the milk was needed, that to me is the main issue here, the child has no milk. Not what she took or how shamed she is at the shoplifting attempt and getting caught (in the kindest possible way).

And no, it's not how I want to shop either, but it's also not a society I want to live in where people feel forced to shop lift for essentials either (yes I know the moisturiser wasn't) but with the cost of living it's becoming more and more common.

There will always be theft of course, but a tin of milk and a tube of moisturiser is far cry from those who steal hundreds of pounds in things like joints of meat, booze or other high price items to sell them on to make a profit.

"so I'm not being watched and on edge"

Being watched is ok. Sure we're all on CCTV all the time anyway. Use one of the wire baskets and hold it in the opposite hand to your coat so it doesn't look like you're trying to cover it. If you only have one item and you don't have a basket hold it loosely palm uppermost out in front of you a bit so it's really easy to see (my mum taught me that when I was quite young).