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!

They say the hard left and hard right meet at the top of the horseshoe @PaillettenBedeckt is sadly proving that point nicely.

Other people offer a different viewpoint (actually based on OPs original post )

@PaillettenBedeckt name calls, makes derogatory character assassinations and uses hyperbole and highly emotive language and thought stopping statements, yet she's "right".

I despair. And somehow that equates to we don't care about mothers with no money and starving babies. The op isn't one. How on earth many times - she admitted she made a mistake and was worried about the CCTV (not claiming poverty and starvation) . Yet that makes us cruel, heartless witches. But not her apparently, she's the "correct" one.

I'm afraid your version of sensible and mine differs.

Sensible would have been to think, 'hang on, I've got nothing to contribute here except pointless judgment, maybe I should keep my big mouth shut because this woman is clearly in circumstances I am too privileged to understand.'

There are plenty of people in the UK who are hungry and plenty more who will be cold this winter. The fact that you feel it's beneath you to take an emotive stance on that and actually consider the impact that has on a person does not make you look sensible at all. It makes you look like someone who has their eyes closed and their fingers in their ears going la la la.

Just find it interesting that everyone thinks these government provisions are widely advertised and that everyone has the ability or knowledge to get things on finance.

Obviously I can’t speak for the OP but many people have never received that guidance and don’t have the support in real life situations and then to be spoken to like a child by people who feel they have such a high moral compass doesn’t show a good reflection on society.

It’s great you have all this knowledge but some people don’t. Also @murasaki you’re not being bullied. People are reacting to what you have said as I’m sure you and others may react to me. I wouldn’t call it bullying though, just a response.

It was a semi flippant comment re bullying, in that it was a repeated attack, not dissimilar to what other posters claimed was happening to the OP.

For the love of the sweet lord himself 😱READ THE OP. My goodness me. YOU decided she was cold and hungry and stealing out of pure desperation.

Yet STILL I'm a cold heartless witch looking down on this starving poor person with no money. I despair.

I made zero judgement on the ACTUAL story of the op (which is different to your narrative by the way) and if you actually read my previous posts you would see that my summary was "a human has made a mistake, been caught, not a good idea, learn a lesson and don't do it again " so you'll see NOWHERE have I judged her for what she actually came on here worrying about (the consequences of her mistake )

You should run a scam company overseas. You'd be really good at creating stories and characters that don't exist !

Love this reply

Thanks hun xx

Fortunately I have an awful character apparently and a reasonably thick skin, so I think I'll be fine.

I don't think you need to worry about the shop sharing your picture with other shops. I'm sure that won't happen

There's nothing you can do now. Just don't do it again. I'm sorry if you're struggling financially. But stealing in wrong. You feel shame and you know it's wrong so just move on.
Are you on all the benefits you're entitled to? If you're in debt speak to CAB or stepchange.

You don’t seem as embarrassed and ashamed now OP.

I am

But the support, help, and lovely messages off of most people on this thread have cheered me up.

Let me guess, am I not allowed to be cheered up due to what I did

Of course you are! But you also need to reflect on why you did it and whether you'd do it again.

I must have missed the post where OP announced she was Miss Moneybags and that she did this purely for a laugh.

Why do you think a mother of a young baby would steal baby formula? It was quite clearly out of desperation because of a low income. Which is a circumstance far too many people find themselves in today.

I wish I was imagining that people in the UK are becoming increasingly desperate in the face of rising prices. If only!

If this is the kind of nonsense you tell yourself to comfort yourself at night, no wonder you struggle with the very real concept of poverty.

Believe me, i have

I don’t think they are doing you any favours if they influence you to feel that you were justified in what you did. I’m glad if you are still reflecting on your mistake.

Great, as it just seemed about the repercussions, but if you've thought about it and won't do it again, then good for you. Please ignore the people saying it's OK. Good luck to you, do check all the links and the phone contract thing, you could make some savings there next month for sure and hopefully make sure you're getting what you're entitled to.

For future store encounters if you have any just say it was a misunderstanding / baby brain etc where needed. Boots is expensive compared to its competitors.
I can guarantee if you put up a post online saying you are seeking baby milk someone will provide you some in your local area. xx

For example, I forgot that I'd got a laptop on pay per month with a dongle a few years ago, then realised I had totally paid off the laptop, and got 300 quid back, they don't always tell you......

@NeedaBreakSoon i never said that i agree with crime. crime is those people who go out there stabbing and killing, taking food for your baby i don't see it as a crime. they should lower the prices then. the government steals from you everyday and you don't even notice .. but that is ok? per example if she went to steal alcohol, absolutely wrong but cmon.. a bit of understanding is milk...

Such good advice @murasaki
Especially with some companies who don’t inform you that you’re paying outside of the contract prices!
Also OP have you got broadband etc, most providers do deals for people in receipt of UC now!
VOXI do a social tarif as well which may be useful for when your contract ends, think it’s £10 for unlimited calls and texts. Hope life gets easier for you from now on xxx

You obviously haven’t read the whole thread @Hiiiiiiiia
Despite the narrative that some other posters are keen to spin, the OP chose to steal when she had other options.

No, she didn't. She quite clearly said she was on a very low income. She said she had essential purchases to make and she was running low on money.

Don't make things up for attention.

Please don’t worry about getting a letter, I looked into it more and as far as I can see it’s only the supermarket I stole from that try to charge for security.
I’d be very surprised if you heard anything else about it for items of such low value.

Hello, just wanted to say I'm sorry things are so tough right now for you. Heartbreaking you're in a position in which you feel you have to steal baby milk, im so sorry. I can totally see how you reached that decision. All these people can sod off. I really recommend facebook marketplace for secondhand cheap goodies. Good luck xxx

Things will get better ❤️‍🩹 they always do xxx 😘 It might take time, but they will 🥰