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!

Learn from the experience and never ever do this. You will hopefully stick to one kid going forward. Single mothers are the ones that bear the brunt. It is you the one suffering while your child’s dad life did not changed at all.

Baby banks supply milk if you need it. It's also worth mentioning in the reduced section in Boots I get baby milk for £1 and donate it to baby banks, it still has a couple of weeks left when they do that.
However as you won't be going in that boots again it is worth bearing that in mind for other stores. It sometimes gets reduced in Superdrug and all major supermarkets as well if the stock has a short date.
Yes you did a bad thing but why you did it in this case is more important I think.
I hope you get the support you need.

Also, have you applied for CMS through the correct channels?

The shops response of not calling the police especially most likely because you tried to steal baby milk. It's a sign of a mother struggling rather than greed normally. First of all are you in a bad financial position? What help do you have available? Have you got enough money for milk? The health visitor can get you access to a good bank if not.

Please please please let me buy you some milk.
Pm me your PayPal.
Don't be upset/ ashamed.
I'm reading in local paper about this a lot.
Go to your GP/ Health visitor/ CAB?

These organisations offers maps of where baby banks are in the UK and those that have formula or offer vouchers. A number of them check that you know about Healthy Start and may review various entitlements with you.

https://www.feeduk.org/find-a-food-or-baby-bank

https://littlevillagehq.org/uk-baby-banks/

https://babybankalliance.org/baby-bank-map/

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nope, no idea what the relevance is

Where I live most staff wouldn't bother passing on info for someone who stool food, let alone baby food. Prices have rocketed + most wouldn't bother with the effort.

@RoseBiscuitll please come back and tell us what you’re getting and we can support with what you’re entitled to.

If you tell us everything then people on here can support you - the advice is amazing. Ignore all the telling offs, it’s all irrelevant if we can get you on your feet

I've done some petty things.
Prison as well.
But I wouldn't risk any of it if had a child I'd go ask someone for help.
Op there is loads of help out there now better than what we had years ago.
Sure start/food banks /baby banks/CBA can help so can the job centre etc.
Moisturizer I mean your not desperate for that.
Sorry but I just think something is odd about the whole post.

I'm so sorry that you felt you needed to do this OP

God, when we have more sympathy for a multi million pound company that a struggling mum I think we have gone wrong somewhere. Yes, stealing is wrong, but so is speeding and can everyone on here say they have NEVER gone above the speed limit. Doesn't sound like she was aggressive with the retail staff, which would make a difference in my eyes.

I am so sorry that you are in this position. Please do contact your HV and GP for a food bank referral and other support. Lots of people are in the same position. Hugs.

Have you had a benefit check done? If not maybe see if CAB could do this and, in many cases, can refer you to food bank. Your health visitor will be able to help you with any baby related benefits and local groups.

Please please don't do that don't send money.
This may be genuine and yet may not be.

This is good advice, so if staff are watching you, it's clear that you're not shoplifting

Baby milk should be available for free IMO

The only reason it's so expensive is because of all the advertising costs

It's wrong, the support isn't there in so many ways for so many women to breastfeed and babies need milk it shouldn't be so expensive

I get just under £700 a month, £250 of that is towards my rent, which I also get help with

The rest is to love on

Agreed

It should be on prescription so those entitled, like the OP, would get it free.

Feeding your baby the only way you can is not somethign to be ashamed of. The world being this shape is something for us all to be ashamed of however.

🙄

Do you pay your utilities? Roughly what if so? It’s not much, but I’m not on much more for myself and my son to be honest and we survive but it’s hard.

what have you applied for?
have you been through the official channels to get CMS?
how much help do you get with rent?

Nobody needs to steals baby milk in this country this is what healthy start vouchers are for

Do you not get vouchers for milk if you're single and on benefits? I'm sure my friend's DD did. Can you look into it?