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!

I have been as have many.

I was homeless until 2 weeks before my oldest was born, had no money, no income, no baby stuff... still never stole. I dragged my ass with a newborn to the council, citizens advice, sure start and anywhere I could to get help.

I certainly didn't waste my time perusing boots to steel beauty products because I had no time for window shopping between raising a baby and having to get serious life shit sorted.

Most people are being supportive actually. But it’s difficult when the OP isn’t being upfront and honest. UC for a single parent with one child is more then £700 a month. Then she would also get CB on top. She is getting more than £700 a month. We are trying to help, but she isn’t answering.

She did have a choice, she had the money and chose not to use it.

Op if you are being genuine about all this you seem more concerned about what boots you can go back to than how to sort you finances out.
Sorry I call BS on it all.
It's obviously your first time shoplifting due the the questions you're asking.

Not always... lots of people steal essentials even when they can afford them. They tell themselves that because they're necessities, or for their children, it's justified. Or because they spend a certain amount in a shop at other times, they think they're justified in stealing bits here and there. Middle class shop lifting is rampant at the moment and because it's barely prosecuted (unless the goods go over a certain amount), it's become very normalised.

Ring them and ask 🤷‍♂️

I’m absolutely amazed they bothered stopping you. My daughter worked in Boots and in our town they just leave the shoplifters to it because they know the police won’t bother coming out.

My son who works in a different shop in another town tried to stop shoplifters and got beaten to the ground and kicked in the head. He won’t be bothering in future either, especially as the culprits couldn’t be bothered to turn up to court so were fined £100 in their absence which my son has never seen a penny of.

And contact your local citizen's advice for general help.

There is no excuse, you pay for the milk and there are food banks / pantrys to help with food. No one on UC is that bad off they can't pay for baby milk that is absolute bull. If you go back to work most of your childcare will be paid for. We don't live in a third world country no on is needing to steal to live here it's bad budgeting.

We do not live in a developing Country, no, but there are people here who would be starving without help, and no it is not all down to bad budgeting. That is a very narrow view.

There a few middle class and upper class areas where if you go into them at a certain time you can shoplift there. Maybe there’s CCTV maybe there’s not. I’m sure I read an article in somewhere like Grazia where a wealthy upper class woman admitted she shoplifted from upper class designer shops and she did it as it gave her a thrill and also because she could do it and liked the item. And if she had gone to court for it what’s the reckoning that one of the judges was a “friend of the family” and would let her off.

What an ill-informed, judgemental and just plain wrong thing to say.

Yes I hate it when I need to steal moisturiser.

The op was clear she had the money.

Op is the 700 a week?

Is that a serious question?

I dont understand what this means

Are you afraid of your ex- the baby's dad?
Why won't you contact him and get the CMA involved?
Was he abusive to you?

You've got the 'nerve' to shoplift (and face a criminal record which will utterly fuck up your chances of working) yet you won't do the obvious of chasing the father.

You also won't say what your total income is and how you're spending it. Is that because you're worried it may look obvious that you do have enough money but are finding it hard to budget? That may not be the case but it's how it comes over.

Putting all of that together - the things you're ignoring- it does cast doubt on how 'sorry' you are about being caught and how you don't seem serious about getting help to move on from this.

Yes, as a pp said, 700 is very low indeed, including housing benefit.

If she is solely on benefits I doubt it is 2,800 a month.

I was on benefits when I had my 3 DS's
I had a weekly voucher to exchange for formula at a child health clinic
My DS3 is now 22, but I believe there is now a healthy start card(?) which is similar.
Please ask your HV or a Social prescriber at your GP surgery to see what help you're entitled to.
CAB would check if there would be local grants/ charities which may help you
Don't be too proud to ask for help

I work for a well-known town centre store. Sorry, but ours will have immediately shared your imagine with other stores in the area. Chances are a few in the store will remember your face now, so you might be watched casually (they won't approach or be too intrusive though unless they have reason to be concerned) from a far if the security guard or staff notice you in store. We have regular security guards, but they often work in other shares for the odd day.

In time, it'll wash over if they have no reason to be concerned. In the meantime, try and get any help or support you can.

Agree, but it shouldn’t be 700 a month either including housing benefit and child maintainence.

Let’s face it, a woman gets maintenance if the man wants her to get it. It is almost completely up to his goodwill. Men who font wsnt to pay, wont, and very little will be done about it. This man works cash in hand.

For the milk. She's explained that she did it with the intention of saving the milk money for food.