is this shoplifting?

[Anonymous]

well I do it all the time and nobody ever has cared. Recently I was biking and stopped at 7-11 and polished off an entire gatorade while in line. So I paid for it on the way out. Not sure how that is possibly a big deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I remember shopping with my father. He always went first to those bulk bins and filled a bag with trail mix or nuts. He'd eat it as he shopped and pay for whatever was left by the time we hit the checkout. Sometimes that was only a handful or so.

The part about this story that didn't make sense to me was continuing to push the shoplifting charge after they offered to pay. Why wouldn't paying be enough?

Because then anyone could attempt to shoplift, but offer to pay IF they get caught...
Why not try stealing?
Hey, there's a chance you'll get away with it, and if you get caught, no penalties, just offer to pay for it. Worth a shot!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I remember shopping with my father. He always went first to those bulk bins and filled a bag with trail mix or nuts. He'd eat it as he shopped and pay for whatever was left by the time we hit the checkout. Sometimes that was only a handful or so.

The part about this story that didn't make sense to me was continuing to push the shoplifting charge after they offered to pay. Why wouldn't paying be enough?

Because you've been caught!

Paying for it is technically restitution, which is separate from the punishment for the underlying crime itself.

[Anonymous]

Yes, it's shoplifting. Not because they ate it in the store, but because they left without paying for it.

But the penalty is wildly disproportionate to the crime. Having to pay for the food, and pay a $20 fine or so seems about right to me.

Arresting them and taking away their kids is ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:well I do it all the time and nobody ever has cared. Recently I was biking and stopped at 7-11 and polished off an entire gatorade while in line. So I paid for it on the way out. Not sure how that is possibly a big deal.

It isn't a big deal until you forget and walk out. Or fail to mention it as you are buying other unconsumed items.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:well I do it all the time and nobody ever has cared. Recently I was biking and stopped at 7-11 and polished off an entire gatorade while in line. So I paid for it on the way out. Not sure how that is possibly a big deal.

It isn't a big deal until you forget and walk out. Or fail to mention it as you are buying other unconsumed items.

that is as likely as failing to purchase a full drink or failing to purchase anything else. i.e., zero chance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you eat it before your pay for it you have committed a crime.

No. I eat all the time before paying for it. Howeever, its usually at a restaurant. I sometimes even wear an item before paying for it! GASP! The horror!!! I've been known to try on shoes, and never take them off until after I paid for them (and kept wearing them the entire day).

I once accidentally shoplifted a tiny "travel" pack of q-tips. They were in my hand with my wallet, and I was looking for a DVD that I didn't find. I completely forgot the q-tips were in my hand and walked out of the store. I got stopped by security 10 feet outside the store. I was shocked - since I forgot I had them in my hand. I apologized profusely and paid the 99 cents for it. No police, nothing. They clearly understood it was a mistake on my part.

[Anonymous]

I remember shopping with my father. He always went first to those bulk bins and filled a bag with trail mix or nuts. He'd eat it as he shopped and pay for whatever was left by the time we hit the checkout. Sometimes that was only a handful or so.

So your father was a thief. From your smilie face, I can see you are very proud.

[Anonymous]

Under the laws of many states this is stealing. It doesn't matter what you think, it is legally stealing. Got it?

[Anonymous]

What a huge waste of resources. Sure, it may have been stealing but it is it worth the police booking, child protective services being called, etc.?

Not to mention Safeway has gotten a lot of bad publicity for this and there are even talks of boycotts (which I think is over the top and ridiculous but they had to have known this story would get out, people would see "pregant mom with kids" and take her side regardless of whether or not they were in the right. Why court this PR nightmare over a $5 sandwich?).

[Anonymous]

I believe this is considered shoplifting. I don't think they should have been arrested though - maybe fined for their first offense. I know convenience store workers gets fired from their jobs if they open a package before paying for it at the stores they work at. As one poster pointed out - it is considered shoplifting in VA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I need clarification.
The article says "they saved the wrappers, but the wrappers were missed.". What does that mean? Miised how? Did the mom shove the wrappers in her purse & "forget" to pay for the sandwiches? Or did they put the wrappers on the belt with their other items & the clerk didn't scan them? I think if you put everything on the belt & the clerk fails to scan something, you should speak up if you notice, but if you don't notice & aren't charged for the item, I don't think that's shoplifting. But here, where the wrappers might look like trash, the onus was on them to give the wrappers to the clerk and say they wanted to be charged for the sandwiches.

I have never eaten a sandwich in the grocery store, but I have opened a box of crackers or cookies to let my kids have some & then paid for it when I checked out. I thought that was common practice & as long as you are still in the store & haven't checked out, I'm not sure how it can be considered shoplifting.

You don't consume food until you have paid for it when grocery shopping. Go to the self-checkout or express lane, pay for the crackers, keep your receipt, and THEN do your grocery shopping. If this is too difficult then don't take your kids grocery shopping or teach them that they cannot have the food until it is paid for. Simple. My mother did this and so did all the other mothers when I was growing up and we didn't whine, either.

[Anonymous]

The punishment did not fit the "crime".

[Anonymous]

It doesn't matter what anyone "thinks" under laws of Hawaii it is a crime.

Whether or not it should have been taken as far as it was is another issue. Perhaps the people in this story weren't as upfront about the "mistake" as they are not suggesting. Perhaps the store has a frequent issue with people eating food and then not paying. Personally, I have seen too many opened boxes and empty wrappers stuffed among the shelfs. Shoplifting cost every consumer. Come on folks pay for your food before eating it and wait until you leave the store. The rest of us don't want to have to walk around your crumbs or use the cart with your leftovers.
Moreover, who eats a sandwich while walking around in a store? Clueless and classless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It doesn't matter what anyone "thinks" under laws of Hawaii it is a crime.

Whether or not it should have been taken as far as it was is another issue. Perhaps the people in this story weren't as upfront about the "mistake" as they are not suggesting. Perhaps the store has a frequent issue with people eating food and then not paying. Personally, I have seen too many opened boxes and empty wrappers stuffed among the shelfs. Shoplifting cost every consumer. Come on folks pay for your food before eating it and wait until you leave the store. The rest of us don't want to have to walk around your crumbs or use the cart with your leftovers.
Moreover, who eats a sandwich while walking around in a store? Clueless and classless.

If you don't think this debacle is costing consumers money you are crazy. I agree it could have been shoplifting. I don't really care. There are other ways to deal with shoplifting. CPS should not have been called; the child shouldn't have been taken away. Even if the parents were totally in the wrong I wouldn't be surprised if they sued, and that is going to cost the store a ton of money, even if they were totally in the right.

So I think the real issue is was it taken too far, and I think the answer is yes.