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.

Horrible situation, but it sounds like they did forget to have the cashier scan the wrappers of the sandwiches, so yes, it was shoplifting. Whether they intended it to be or not. Stores have to take a hard line against people "forgetting" to pay for things.

However once the store made the decision to charge the customers, it sounds like they didn't realize (or care) that someone was going to have to come and get the young child! Were they even given a chance to have a friend or relative come and care for their child while they went to be booked? That decision wasn't the stores, but must have been Child Protective Services to make. Horrible! And so ridiculous!

Yes. It is shoplifting. In Virginia, they would have been written a misdemeanor summons for petit larceny and given a date to appear in court -- providing they had no prior record.

Yes, it was shoplifting. Very unfortunate for the little child, but the parents are to blame, not Safeway. How did the wrappers "get lost"? I don't believe for a minute that they had any intention to pay

I went to Whole Foods with my 5 year old this afternoon. On our way to the store, he polished off an entire bag of pretzels. My goal was to take him in with a full tummy. In the store, he asked for a poppy seed bagel and milk (one of those Horizon boxes) and I let him eat and drink as we shopped because it made the shopping "experience" much easier. I told the cashier (she scanned his milk) and she could also see him chowing on the bagel and all was good.

So, no, I don't think it's shoplifting.

Feed your damn kids before you shop! Then you won't have this problem.

While I don't think it's right to eat at the store, the way the store handled it is horrible!

Poor mom. Just thinking of it makes me sick... I can't imagine having my child taken away...

NP here. Yes, it's shoplifting. No, I don't think they should have been arrested.

Yes and I asked you for clarification of your black and white answer.

Nice dodge attempt though.

PP the title of the post is "is this shoplifting?" I answered yes.

Anonymous wrote:Yes, it is shoplifting. You don't eat the food until you pay for it. Self-restraint is a good lesson to teach your little ones.

So you agree it was a good call for them to be arrested and their daughter placed in state custody for 5 dollars worth of food, instead of offering them the opportunity to pay for it first?

Yes, it is shoplifting. You don't eat the food until you pay for it. Self-restraint is a good lesson to teach your little ones.

The entire thing was over the top, but you should pay for food or anything you eat before you eat it. Now why on earth they placed the child in foster care vs. trying to find a relative or neighbor was not right.

That's fucking ridiculous. I can see if they ate the sandwiches and tried to hide the fact or had no intention of paying. But to waste the police's time and taxpayer money on having them arrested and removing their daughter for two stupid sandwiches after they apologized and offered to pay for them is absolutely outrageous.

At the very least, Safeway owes that couple an apology.

http://www.imperfectparent.com/topics/2011/11/01/pregnant-mom-arrested-at-safeway-for-5-sandwich-speaks-out/

I admit I've given my kids snacks as we shop -- certain foods we buy make them crazy and they can. not. wait. to start eating it. As far as I know, though, I've always remembered to tell the cashier and to pay for it.