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Did I do the right thing?

(23 Posts)
leemw711 Sun 04-Dec-16 16:10:50

In the supermarket queue yesterday, the family in front of me opened a pack of cakes, gave the cakes to the kids, and then dumped the wrapper in my shopping on the self-scan belt. I put the wrapper back on their section of the belt and pointed out - politely - that they needed to scan and pay for the pack: otherwise it would be shoplifting. I was immediately told that whether they paid was none of my business and was accused of racism by the (Asian) family. I called a member of staff who supported me but was I right to interfere? There probably wasn't a lot of money involved but to me it's theft.

Luckygirl Sun 04-Dec-16 16:15:08

Well - darn cheek to drop it in your shopping!! - on top of basically nicking the stuff in the first place!! Never heard the like.

Willow500 Sun 04-Dec-16 16:16:46

Absolutely right - what a cheek to put it in your shopping! Regardless of the cost it's definitely shoplifting!

Greenfinch Sun 04-Dec-16 16:18:24

I would have done the same.

nanaK54 Sun 04-Dec-16 16:18:30

Yes absolutely the right thing to do

Ana Sun 04-Dec-16 16:18:35

I'd probably just have kept putting the wrapper back with their shopping and not said anything.

If they still tried to palm it off on me I'd say in a loud voice 'I think this is yours' and make sure the checkout operator saw and heard!

Jane10 Sun 04-Dec-16 16:22:16

What did the staff do in the end?

vampirequeen Sun 04-Dec-16 16:29:38

Definitely would have been shop lifting but not surprised you saw a family act this way. I've seen people eating food and leaving the remains as they walk around supermarkets many times.

TriciaF Sun 04-Dec-16 16:29:42

Of course you did the right thing.
I haven't lived in the UK for a while, but to me it shows how this principle of racial tolerance has gone to extremes there. The indigenous population is afraid of offending. Why? So the incomers push it to the limits.
BTW I've seen a similar thing here (France). Asian women pushing in the supermarket queues and people giving way to them. Happened to me once.

Anya Sun 04-Dec-16 16:30:00

Of course it's theft.

FarNorth Sun 04-Dec-16 16:33:27

I'd have given it back to them then, if they put it back in my shopping, I'd have done as you did.

Ana Sun 04-Dec-16 16:37:33

I certainly wouldn't have pointed out to them that it was shoplifting. They obviously knew that already.

FarNorth Sun 04-Dec-16 16:42:46

"I don't care if you're a Martian. Your kids ate the cakes and I'm not paying for them!"
Those words may well have sprung to my lips.

Charleygirl Sun 04-Dec-16 16:46:45

Did they expect you to pay for it? I would have done what you did and called a member of staff.

I note in my local supermarket that children eat sandwiches or bars of chocolate and leave the empty wrappers on shelves. No wonder everything is so expensive when there are so many shoplifters around, all ages.

Rinouchka Sun 04-Dec-16 16:59:31

You certainly did the right thing. I hope staff supported you in this.

However, the fact that this particular family was Asian is beside the point. I've seen this happen with white locals as well. It's a question of morals and civility, not race.

kittylester Sun 04-Dec-16 17:34:32

I agree you did entirely the right thing!

goldengirl Sun 04-Dec-16 21:01:31

Well done you! I hope I would have done the same thing

Grannyben Sun 04-Dec-16 21:22:39

I most certainly would have said "I think this is yours" and put the wrapper back with their shopping. I did once eat goods before I paid for them; I was feeling quite unwell as I walked round and thought the food would stop me feeling so light headed. I did give the wrapper to the cashier thought and paid for the item

Penstemmon Sun 04-Dec-16 21:27:33

If they were avoiding paying for goods they had consumed it is theft. Why did it matter if they were White British, Asian British or any other category of human being?
As only you were witness to the deed it is only possible for us to speculate if it was by error/deliberate that the wrapper ended up amongst your shopping. IF it was error then maybe the person was embarrassed though naughty to play the race card when no racial comment was made! On the other hand s/he may just be a sneaky thief!

MissAdventure Sun 04-Dec-16 21:31:05

You definitely did the right thing: trouble is, right has somehow become slightly 'wrong' these days
Good on you for doing it. I think I'd be too cowardlyblush

leemw711 Mon 05-Dec-16 16:52:48

Thanks for your support. The staff at the supermarket were very kind and supportive to me and one of the security staff made it clear to the father that dumping empty packets having consumed the contents was shoplifting in his view too.

harrigran Mon 05-Dec-16 18:22:05

You did the right thing, it makes me really angry to see people helping themselves to food and leaving the packaging. Pulling the rascist card was really low of them, a thief is a thief whoever they are.

FarNorth Mon 05-Dec-16 18:26:47

Clearly they didn't put the wrapper with your shopping in mistake for their own or they would have said so, even if grumpily.