Hi all

Today I had a moment of insanity,

wanted to buy some pants for my daughter,

thought £5 was a bit pricey for one pair of pants for a baby and added another pair to the hanger,

went to the checkout with my other items paid (only for 1 pair of pants as store operative did not realise what I had done)

then left the shop.

On leaving the shop saw the security guard and a staff member speaking to him who then immediately looked at me - but no one tried to stop me..

I immediately regret what I did and can honestly say it will never happen again.

I would happily go back and pay for the item which is only worth £5.

I have a history of anxiety and have not stopped panicking since I left the store.

Worried the police are going to turn up and arrest me

- that I’ll go to jail and my 3 month old baby will be taken away from me..

I can’t believe I was so careless and stupid over £5!

Anyway question is - will the above happen?

Am I likely to have the police turn up or will I get a letter with a fine in a few weeks if anything is to come of it?

I don’t even know if it was just coincidence the staff member was looking at me while I exited.

Surely if it was suspected I would have been stopped then and there?

I know it was wrong it won’t happen again just looking for advice

Many thanks

the police wont turn up

you cant be retrospectively 'fined' for anything

you wont/cant just be taken to jail

your baby wont/cant just be taken from you.

they don't know who you are etc etc etc.

if you really feel that bad about it

return to the shop and give the other pair back.

you don't even have to do it yourself

type a note

pin it to them

leave it in the store.

p'haps time to go have a chat with say your doctor or someone?

you

Thanks for your speedy response - I feel so stupid and careless, what sort of example is that setting for my child.

I have decided I will take them back to the store tomorrow and pay for them,

I may just say when I got home I realised only one pair on receipt but I wanted to pay for two so came back to pay for them...

I know it’s all rather silly but it will make me feel better at least.

I’ve felt like I need to speak to my dr for a while

- I have the anxiety mentioned and I had a difficult time with the birth of my daughter and am really struggling to cope with it but I wouldn’t say it was post natal depression .

I am just worried if I go to gp they will think I am not coping with the baby and bring social services in and they will think I’m unfit and take her away.

She’s an amazing baby who’s well looked after, regularly taken for check ups and weighed, and wants for nothing.

I just have a hang up as part of my anxiety that someone will take my baby -

I don’t even like people i don’t know well holding her for fear they may just take her and run..

silly I know but to me a real fear.

that’s off topic

- thank you for your advise which had eased my feelings a little,

the item will be taken back and paid for tomorrow and I may contact my gp

— I probably need to, just frightened to.

don't forget the Hippocratic oath your doctors abide by.

but no they wont do anything of the sort!!

they see 100's far worse than a simple case like yourself....

I think you are being very forthright in taking them back and paying, it will make the world of difference to your attitude to everything.

you've done nowt wrong..so don't beat yourself up about a little cry for help...

chin up...

dx

Hi and welcome to CAG,

You will be surprised if you read some of the threads here that there are others in a similar situation to you. People make poor choices, as simple as that. The thing to do is to assess the underlying reasons for the theft. I guarantee it won't be the price.

As mentioned by DX, your GP is the best person to talk to about your symptoms and they are bound by patient confidentiality. Getting help rather than suffering alone will benefit you. Anxiety can be treated, either by pill popping or by talking therapy. The latter works. I know it did in my case.

Paying for the second pair is an idea but if they want your name and address, I would not give it. They have no right to it nor need it to pay for the second pair.

Hi Silverfox,

Thank you for your advise

- today I went back explained as per above that there must have been a mistake as only one pair was scanned, the lady said I could keep them!?

As it was their mistake, to which I said no I insist I pay for them.

She then scanned them, turns out the items went into a 1/2 price sale today so technically I have paid for both and they had no way to charge me the full price

I took them back to do the right thing and turns out I didn’t have to pay for them after all!

Which makes me feel even dafter!

But huge relief, lesson well learned, never to be done again.

Thank you both for your support!

aw that's great

the gods are shining on you

well done!!

Brilliant. That's something I don't say very often. Funny as well. Seriously, this is now over so no need to think about it again. Just don't be tempted ever again.