Your in a supermarket and you see what looks like a.....................?

Question

Very hungry child aged about six stuffing things under her coat.

What do you:
Do you tell her to put them back.

Report her to the staff.

Walk away and forget you saw her.

By the way the goods she was stuffing under her coat was food nothing else, poor little thing.

Answer 1

I might offer to pay for the food myself. She would be fed, and it would have been brought about honestly.

--That Cheeky Lad

Answer 2

The parents have probably taught her. As a member of staff in a supermarket, I would tell her she was supposed to put it in the trolley, or back on the shelf. If I thought the adult she was with was behind it, I would have to tell my boss.

Such children would most likely be known to staff anyway, so she and parent would be watched every time they visited.

Ignoring the problem or paying for the goods will just make the situatuion worse. What would the child learn from it? There are some who are vey good at playing poor. The parents are probably keeping their money for cigarettes.

I wish the authorities would get some backbone and remove these poor children from their unfit parents into a better environment. A lot of it is not through circumstances - child poverty is caused by the parents having no income in the first place, and expecting others to pick up the tab.

Answer 3

Let her be would be my first instinct. Tell her to put them back........don't think so. If she is desperate, as soon as you turn away, she 'll be back there...Report her? not sure. It depends who you report to; you could get someone sympathetic who will feed the child. It's possible she was sent out by a parent to steal, in which case she may get punished for being caught. So the poor kid loses either way. you could try approaching her yourself, but a kid like this hasn't just been hungry in the last few days; and she will be naturally suspicious. what would you do? give her a good feed?
My partner always gives money to anyone he sees begging or in a bad way, but lately a couple of times, instead of money, we have bought a sandwich and a cup of tea or coffe for the person. sometimes it goes down well;sometimes they just want the cash for a hostel bed or drink or whatever.
I know you didn't mention feeding her as an option; and it looks suspicious if a strange adult offers to buy a child a burger, but I think that's what I'd try.

Answer 4

Report it! This is what food stamps are for. Their parents are forcing this child to do this so they can sell it for their drugs. I used to work in a grocery store and back when they used the paper food stamps . They would send their kids in to buy a piece of gum and get the change and then get enough to buy cigarettes. Some people would buy absolutely nothing but expensive steaks. And there were a few that actually used them the right way buying the cheapest brands to make the food stamps go a long way.


Oh not related to this question. But you know how the cashier makes you pick up the heavy dog food or whatever you have on the bottom of the cart. Many many times I have lifted this bag of dog food and found expensive steaks under it. Here is what they say. "oh how did that get there. (laughs)" I never contacted a manager on any of them I just picked it up and scanned them and made them buy it. :) I didn't give them a choice not to buy it. They were gonna steal it. I caught them and made them buy it. lol. No one ever refused. Teach 'em to steal lower priced stuff next time. hehe

Answer 5

I'd look around to see if her mother/father were somewhere in the general area. If not, I'd approach her and ask where her parents were. If she said at home, or not with her, I'd tell her that stealing food is a crime and she could get into a lot of trouble for doing it, and that her mom and dad would be upset with her. She's only 6, so giving her money to buy food probably wouldn't work since she probably hasn't developed her math skills enough to know what amount of money can buy what amount of food. I'd ask her what she really wants, then take her to the check-out and buy her food for her.

Answer 6

problem if u pay 4 the food will she grow up thinking its ok 2 steel
cos some 1 will pay 4 it later wich of course we do. No child in England should have 2 go hungry unless an adult allows it 2 happen

Answer 7

I would turn the other way. Unless of course there was an adult there coaching the child to steal.

In high school i used to work in a grocery store that had those little mine carts for kids. They were kept behind the courtesy desk. We should often have parents coaching their kids o lift a pack of ciggies while they were running their carts back. In that instance the police were almost always involved.

Answer 8

I'm sorry but I'd report it. If I stole something wouldn't someone report me??
Don't be fooled by the look she has, she's been trained by her parents to do that as like here in Spain if your family are that way then you will be too.
If however the child is alone, then I'd still report them and child protection services would get involved. Even better in my opinion as they would then be looked after properly.
I've seen too many beggars and thieves here in Spain who's kids are sometimes worse than the parents. When you don't give them money they hurl abuse at you.
Remember that we all have to abide by rules, she is no different.

Answer 9

Funny you should ask this. Yesterday I was paying for gas and the 20-ish girl in front of me was having a problem paying for everything. She kept pulling food items off to lower her bill. I almost gave her the $3 or so she needed until I realized the one item she wasn't removing was her pack of cigarettes. Sorry, I'd report the kid. There's a right way and a wrong way. Stealing is stealing.

Answer 10

Personally, I'd walk away and forget I saw her.

Having once been said hungry child, it didn't help matters when I saw people looking and noticing what I was doing, only then going to tell security.

Answer 11

Walk away and try to forget, I doubt I'd be able to though, I'd want to put her in my trolley and take her home! I suppose the decent thing to do would be to talk to the shop staff and make sure social services are called, but I wouldn't want to get involved... is this a true story or just pondering?