Real Life MMD: Should I tell on the little girl shoplifter?

nicismeg

The sweets and chocolates have been placed by the till at child height so as the child can badger the parent right at the time when the parent is focusing on paying for shopping. The shops know this and must sell lots of sweets and chocs to harrassed parents. Yes the child needs to learn that stealing is wrong, but the shops need to learn that this tactic is wrong too!!

maryb

You need to use your judgement about the mother. If she looks as if she would give you an earful, tell the shopkeeper after they are gone so that they can keep an eye on them in future. If she looks a nice middle class type say out loud 'Don't forget to tell mummy about the chocolate' Better than leaving it until after they leave the shop and speaking to her outside as she would be embarrased once it has happened whereas she will say 'oh thank you' if you stop it before it happens. The child will be embarrassed however and that is probably the best thing to stop it happening again

alimcdee

DEFINETLY NOT! you'd be calling the child a thief! in the eyes of the parents! would be more trouble than its worth, leave them to sort it out for themselves, and make their own mistakes, its up to the shop to spot this.

paulhiphop

Why is this a dilemma?
It takes a community to raise a child.
Of course say something, ideally to the parent in a caring non judgmental way.
The fact the child saw you clock her and continued means either:
a) the child doesn't know she shouldn't do it
or
b) the child does not care what you think
Whichever applies - they need to learn.
The 'not my problem/ fear' attitude is what has caused kids in this country to get so out of control.
And I doubt a four year old is going to stab you.

sopandol

In the news a couple of years ago I remember there was a woman prosecuted because her young child was stealing from the buggy whilst they were shopping. They accused the mother of setting the child up to it and I believe she was found guilty.
Obviously that is not always the case, but it's not worth the risk! If my child was stealing I'd want to know so I didn't face going to court for it!!! Not likely for a chocolate bar I'm sure, but if they get away with that it's only a matter of time before they move on to bigger things.

Hanala1

Absolutely. Children must be taught at a very early age the meaning of right from wrong. Having seen your meaningful look and then ignoring it the child showed contempt for your disapproval and efforts to warn it. By then not saying anything, you became complicit in the theft and therefore gave the child your approval and the child learned that there is no negative consequence to their bad actions.

A quiet word in Mother's ear would have sorted out the problem immediately and a lesson would have been learned. However, you have now proven that inaction is more damaging than standing up and being counted when a wrong needs to be righted.

When my 4 sons were young they were a nightmare in shops because they thought they could beat me by opening and/or consuming the chocolate they had pinched...however, I confiscated the items, paid for them at the checkout and then threw them in the bin in front of my kids. They didn't prosper from their bad behaviour.

Think on.

hellienellie

Yes you should have pointed it out to the mother and the shopkeeper , especially as the child looked you in the eye with what could be defiance. It could just stop a child growing up thinking they can do anything they want .

funkymonkey849

I would say to the mother 'excuse me but your little girl has put some chocolate in her pocket', not in a nasty way but like 'kids eh!!'

I told a boy off in Asda the other week for picking up a pack of toilet rolls and kicking it like a football :eek: He was about 9 and old enough to know better!

amus

Yes I would have just told the mother, dont know how though cause you dont know what kind of response you would get.
Although my son did something similar once (he was only 2 though), I was at the checkout and was packing my shopping when an old couple came to talking to him. I noticed he was trying to open a creme egg. I presumed the old couple had given it to him so told him to say thank you and opened it for him. Only later did I realise he had probably picked up the creme egg from those shelves next to the checkout himself. Bet the lady on the checkout thought I was a right cheeky theif - she didnt say anything to me though. And I bet the old couple thought I was nuts telling my son to say thank you for nothing!!

mrsmcdade

I think the mother has to know. I have a 3 year old and he has just about grasped the concept of having to pay for things.

If the mum didn't know the child had taken the item then they would have no chance to rectify the child's behaviour.