Safeway groceries are horrible people.

inskydiamonds

This has to do more with the fact that police are spending county resources on arresting someone for this than Safeway for protecting their property.

With that being said, in some jurisdictions it is illegal to eat the food in the store without paying and is considered theft, even if you intend to pay for it later. I would hardly say that Safeway cracking down on theft is an overreaction. It sucks for her and hopefully she gets a good attorney who can help her with this, but it isn't Safeway's fault.

You didn't read any of the comments did you? That's not what happened.

I did read the comments.
She left without paying.
In some places even NOT leaving without paying constitutes theft.

Qarol

My point was Safeway does not arrest criminals. The police do. If the OP is going to place blame on someone for this woman being arrested, Safeway is the wrong place to look because they do not make the arrests or have the power to determine which individual is actually going to be arrested.

This is an excellent point. Thank you.

123456654321

I honestly have trouble believing that the store would do this without good reason to believe they did it on purpose. Something just sounds fishy about this whole thing.

Two people, one of whom can not use the "pregnant forgetty brain" excuse, both "forgot" to pay for the food. That sounds like a damn good reason to be suspicious to me.

Agreed. I believe the store had the right to press charges either way, but I really highly doubt the side of the story we are hearing is not the whole truth.

bry_all01

It's OK, people. She was just in her PREGNANCY mind. She didn't know any better..... :flowerforyou:

_Timmeh_

Holy crap some of you need to pull the high and mighty stick out of your @#$!
I hope none of you forget something in the bottom of your cart or underneath another item in your cart....

Did they ditch the sandwich wrappers somewhere or take it to the register? Took it to the register but forgot about it!
Did they make an honest mistake? Seems like it.
Did they offer to pay the $5? Yep.
5 dollars they got arrested and their kid taken away for 5 dollars......for 5 dollars.

Celebrities like Lindsay Lohan get away with #$%^ all the time, the common people FORGET to pay for two sammiches
and they get arrested and some of you are applauding it. Unreal.
Ask them to pay the $5 which is what they wanted and be done with it. Now this Safeway store made the situation FUBAR.

writtenINthestars

Technically the store had the right to press charges. She was wrong. They were right. I think there is some meat missing from this story.

That being said I will have to make sure to be careful as I tend to do this sometimes when I'm really thirsty while shopping...

IronmanPanda

This one time.. I went to Mcdonalds and spilled hot coffee on myself. Then sued them!! Because it was hot! They should have told me it was hot and to be careful not to spill it on myself. Its not my fault it was hot. I blame McDonalds.

CakeFit21

This one time.. I went to Mcdonalds and spilled hot coffee on myself. Then sued them!! Because it was hot! They should have told me it was hot and to be careful not to spill it on myself. Its not my fault it was hot. I blame McDonalds.

We're you pregnant? Because when you're pregnant people think you can just do whatever you want.

rbryntes

Celebrities like Lindsay Lohan get away with #$%^ all the time, the common people FORGET to pay for two sammiches
and they get arrested and some of you are applauding it. Unreal.

Technically, Lindsay Lohan does get arrested.

inskydiamonds

This one time.. I went to Mcdonalds and spilled hot coffee on myself. Then sued them!! Because it was hot! They should have told me it was hot and to be careful not to spill it on myself. Its not my fault it was hot. I blame McDonalds.

You need to actually learn about that case before you try to use it as an example of anything. The woman had severe burns on herself. There is no way that McDonald's should have been serving coffee that hot to anyone. Additionally, McDonald's KNEW the coffee was too hot and continued to serve it anyway.

People always use the McDonald's coffee case to prove we live in a litigious society, but it is really a poor example. All it really proves is McDonald's had their coffee WAY too hot and the court ruled correctly, finding her partially responsible for spilling it and finding McDonald's partially responsible for the temperature.

If I go to a restaurant and receive third degree burns because I am served something at least 40 degrees over the acceptable serving temperature, I hardly think that is not placing the blame in the correct place.

http://www.lectlaw.com/files/cur78.htm
http://www.slip-and-sue.com/the-famous-infamous-mcdonalds-coffee-spill-lawsuit-revisited/

IronmanPanda

This one time.. I went to Mcdonalds and spilled hot coffee on myself. Then sued them!! Because it was hot! They should have told me it was hot and to be careful not to spill it on myself. Its not my fault it was hot. I blame McDonalds.

We're you pregnant? Because when you're pregnant people think you can just do whatever you want.

Yep.. with TWINS!

inskydiamonds

Go ahead and drinking yourself a pot of 180 degree coffee and tell me how your mouth feels.

rml_16

Well, she shoplifted. I suppose they could have taken her at her word and let her go back and pay for the sandwiches, but she did actually break the law.

I need a new camera. I wonder if next time I spend a good deal of money in a store and "forget" to pay for the camera, if they would let me go?

Sublimely_Self_Righteousreused

This was clearly an innocent mistake, and shoplifting was obviously not the intention. I mean, 5 dollars for a sandwich? Sure, Safeway should have stopped them and made them pay, but I think the manager probably is overpcompensating for his little penis and was overzealous in how he handled it. He should have just made them pay after talking with them and realizing it was an honest mistake.

rml_16

I sometimes "forget" to pay for things at Safeway when their advertised sales don't actually ring up correctly. I recoup my losses through future visits. Can't wait until another supermarket chain moves in town and I don't have to shop there anymore.

Why don't you just point out the error and let them fix it?

MrsCon40

You know what? I love Safeway!

Not only is it a local company that's done well and successfully grown outside of the San Francisco Bay Area, it also has a really cool customer card that makes me feel like I am saving an effing MINT in exchange for my shopping demographics.

The fact that they are throwing the book at thieving breeders just advances them up another rung in my view!

But really let's not be ridiculous. She shoplifted. She chose to do so in the presence of her child. Offering to pay after you've been caught does not negate your thievery. Every time Safeway nabs a shoplifter they continue to pass on more juicy savings to me - who has never not paid for anything in her life and would never consider eating something before I paid for it.

Once that ONE Safeway manager, acting on his own and not on behalf of the entire corporation, reported the brazen baby baker to protect MY low prices - it was out of their hands. What the police decided to do (call CPS) is not the concern of that manager OR the store.

So, in summary, I don't care what you say - Safeway rules.

mommared53

I'm sorry this happened to that family but as far as I'm concerned if you eat food at a grocery store before you pay for it, that's stealing! (I'm not referring to the samples stores pass out or cookies they give to kids). I don't care if your intent is to pay for it at the check out. Pay for it first then eat it. It just amazes me that so many people think it's perfectly acceptable to eat the gorceries first then pay for them. My mother would have never allowed me or my siblings to eat something at the store before paying for it and I never allowed my kids to either. I'm sorry but if you're really that hungry, pay for the item first then eat it while you return to grocery shopping.

rbryntes

This was clearly an innocent mistake, and shoplifting was obviously not the intention. I mean, 5 dollars for a sandwich? Sure, Safeway should have stopped them and made them pay, but I think the manager probably is overpcompensating for his little penis and was overzealous in how he handled it. He should have just made them pay after talking with them and realizing it was an honest mistake.

How would he have known? People shoplift candy bars and grapes and olives and whatever. How would you (or the manager, more to the point) know that it was an honest mistake?

Qarol

and would never consider eating something before I paid for it.

I kind of said the same thing. If you're that desperate to eat or drink something, go pay for it first. Then resume your shopping.

Sublimely_Self_Righteousreused

This was clearly an innocent mistake, and shoplifting was obviously not the intention. I mean, 5 dollars for a sandwich? Sure, Safeway should have stopped them and made them pay, but I think the manager probably is overpcompensating for his little penis and was overzealous in how he handled it. He should have just made them pay after talking with them and realizing it was an honest mistake.

How would he have known? People shoplift candy bars and grapes and olives and whatever. How would you (or the manager, more to the point) know that it was an honest mistake?

After questioning, it's not exactly difficult to tell if they were intending on it or not. It's a sandwich for f*cks sake. I don't think you're going to have the highest class of thieves who have perfected the art of lying trying to wiggle their way out of stealing a sandwich, especially when they were willing to pay for it because it was a mistake. This was clearly a case of poor judgement on the manager's end. He should have just made them pay for the sandwich. Now, this $5 sandwich wasted a lot of time, tax payer dollars, and made Safeway look bad in the long run with negative publicity.

Jade_Butterfly

That is insane. . . I can't even count how many times I have given my daughter something to snack on or drink in the store and paid for it on the way out. . Geesh. . Sounds like someone was on a powertrip to even be pointing that out.. Gosh. Some people just need to seriously get a life~!:frown:

JoyousRen

it is theft, but they could have charged her without going to such extremes! i don't understand how that is ok..

The store isn't responsible to police procedure. The article says "A police spokeswoman said it was procedure to call Child Welfare Services if a child is present when both parents are arrested." It;s not like the store manager did it.

inskydiamonds

it is theft, but they could have charged her without going to such extremes! i don't understand how that is ok..

The store isn't responsible to police procedure. The article says "A police spokeswoman said it was procedure to call Child Welfare Services if a child is present when both parents are arrested." It;s not like the store manager did it.

Where else is the child supposed to go if both parents were arrested? I don't understand people being upset about CPS being called. Were they supposed to just leave the child there in the store?

sarah_ep

My mom used to do this, and I have seen others do it. This was in the commissary though, and it was not a sandwich, usually just a granola bar out of a box of granola bars.

I do remember seeing it rarely in HEB's, once again, a couple of crackers out of a box of crackers that were put back into the cart.

They did not pay and left, this is shoplifting. Though it was harsh, it was within Safeway's rights.

_Timmeh_

This was clearly an innocent mistake, and shoplifting was obviously not the intention. I mean, 5 dollars for a sandwich? Sure, Safeway should have stopped them and made them pay, but I think the manager probably is overpcompensating for his little penis and was overzealous in how he handled it. He should have just made them pay after talking with them and realizing it was an honest mistake.

How would he have known? People shoplift candy bars and grapes and olives and whatever. How would you (or the manager, more to the point) know that it was an honest mistake?

Uhh they took the sammich wrappers with them to the register. Which.....I think has been pointed out.

infamousmk

This was clearly an innocent mistake, and shoplifting was obviously not the intention. I mean, 5 dollars for a sandwich? Sure, Safeway should have stopped them and made them pay, but I think the manager probably is overpcompensating for his little penis and was overzealous in how he handled it. He should have just made them pay after talking with them and realizing it was an honest mistake.

How would he have known? People shoplift candy bars and grapes and olives and whatever. How would you (or the manager, more to the point) know that it was an honest mistake?

After questioning, it's not exactly difficult to tell if they were intending on it or not. It's a sandwich for f*cks sake. I don't think you're going to have the highest class of thieves who have perfected the art of lying trying to wiggle their way out of stealing a sandwich, especially when they were willing to pay for it because it was a mistake. This was clearly a case of poor judgement on the manager's end. He should have just made them pay for the sandwich. Now, this $5 sandwich wasted a lot of time, tax payer dollars, and made Safeway look bad in the long run with negative publicity.

It's quite possible that Safeway store policy requires that police are called for all incidences of suspected and/or attempted theft. Even a hardened thief will say they forgot to pay if caught ... The manager's hands could have been tied in corporate procedure that required him to call the police, and whatever happened with arrests and CPS are out of the store's hands at that point.

I see your point, but I still think there are just too many facts and details left out of the story for us to decide it was a waste of time, energy, and money.

rml_16

This was clearly an innocent mistake, and shoplifting was obviously not the intention. I mean, 5 dollars for a sandwich? Sure, Safeway should have stopped them and made them pay, but I think the manager probably is overpcompensating for his little penis and was overzealous in how he handled it. He should have just made them pay after talking with them and realizing it was an honest mistake.

How would he have known? People shoplift candy bars and grapes and olives and whatever. How would you (or the manager, more to the point) know that it was an honest mistake?

Perhaps it was after talking to them that he decided it wasn't an "honest mistake." Sometimes, it's clear when people are lying. Maybe they were, maybe they weren't. I wasn't there.

As for being on a high horse, yes, we've all forgotten to pay for things. And if I got stopped leaving a store with something I didn't pay for, intentionally or not, the store would be within its rights to press charges. No one is on a high horse, just pointing out that she broke a law and is paying the consequences.

As for Lindsay Lohan, she's in jail right now, isn't she? I know she was recently for violating parole that she was on for -- what was that? Oh yeah, SHOPLIFTING!

Sublimely_Self_Righteousreused

This was clearly an innocent mistake, and shoplifting was obviously not the intention. I mean, 5 dollars for a sandwich? Sure, Safeway should have stopped them and made them pay, but I think the manager probably is overpcompensating for his little penis and was overzealous in how he handled it. He should have just made them pay after talking with them and realizing it was an honest mistake.

How would he have known? People shoplift candy bars and grapes and olives and whatever. How would you (or the manager, more to the point) know that it was an honest mistake?

After questioning, it's not exactly difficult to tell if they were intending on it or not. It's a sandwich for f*cks sake. I don't think you're going to have the highest class of thieves who have perfected the art of lying trying to wiggle their way out of stealing a sandwich, especially when they were willing to pay for it because it was a mistake. This was clearly a case of poor judgement on the manager's end. He should have just made them pay for the sandwich. Now, this $5 sandwich wasted a lot of time, tax payer dollars, and made Safeway look bad in the long run with negative publicity.

It's quite possible that Safeway store policy requires that police are called for all incidences of suspected and/or attempted theft. Even a hardened thief will say they forgot to pay if caught ... The manager's hands could have been tied in corporate procedure that required him to call the police, and whatever happened with arrests and CPS are out of the store's hands at that point.

I see your point, but I still think there are just too many facts and details left out of the story for us to decide it was a waste of time, energy, and money.

Oh good point. They were probably a conspiring couple who planned out the perfect crime to steal that 5 dollar sandwich and get away with it. Their plan was to take the wrapper to the counter, but secretly not give it to the cashier. They are excellent theives. I applaud Safeway for this massive takedown, saving themselves no money (since they were willing to pay to begin with).

ItsCasey

LOL are you serious? I remember being a kid and my mom would open up something in the store and let me sit in the buggy and eat...people are a joke.

In this case, the woman ate some sandwiches while in the store and DID NOT PAY FOR THEM. That is theft.

it is theft, but they could have charged her without going to such extremes! i don't understand how that is ok..

She broke the law. Getting arrested is typically the consequence of being caught shoplifting. That's how it is "okay."

Was it entirely necessary? Given that the store is saying they may not have handled the situation very well, I would say no in this particular instance. As others have pointed out, if she and her husband intended to steal the sandwiches, I'm guessing they would've eaten them as they walked around the store and then left. But if you're going to drop $50 on other things, why would a $5 sandwich motivate you to break the law?

But I can see where some places of business feel compelled to have a zero tolerance policy. What if you had a pregnant white woman who was allowed to pay for the sandwiches and avoid being arrested, and the next week a black teenage boy does the same thing, only this time, the manager has him arrested? I think we all see where that can lead.

dragonbait0126

So here's a question the article doesn't answer. What happened to the $50 worth of groceries they DID pay for? Did they receive the groceries later? Did Safeway give them the money back? I would THINK that the store would have given them their money back for these groceries but if the customer was not refunded then they have had $50 stolen from them.

I'm honestly on the fence about the entire situation. While yes, they forgot to pay for the sandwich (which the article doesn't make clear if it's 1 or 2 because she picked up 2 but only ate 1 and then the article says they forgot to pay for the sandwiches), it appears they were clearly apologetic, they offered to pay for the sandwich, and the store refused. If they were going to attempt to steal with intention I would think they would try to take off with the card of groceries worth $50 and not a $2.50 sandwich. My other question is if the store noticed this, why wait until they get outside? Why not just stop them after the checkout before they get outside?