You have got to be kidding me!!

[mom'sfolly]

I'm sort of surprised by the number of people here who eat and drink at the grocery store. I think it is rude, but that is just me. It's a store, not a restaurant. If you can't take your kids someplace without feeding them, they probably shouldn't be at that place, at that time.

I think the store followed an established policy. I think the cops should not have arrested anyone, but if they did, it should only have been one parent. Because they did arrest both, they needed child services to care for the baby. The people are going after the grocery store not the police. Once the store called the police, the way it was handled was out of the store's hands. If there is a legitimate complaint, it should be against the police department. The fact that they took it to the store says they are going for the easy target and deep pockets.

Yes, it was an awful situation. But if they had bought the $5 sandwiches while they were wandering around lost, then the situation wouldn't have happened, if they had paid for the sandwiches first, it wouldn't have happened, if they had remembered, it wouldn't have happened. Yes, accidents happen; but sometimes consequences happen too.

 

[chefchick]

mom'sfolly :

I'm sort of surprised by the number of people here who eat and drink at the grocery store. I think it is rude, but that is just me. It's a store, not a restaurant. If you can't take your kids someplace without feeding them, they probably shouldn't be at that place, at that time.

I think the store followed an established policy. I think the cops should not have arrested anyone, but if they did, it should only have been one parent. Because they did arrest both, they needed child services to care for the baby. The people are going after the grocery store not the police. Once the store called the police, the way it was handled was out of the store's hands. If there is a legitimate complaint, it should be against the police department. The fact that they took it to the store says they are going for the easy target and deep pockets.

Yes, it was an awful situation. But if they had bought the $5 sandwiches while they were wandering around lost, then the situation wouldn't have happened, if they had paid for the sandwiches first, it wouldn't have happened, if they had remembered, it wouldn't have happened. Yes, accidents happen; but sometimes consequences happen too.

Well said. Eating food in a store without paying IS shoplifting in my opinion. I can't believe the number of people on here who do it! it isn't "yours" until you pay for it, no matter what the reason for doing it is. I worked in a grocery store while in college, and we were taught to genlty "remind" customers to pay for any items they were eating in the store while shopping. I can't begin to tell you how many deli wrappers and empty cartons we would see stuffed in the shelves, the freezer case, etc. that prompted the policy. People would let thier kids take handsful of candy from the bulk food bins and get mad if you said anything. Of course, that was years ago...times are changing. the store I shop in now offers a free donut hole to kids and free coffee while you shop...perhaps another way to deter some of the "forgetfulness". I do think taking away the kid was a bit extreme though.​

 

[greeneggsandham]

Follow-up.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20111102/us-sandwich-arrest/

 

[serendipity22]

I just feel bad for this mom.

I've been pregnant and frazzles and faint. And I've walked out of a store without paying for something accidentally... I've done ALL of this and the fact that someone could have taken my children away from me and had me arrested... It just takes my breath away.

It is nice to hear that the store is re-evaluating their ways. If anything good can come from this, I'll take it.

Its such a shame that so many folks cannot empathize with them. Sorry state, indeed.

 

[OwlLover]

Its very sad that a lot of people here are jumping to conclusions and assuming that they were purposefully shoplifting without . If you're pregnant, you're probably going to be dizzy and might throw up if you don't eat something right then and there. Like others have said as well; getting dizzy etc can happen with diabetes and countless other diseases if you don't eat right there. Yes, the store lost something, and they still should've done something. But there is NO need to send both parents to jail and separating a 2 year old from her parents, for any length of time. IMO, anyways.

 

[Criskin]

A few years ago I lived in another state and always shopped at Harris Teeter. They kept a box of cookies in the bakery labeled something to the effect of: free for children, please take one. It probably wasn't entirely sanitary, but having a toddler who looked forward to going to the store with MaMa because he got a cookie (he was my first & I obsessively limited his sugar and processed foods so it was a big treat) was worth it. Obviously, it isn't always a breach of ettiquette to eat in the grocery store because in this particular case it was encouraged, at least for children.

In the sandwich case, I'll have to wait to jump on my high horse until I can assure myself that I've never accidentally done anything illegal. I've been pregnant while caring for a toddler and I forgot things and lost items so often that I thought I was losing my mind as well. As a result, I feel for any woman in that position and tend to cut pregnant ladies a bit more slack than the general population.

 

[KristyHall]

mom'sfolly :

I'm sort of surprised by the number of people here who eat and drink at the grocery store. I think it is rude, but that is just me. It's a store, not a restaurant. If you can't take your kids someplace without feeding them, they probably shouldn't be at that place, at that time.

I think the store followed an established policy. I think the cops should not have arrested anyone, but if they did, it should only have been one parent. Because they did arrest both, they needed child services to care for the baby. The people are going after the grocery store not the police. Once the store called the police, the way it was handled was out of the store's hands. If there is a legitimate complaint, it should be against the police department. The fact that they took it to the store says they are going for the easy target and deep pockets.

Yes, it was an awful situation. But if they had bought the $5 sandwiches while they were wandering around lost, then the situation wouldn't have happened, if they had paid for the sandwiches first, it wouldn't have happened, if they had remembered, it wouldn't have happened. Yes, accidents happen; but sometimes consequences happen too.

 

[jbourget]

Quote:
This couple has only lived in Honolulu for two weeks and moved there from CA. I highly doubt they have been "stealing" things from this store especially since the article also stated that they had gotten lost and ended up at the Safeway. Seemed like it wasn't the normal grocery store that they go to.

LOL x2

 

[Matthew3590]

Any one who blames the store for them being arrested or for having the child taken away obviously forgot some parts of the article. No one said they purposefully stole it. She accidentally stole it and the store has policies that it has to follow.

 

[Carols Clucks]

Quote:
And it was the police who charged and held the parents rather than cite them and let them go.



With out starting an argument, I find it interesting that a lot of people think that stores should feed: Pregnant women, toddlers, kids, people with medical issues and people who are hungry and hope that those people feel like remembering to pay when they leave the store. And if they don't, well we caught you so now you have to pay or have a great day. Or that sticking your hands in the veggies, fruit and bulk bins to sample and eat is okay, that really grosses me out and makes me not want to buy bulk and super scrub my fruits and veggies. People in the food service industry have to wash their hands before touching food, but random hungry people......