Hi,

Wondered what you guys would have done in the following situation.

In Costa Coffee today and the woman and her partner in front of me ordered their drinks. She then asked her daughter (about 9) to get herself a drink. The girl picked up a bottle of juice and the woman sneaked it into her handbag. I was annoyed for a few reasons: she was teaching her daughter that stealing was acceptable; no wonder my coffee is so expensive; when her boyfriend/husband offered to pay for it and she refused and insisted on paying, why didn't she let him.
I didn't say anything because in some respects I thought I argue with enough people and don't want a row! I didn't want the girl to see her mother being 'dealt' with and I also thought, really, this is nothing to do with me.

Now I am wondering if I should have said something. My main dilemma is that the daughter may now think there are no consequences to your actions.

Just interested in what other people would have done and how trustworthy you BEers are as a moral compass!!!

No one likes a grass.

Fair point

Grassed her up and asked for a big cream bun as a reward.

It will also cause a bit of a fuss and nobody wants that.

Where's the dilemma? You saw somebody steal and thought 'screw it, I don't care enough to mention it'. You're an accessory to the crime now. BE's dilemma is whether to grass you in or not

Good thing I've already had my police checks done. Phew! or do you have contacts???????

I would have grassed her into the rozzers and not loose a second of sleep about it. Bet that's not all they nicked that day.?

I'd ask for a few swigs of juice to keep quiet.

Or to translate it into a more North American context; snitches lie in ditches.

The mum was rather a poor thief as she was seen. Maybe should have tipped her off about that, to avoid her daughter copying her style.

If it makes you feel better I recently bought some shopping including a 24 of bud light in a quebec Loblaws and they forgot to charge me for the beer!
Did i tell them ? did i f***!

Now, if she had said to the child that she could not afford the juice, I would have paid for it.

I often pay for stuff for other people as its usually quicker than them deciding what not to buy. Within reason of course. 1-5$

Interesting point. She certainly wasn't from the Artful Dodger School of nicking.

That's their own fault. I don't see that as pinching. I see that as a training issue for their staff. I bet they tasted even better knowing you didn't pay for them.