My i-pod! Mine!

[MadMike]

It is very disturbing to see a mother encouraging her child to be a pickpocket.

I wonder if that's literally what was going on -- getting the kid to pickpocket for her. If he gets caught, then the kid was "just looking and doesn't know any better."

Either way, the mother needs a good kick in the ass.

[Broomjockey]

See, in my mind, the "looked down to see" in the OP suggests young child. I'm picturing 10, maybe as young as 5 as suggested, at the outsides. Even so, that's not old enough to be totally responsible. I'm not against calling in police or management though, becaues MadMike's right. The mom could be training the child to be a pickpocket. With a mom like that, a little attention from another authority source can't hurt.

[CaroPhoenix]

I took it that the OP was tall. I can look down on people who are my age but are shorter than 5'3". (I did that with my Grandma - she was 5 feet and 1/2 an inch. ). I was thinking the kid could have been 8-10 years of age. At that age, kids know what is the difference between right and wrong.

MadMike could be right though. Teaching kids to be pick pockets is disgusting, but some people still do do that. However, I still do believe Management/Police should be called. Management because then they can keep (in theory) an eye out for the 2 and if there are more complaints from customers about them, then there could be the possibility of banning. As for Police, they could also keep an eye on the pair of them too.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

I thought about that, Mom training the kid to be a thief. I mean, it's not all that uncommon in some places.

[blas]

The worst I've seen was a mom pushing a giant stroller full of stolen stashed merchandise.

[myswtghst]

Regardless of all the other talk on this board, there is no good reason for the mom to just brush off the complaint. I don't care what Jr there was trying to do, pick pocket or not, you shouldn't be teaching him that it's ok to touch strangers or put his hands in or on their stuff without asking permission first.

Too many people let their kids get away with stuff like this, and IMO, these are the kids who will get their butts beat by some unsuspecting person who is rightfully defending themself, or the kids who will try to pet a strange dog and get their hands bitten. Teach your kids boundaries, people!

And if it were me, I probably would have at least made a comment about legal action or calling security/the police, and mom would have heard at least a minor tirade from me on why Jr should watch his hands in the future, not the least being that she should be glad my reflexes were off and I didn't smack the kid.

[powerboy]

I honestly do not know, what I would have done.

[Bagga]

Sorry, but this sounds like deliberate theft to me. There are quite a few parent-child shoplifting teams out there. I remember the time when I worked in a small store and actually SAW a child about 6 years old put a pack of Duracell batteries in his pocket. I called him on it, his dad magically and instantly appeared. (wth, if you are near enough to hear me say quietly "put those back" you are near enough to monitor his behaviour)

The father refused to let me check the kid's pockets, implying that it would be ME who would steal things, then ostentasiously pretended to check the kid's pockets, and told me there was nothing at all in them. (Funny that, at one point you accidentally pushed something against the outside of the pocket that looked exactly like a 4 pack of Duracells)

I couldn't be bothered with it any more, and just cut our losses by making the entire family of 4 leave the store. By saying, loudly. "I'M SORRY SIR BUT I DID SEE YOUR CHILD TAKE THOSE BATTERIES IN HIS POCKET, PLEASE LEAVE THE STORE"

A lot less bother than dealing with it properly, and a lot more fun.

[Emrld]

I didn't automatically jump to the teaching the child to pick pocket. . . I saw it as another "my precious little angel can do no wrong" - parenting situation
That is why I said for Mgmt to be called in
Of course hind sight is 20/20 - the good news in all of this is that Customersruinmylife still owns their I-Pod and didn't unknowingly harm a child.

[chainedbarista]

i agree; this kid was in the wrong (as myswtghst pointed out), it's simply wrong to touch anyone without their permission, regardless of age, and mommy dearest's defense is ridiculous, sincere or no. wtf, they're on display, GO LOOK AT THE DAMN DISPLAY, not bother another person.

maybe they were real, or maybe they were pickpockets; either way, if that had been me, they'd have both gotten an earful, hopefully, the end result being they both leave, fearful of coming in contact with others.

hands off, period, unless i'm in need of cpr, there is NO reason to touch me (or another person).

[HowMayIHelpMe?]

* reaches hand into little mutant's mother's shirt, feeling around in her bra *


Mother (to me): Hey! What the hell do you think you're doing?!

Me: I was just looking, for goodness sake!

[Bagga]

HowMay, you are teh win! That would be an awesome response!

(But I want Santa to bring me two - of what's in the shirt.)

[EmiOfBrie]

"He wants Santa to bring him one!"

My reply: "We both know Santa's not a real person. Just tell him now and get it over with!"

....in front of the kid.

[Saydrah]

"He wants Santa to bring him one!"


"Oh, gosh, did you forget to tell him Santa skips children who are on the naughty list for reaching in strangers' pockets without permission and handling others' property without permission? I really think you oughta mention that part- he's going to be mighty disappointed when he just gets a lump of coal instead of that I-pod he wants, and Christmas morning is a lousy time to explain why Santa doesn't give gifts to naughty boys."

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

If anybody would try that with me, child or otherwise, he wouldn't know what hit him. And that would be a reflex.

I know, I know, I shouldn't say that, but I am very protective of my personal space and any valuables I may have on me. And I don't know whether it's a kid getting all handsy or an adult trying to pickpocket me.

If there's a hand in my pants or anyplace else that I didn't give permission to be there, look out.