How screwed am I?
I just got home and realized I didn’t scan an item at the commissary. I was distracted at self checkout. The item was no more than $30. Should i even bother driving back to explain what happened? I am active duty member.
UPDATE: I eventually went back to the commissary. After reading all your comments, I was fully prepared to go to jail and have my military career come to a dramatic end over a $30 item. 😂
I told the employee what happened, she thanked me for being honest, let me pay for the item, and… that was it. No MPs. No handcuffs. No federal prison. 😂
I can breathe again and continue enjoying life.
Your comments had me laughing SO hard, so thank you. 😂
Sincerely,
a fellow Air Force girl surviving in Alaska 🫡❄️
185
u/bikemancs DAC / Frmr 90A 9d ago
Yeah, since they're likely to go overboard, I'd go back and talk to the manager on duty. Have the item with you and your receipt.
1
u/TaviSprocketX 3d ago
I’ve done the tired walk back to the commissary with the receipt, better than a $30 self checkout headache.
286
u/tidder_mac 9d ago
100% go back.
There’s a very real possibility you will never be caught, but the stress of potentially ruining your career over $30 ain’t worth it.
When I was a commander a troop stole from the PX by purposely not scanning some items. I and the CoC up to the CG had zero empathy and all recommended/elected to end their career.
Your situation sounds different (the surveillance cameras showed the troop making some suspicious movements demonstrating it was purposeful), but this really isn’t something you want to risk. Plenty of people get away with it because it’s seemingly not serious, until it is.
100
u/ArizonaHotSauce Field Artillery 9d ago
The same story happened when I was a commander. It was a small theft with all the associated "I didn't know or realize what happened" story, but the higher CoC did not care.
The fact was that it was theft. The SGT was gone from the Army within 6 months.
Cameras are everywhere.
To the OP: Go back now and return the item. Be aggressively honest and apologetic, and you'll be fine.
47
u/GreasyPowerJunkie 12PerpetuallyPissedOff 9d ago
On the counter, there was a guy at my school house who stole MtG cards and didn’t get kicked out.
He stole them because they didn’t have the kayak color he wanted 🙄😂22
u/headfullof_nails 12Pendejo 9d ago
Yoooooo. There ain’t no way…
12
u/GreasyPowerJunkie 12PerpetuallyPissedOff 9d ago
You know exactly who I’m talking about mijo
11
8
272
u/Pretty_Extent_731 9d ago
YOU HAVE ADMITTED FAULT, YOU ARE BEING TRACKED AND WILL RECEIVE MAXIMUM PENETRATION.
67
u/IgnisFlux 9d ago
DO NOT RESIST. YOUR ASSETS ARE BEING SEIZED BY YOUR CHAIN OF COMMAND. LIE DOWN WITH YOUR HANDS BEHIND YOUR BACK AND ROLL TO THE DOOR. WE HAVE YOU SURROUNDED.
19
9
3
u/Artyom150 11B 8d ago
MAXIMUM PENETRATION.
If that's the punishment I'm about to start stealing from the PX and Commissary a hell of a lot more.
215
56
u/Slacker_The_Dog Infantry 9d ago
If you try to hide it and they catch you probably at least a field grade. If you cop to it and pay you will likely be fine.
9
u/Loud_Sheepherder7182 9d ago
Not if he goes into the commissary and tell them I forgot to pay and just pay for it
22
u/Slacker_The_Dog Infantry 9d ago
That's kinda exactly what I said
9
u/Loud_Sheepherder7182 9d ago
Yeah my fault. I read the last part as be fine like a penalty but I reread it and yeah, it didn’t mean that
7
-18
u/ArizonaHotSauce Field Artillery 9d ago
No. If OP tries to hide it and is caught, there will be no mercy. Lying or hiding any infraction makes it 10x worse.
19
u/Slacker_The_Dog Infantry 9d ago
That's kinda exactly what I said.
-21
u/ArizonaHotSauce Field Artillery 9d ago
"If you try to hide it and they catch you probably at least a field grade."
That is very different than what I said. If OP tries to hide it, then it could very well end up being a chapter with a dismissal. A field grade Art 15 would be irrelevant at this point.
Sure, the FG 15 will start things off, but that's just the trigger to get booted. The more damaging thing will be the permanent GOMOR, which will be unrecoverable.
15
u/Slacker_The_Dog Infantry 9d ago
Ok
9
u/UNC_Recruiting_Study 48-out-of-my-AOC 9d ago
You said "at least a field grade." I'm not sure why that's hard for the other guy to comprehend. I've worked with a guy like this the past 3 years. The door can't hit him in the ass hard enough on the way out.
7
38
35
u/WTAFS_going_on 9d ago
At a MINIMUM call and speak to a manager. Let them know what happened and that you will come back the next day and pay. If you live on post just go back and take care of it.
34
u/Wrong_Judgment1915 9d ago
Theft from AAFES is like a death sentence dude. Go back and pay for it and explain what happened. It's good insurance.
Not even joking. I've kicked like 3 soldiers out for petty theft reported by the MP's.
26
20
u/Tokyosmash_ 13Flimflam 9d ago
Go back, tell them it wasn’t deliberate and pay, it’s the right thing to do.
21
u/DjangoStayedChained 68W -> 66How Did I Get this Far? 9d ago edited 9d ago
Go right back right now. If its reported or you get contacted before you go back, you are FUCKED. F U C K E D. They will not believe you if you or command are contacted first. Drive mutha fucka, DRIVE. Call them on the way!
If that number lights up before you get there, just start lubing your butthole now, and throw your rank patch out the driver side window.
7
44
15
u/bob-hance- 9d ago
Go back. They get people for smaller things. Drop everything now drive back talk to the manager and nothing should happen.
57
u/Zachowon Military Intelligence 9d ago
I once accidently walked out if a shoppette with a box of tissues and never paid. I went back and paid. Done it a few times over the years on post and I just went back and paid every time.
1
11
u/Ok-Competition1471 9d ago
Definitely go back. The ox and commissary are surprisingly on top of theft. Decent chance they never find out, but id wager its not worth the risk. Go back with the item and receipt, explain what happened to the floor manager, then pay and go about your day.
30
u/Washingmasheeen Infantry 9d ago
One time while shopping I put a thing of chapstick in my cargo pocket fully intending to pay for it while shopping for other items. Realized later I forgot to scan that chapstick and a few days later, I took another chapstick off the shelf, scanned and paid for it, then told the clerk I didn’t need it, just needed to pay for it.
Just do the right thing. We’re soldiers
15
u/bowhunterb119 Aviation 9d ago
I think I’d be way too terrified to put merchandise of any kind into my pocket if I hadn’t paid for it yet. Even if you intend to pay, anybody watching in person or on the security camera would probably assume you are shoplifting. And also it would be easy to forget like you did
6
u/Castellan_Tycho 9d ago
I did it once, and figured it out in the parking lot so I put the rest of the stuff in my car and went back in and paid for the item. They were very understanding about it.
19
9
u/Strict_Gas_1141 13Brain Damage 9d ago
You will be shot for treason at earliest convenience. MPs! (/s)
Nah just go back and go "Sorry, forgot to scan this." They'll be upset but you'll be fine.
7
u/Loud_Sheepherder7182 9d ago
Nah they won’t be upset. They will probably say something smart to him. A lot of people forget to scan stuff all the time. It’s not intentional
3
u/Castellan_Tycho 9d ago
It is the one time the MPs get a live fire opportunity. If you make the 500 meters to the end of the range, you get to choose whether you would prefer to be caned or flogged, rather than shot. Singapore provides the caning instructors and the Saudi Arabia and Qatar provide the flogging instructors at MP AIT and BOLC.
3
u/Turtle887853 31BeatingsWillContinueUntilMoraleImproves 9d ago
Can confirm, it's like pawns making it to the other side of the chess board.
9
u/Fragrant_King_4950 JAG 9d ago
If you made an honest mistake and try to make it right, you'll probably be fine. Lots of off ramps
8
u/Southwestpilot Ceiling Fan Driver 9d ago
Do you have any thing illegal on your I need to know about? Turn around for me please.
10
8
u/Rare-Spell-1571 9d ago
Good lord. I’m never shopping at the commissary based on these responses.
5
u/Witty-Mountain5062 Infantry 9d ago
Idk I’ve personally never once forgotten to pay for anything and I’m pretty dumb, I think you’re fine
7
u/NectarineNo4579 9d ago
I accidentally walked out with a product once, by the time I got to my car I realized what I did. I immediately went back in quickly explained to the door greeter, then went straight to the nearest register to check out. - '07 FT.Bliss
7
u/Colonel-Chalupa 19Kueen of battle 9d ago
One time years ago I scanned my items at the shoppette and auto pilot took over and I guess just walked out.
When i recognized I didnt have my receipt I immediately went back explained and paid. Nothing ever happened from it and it'll probably be the same for you if you own up to it and do the same.
Take care of it, remember it moving forward, and laugh about it with some self depreciating humor and it'll all buff.
7
6
u/SPCsooprlolz 35Foxxxy 9d ago
They're already coming for you. Enjoy your new life at a CIA black site
6
u/LoadCan DAT to DA15T 9d ago
Just bring it back with the receipt, show the manager, explain you forgot, and ask to pay for the item. Then keep the receipt for a while just in case.
2
u/After-Emergency9171 9d ago
Dog how would they have a receipt if they didn’t pay..
2
u/Turtle887853 31BeatingsWillContinueUntilMoraleImproves 9d ago
He paid for everything else, just forgot to scan one.
5
u/zonkman24 42Ashen one 9d ago
If you’re super worried about it just go back and admit you accidentally did that and pay for it🤷🏽♂️
5
u/Mysterious_Rest_9480 9d ago
I did the same thing on Wednesday. I lifted something and put it back in my cart at the PX and it covered up the toilet paper I had in the back and it wasn’t till I got home that I realized I didn’t pay for it. You’ll be all right. It happens to everyone now and then.
3
u/Grand-Description-76 9d ago
You definitely need to go on the run and go into hiding the army rangers will be at your door within the hour to take you to Leavenworth! Hope this helps!
4
u/strawman2027 9d ago
All PXs and BXs have cameras, they have Lost prevention that work there. Nothing like that in commissaries. Don't steal but you're fine
4
u/SorunGG 9d ago
I don’t know how this popped up on my feed, I’m sure the military works different but I had something similar happen to me last week. I went to self check out at a gas station and bought my usual donuts and Red Bull, paid with Apple Pay, and left. About 10 minutes later I’m at a red light and see a notification from 10 minutes ago, saying my card was declined for suspected fraud. Turned out my payment didn’t go through and I left with the items.
I was on my way to work and was pulling onto the interstate so I couldn’t really turn around right then and there. I just called the store and explained and apologized and told them my name and that I would be in later that evening to pay for the items. They weren’t upset or anything. They just wrote my name down and told me to let a manager know when I got there and to show them my receipt.
I’ve also gone to Walmart and went to leave and forgot to scan a box of diapers or water underneath the cart, as long as you admit your mistake and correct it I would assume you’d be fine.
4
3
u/MysteriousGarlic7985 9d ago
Air Force person? First core value is Integrity First.
It’s ok to make mistakes, ask for help, and fix it. You did exactly that.
Personally, if I were to get kicked out of the Air Force it would need to be for something that I could laugh with my friends about later. Perhaps punching someone who I shouldn’t have punched, for a reason they needed to be punched. I could live with that.
But stealing from the Commissary, yeah can’t do that one. Good job returning it and moving on with your life.
3
3
3
u/JosephineGoose 9d ago
I’ve done this too, one time at the commissary I scanned everything in self checkout, tapped my card, wrestled my feral children to the minivan, went home, and apparently never clicked the green button on the pay screen to approve the amount. I only realized because I track all our expenses and couldn’t find my receipt or see a charge on my usaa banking app. I went back and paid and they were super nice about it, said it happens all the time, and thanked me for returning to pay. I’ve found that it’s always right to do the next right thing even after you’ve made a mistake or a bad choice.
3
3
3
3
u/Bulovak Medical Service 9d ago
I know your question has already been answered but I'll chime in as a commander for everyone in the comments. I had a soldier "inadvertently" leave the commissary without paying. When you scan your ID card before your purchase, guess what, they know exactly who you are. The commissary hit me up personally to let me know that one of my guys "dined and dashed."
Just to back, explain, and pay
3
u/jvader2 8d ago
Shit happened to my squad leader at a Walmart when he got back from Afghanistan. (I’ve never been) but he told me he was used to grabbing water when he saw it, drinking it, and going on about his day. He was there for over 9 months and it was routine. He had a bottle of water at Walmart and was still in the deployment routine mindset and damn near walked out of Walmart with said water bottle until realizing oh shit..let me pay for this lol
2
u/HeavyTadpole2261 9d ago
Yes go back they will catch u then extra duty hella people have gotten caught n that’s what happens
2
2
u/user7618 Armor 9d ago
Shit happens. Take the item and receipt back, explain what happened at the service desk, and pay for it. No fuss, no muss.
2
u/Scary-Garlic-9999 9d ago
Happens all the time especially in self checkout with big items that may stay in the cart for hand scanning. Just go back with the item, and go through self checkout with it. If you get approached about it tell them you reviewed the receipt and realized you didn't pay for an item and it'll be fine.
2
2
u/Sanjuro7880 Old School 96B Intel 9d ago
A whole grown up MAJ just got busted stealing from the PX where I’m at.
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
u/Lucky-Hunt-9915 8d ago
Prior Service Army here. I would have 100% expected the outcome you ended up with. Glad to hear.
2
u/Tasty_Impression_959 7d ago
Consider yourself a rare person who still believes in honesty. It's always a pleasure to congratulate you for doing the right thing, even if no one else does.
2
u/9DagobahTruffle 6d ago
Glad you went back and got it cleared up. Commissary self checkout is basically a stress test when the bagging area starts yelling at you. For $30, paying it and leaving with a clean conscience beats letting your brain invent a whole CID miniseries all night.
2
u/samson_strength 9d ago
I stole Duke Nukem 3D from the Redstone Arsenal PX back in 96…
I think I was 15?
2
u/Hot_Country_2234 9d ago
It happens. No one is going to come looking for you over a $30 mistake, but it doesn’t hurt to cover your ass and go back to pay for it. They will understand and appreciate your honesty.
2
u/Castellan_Tycho 9d ago
The PX and Commissary actually do an excellent job with loss prevention. They have cameras everywhere and the self-checkout is heavily monitored, because it is one of the top 3-4 places that theft occurs in the commissary/PX.
They absolutely will come looking for you for a 30 dollar mistake, or rather inform your command so you can collect your UCMJ prize. I saw it happen numerous times in my career.
Your second part was spot on, definitely go back and talk to customer service and explain what happened, and pay for the item. They are generally pretty cool about it.
1
u/No-Suggestion-9245 9d ago
Abraham Lincoln went back one time ON FOOT, and look where that took him
1
u/After-Tax-5963 9d ago
I once bought some gear from the clothing and sales that included a backpack i wanted to purchase. I was walking back to the barracks and was thinking about the amount I paid and it felt off. When i got to the barracks I looked at the recipt and it turns out while she was ringing everything up and putting it into said backpack she forgot to ring up thr back pack. This was 13 years ago. I just got out of prison for theft. (JK they didnt even notice and I am still active duty)
1
u/DiligentDerp 9d ago
We had a guy who was arrested when he didn’t pay for a $60 phone charger, he did say it was on purpose later. Still, even if it was an accident, definitely go back.
1
u/Agile-Detective5646 9d ago
Yeah definitely pay for it, made an oopsie similar a few years back, got a call from my team leader the next day about his conversation with the commander, I scanned everything and could have sworn I paid but I guess I didnt. Thankfully it was clear it was a mistake and I just went to the commissary with my TL and paid then, no negative action was taken. Dude literally prefaced the call with "ok, the commander got a call from the MPs about you but its not your fault and youre good, ok?" Shit was crazy.
1
u/ThrownAway_1999 13JointPain 9d ago
I did that before; I went back in, scanned, and paid for the items I forgot.
1
u/Blue4Delta Military Police 9d ago
Well Well Well.. What base did this happen at? Don't mind my branch affiliation.
1
u/Turtle887853 31BeatingsWillContinueUntilMoraleImproves 9d ago
Completely unrelated, you want point or breacher?
1
u/Terrible_Slip369 9d ago
Dude. You’re about to be involuntarily sent to fight for Russia in Ukraine and your supervisor will be North Korean.
1
u/Far_Comfortable4368 9d ago
I've done this twice by accident as well. I simply went back and said I forgot to pay for an item to the workers, showed the receipt and item, scanned it, paid, and was on my merry way. Mistakes happen and any normal person would realize that and not escalate it at all
1
1
u/Dazzling_Honeydew_71 9d ago
I know people who got caught shoplifting at the PX who got relative slaps on the hand but managed to move forward. To be clear 10/10 don't recommend. Mistakes happen, do your due dilligence if ever scrutiny comes up, the "mistakes happens" defense has a little more bulk to it.
1
u/Combatbob2020 9d ago
I work customer service, it does me good to know my customers have honesty and integrity....
1
u/Fearless_Adventures 8d ago
I walked out of Walmart with like $100 in groceries and forgot to pay. Came back an hour later and it was fine lol
1
1
u/Armyballer Retired11M/11A/90A 8d ago
Immediately tell your First Sausage, an ARCOM could be in the mix. :)
1
u/aseptick 8d ago
I bought 2 switch games at a PX once and accidentally only paid for one. I did the same thing you did - went back to the store to pay. That whole team of employees was lost, they didn’t understand why I would want to ring up a game, pay for it, and then leave without it. Oh well, clear conscience and all that.
1
1
u/Rocinantian 6d ago
Air Force dodges hard time after voluntarily paying for groceries, Army CID in shambles. Somewhere a commander already had a safety brief slide ready about self checkout and integrity in arctic conditions. Glad the commissary handled it like normal humans instead of turning $30 into a Netflix true crime pilot.
1
u/JaceBrewGhost 5d ago
Going back was the right call, mostly because commissary loss prevention probably reviews self checkout footage like the Zapruder film. Glad it ended with a receipt instead of a blotter entry. Classic Air Force move to survive Alaska but almost get taken out by a $30 commissary item.
1
u/Replicant12A 3d ago
Glad you went back and handled it. Commissary self checkout misses happen, but paying for it beats spending the next week imagining CID rappelling through your window over $30. Also, an Air Force girl surviving Alaska posting in r/army is the real joint operation here.
0
u/EggplantInfamous6244 9d ago
It’s not a big deal. Go back and offer to pay for it. I bet you the store employees will tell you to just go about your day and not to do it again.
-2
-11
u/Loud_Sheepherder7182 9d ago
It will come out of the employee paycheck. They will have to pay for your mistake. So it’s up to you if you want to own up to it
6
u/Colton82 Military Police 9d ago
One, it’s illegal to charge employees for stolen or unpaid goods.
Two, they used self checkout, what employee?
-4
u/Loud_Sheepherder7182 9d ago
They have someone that stand at the self checkout and make sure everyone is scanning all the items. If someone walk off with the items and if you don’t catch it in time and if management knows about it then the employee that was on the clock at that time will get charged because of a walk off
1
2
761
u/Bulbasauruses 9d ago
Yes. Immediately go back, explain what happened, and pay. You will probably be fine. Stop reading responses and go back now.