Pregnant mom says sandwich arrest was 'horrifying'

Associated Press ^ | 11/01/2011 | JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER

[Mat_Helm]

HONOLULU (AP) — Nicole Leszczynski couldn't imagine that two chicken salad sandwiches would land her and her husband in jail and her 2-year-old daughter in state custody. But it happened five days ago, when the 30-weeks-pregnant woman forgot to pay for her snack while grocery shopping. "It was the most ridiculous chain of events that happened," she said while sobbing Monday. "It's still hard to believe what happened." Leszczynski, 28, and her husband Marcin, 33, were handcuffed, searched then released on $50 bail each. Their ordeal at the police station lasted a few hours, but their daughter Zofia spent the night away from her parents in a case that has sparked nationwide outrage and forced the Safeway supermarket chain to review the incident. The family had moved to an apartment near downtown Honolulu from California two weeks ago. Still settling in, they ventured out Wednesday to stock up on groceries, took the bus, got lost, and ended up at a Safeway supermarket. Famished, the former Air Force staff sergeant picked up the two sandwiches that together cost $5. She openly munched on one while they shopped, saving the wrapper to be scanned at the register later. But they forgot to pay for the sandwiches as they checked out with about $50 worth of groceries. "When the security guard questioned us, I was really embarrassed, I was horrified," she said. They were led upstairs, where the couple expected to get a lecture, pay for the sandwiches, and be allowed on their way. But store managers wouldn't allow them to pay for the sandwiches, she said. "I asked to talk to a manager and he said it was against their policy to pay for items that left the store," she said. "The security guard said we were being charged with shoplifting."

[Mr. Lucky]

What?

[Responsibility2nd]

In a “polite” world, people do that all the time. It is actually quite common.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

True. But we don’t live in a polite world, do we? This naive young couple should have seen this coming from the first bite of that unpaid for sandwich.

[Responsibility2nd]

“Subway”?

(blaming senility here)

Meant Safeway.

[Trick or Treat]

They may not have used the “pregnant mom” to gain sympathy. During my pregnancies I would get extremely hungry, often to the point of feeling like I was going to pass out if I didn’t eat right then and there. It’s not an excuse for failing to pay for the sandwiches, which they should have done immediately.

[jimmyray]

Perhaps. But Company rules that guided the Store Managers behavior may be inflexible on the matter. If he bent them, he may be subject to dismissal, for all we know. Inflexible rules like that are often put in place to avoid charges of racism, sexism, etc. by the perpetrators and their lawyers.

No one is disputing the fact they stole the sandwiches, though. It is unlikely they would have paid for them if they had not been caught.

[Former Fetus]

Earlier last summer, our local BiLo installed self-checkouts. One day when I got to my car, I noticed a gallon of milk riding in the bottom of the cart, milk that I obviously had not paid for or placed in a bag. I was mortified! I went back in the BiLo, went to the same self-checkout and paid for the milk. In the way out, I saw the manager and explained to him what had happened. Since that day there’s always been an employee by the self-checkouts! LOL At least that manager was nice and learned a lesson! But it scares me to think what could have happened to me in another store!

[skeeter]

No one is disputing that they didn’t pay for the sandwiches. The “perps” are most certainly disputing she “stole” the sandwiches, as the term conveys intent.

[Clock King]

And of course, cops just mindlessly follow the law like good little Stazi.

[cuban leaf]

—But we don’t live in a polite world, do we? —

I do. It’s why I moved here from Seattle. It’s like everyone is family.

[fatima]

Cut me a break,Half the time they don’t put everything in the bag.Should lock up the cashier.

[proud American in Canada]

They “forgot” to pay for the sandwiches? They were just too hungry to wait? It doesn’t take too long to rack up $50 in groceries.

Is this some sort of trap for Safeway? I’m just a bit skeptical.

[TexasCajun]

I find it disgusting to see adults opening packages of cookies or chips and eating them while shopping or picking a few grapes to taste-test.

I'm a bit more understanding if the parent has a toddler and has opened something to quiet the kid before checking out.

[Jaded]

I agree, there probably is more to this story. Reporting is selective...

[cuban leaf]

—Obviously, you’ve never had a job with any responsibility.—

You may want to wait for a little more evidence before you so confidently size up another individual. Especially when your evidence is a single post. ;-)

[ZX12R]

I don’t feel sorry for this woman, and I don’t blame the manager. If she is going to be piggish and can’t wait a few minutes and eat the sandwich after it’s been purchased, then it is her responsibility alone to make sure it gets scanned at the register. Wait next time, ditz.

[Cheburashka]

The fact that they forgot to pay for the sandwiches misses the point.

The point is the response was disproportionate.

---

Yes, stores should always accept without question whatever excuse the shoplifter has for not paying for the item. We wouldn't want to injure the shoplifter's self-esteem.

They took stuff, they didn't pay for it. You would squeal like a pig if I came over to your place, took stuff and "forgot" to pay for it. Disproportionate you would be.

[cuban leaf]

—The fact that this woman is a “pregnant mom” has absolutely nothing to do with incident. Mentioning it is a ploy for sympathy by the author of the story.—

I’m totally with you on that one.