Breaking the Law

[Doetsch]

I had a horrible experience yesterday and I wonder if anyone has had this happen to them. I know that Jedi will get me some **** about this. Don't call the authorities Jedi :(

So, yesterday was my Birthday and I was driving to go meet some friends for lunch. I got a low while I was driving and I pulled over to check. I was 32 :( This I belive was from a guestimate bolus at breakfast. I am a bad, bad man. So there is a convenient store that is accross the street and I decide to walk across the street due to not wanting to drive. I am in a bad part of town cause there is this awesome home cooked mexican restaurant that I wanted to go to. Anyways, I walk across the street and go into the convenient store.

I was dropping rapidly and started sweating like crazy. I go into the store and by this time I can't speak and I can barely walk. When I go into the store the shopkeep looks at me very rudely but I continue to walk to the aisle for some crackers or back to get some oj. I am weaving down the aisle and I fell to the floor. When I fell I happened to fall against a display and everything that was on it crashed to the floor with me. I began to stand up and starting picking everything up when the shopkeepe started calling me a drunk and yelled at me to get out of the store. I tried to tell him that I was Diabetic and I needed food but I am sure that my speech was garbled. He started to force me out of the store and continued to yell profanities at me and threatened to call the police. I continued to reason with him but he was not having it and pushed me to the front door. I needed to get some food or else I would go into shock so I picked up some crackers and a drink on the way out and I tried to pay for it but he kept pushing me. So I stole the crackers and beverage and left the store.

My friends told me I was in the right, my family told me that I should have called the police and continued to reason with the owner. What is ya'll's opinion on this. What should have I done differently.

[Lynne1]

I don't know how you would have been able to reason with the man when he thought you were drunk. You did what you needed to do in order to treat the low. Perhaps you could stop by the store now, and explain what happened to the owner and pay him for the stuff. You will have more success now that you are able to speak coherently than if you were mumbling and stumbling. It will probably make you feel better, too.

Take it easy!

[rzrbks]

Perhaps you could stop by the store now, and explain what happened to the owner and pay him for the stuff. You will have more success now that you are able to speak coherently than if you were mumbling and stumbling. It will probably make you feel better, too.




:congrats: :congrats: :congrats: :congrats:

[Rhino]

Your hand was forced due to circumstance. After the occurence, you didn't get on here and post "Yeah the stupid bastard, ha ha ha", you posted that it affected your conscience, ergo, you had no malintent. In your shoes, I would typically run back at a later date to pay the man, but he sounds like such an *** that I wouldn't bother.

I don't condone stealing, but the fact that you gave it a second thought reflects your decency as a human being, so I wouldn't sweat it. If your conscience continues to keep you up at night, go back and pay the man, but I get VERY vindictive when people are rude, whether to me or anybody else, so I say screw him.

[Lynne1]

I get VERY vindictive when people are rude, whether to me or anybody else, so I say screw him.

I disagree. People who work in convenience stores put up w/a lot of bs and there is a very high rate of robbery. It's a very dangerous job (I'm not kidding). He probably has a lot of problems with drunk and disorderly people and assumed you were bad news. So, I would have some compassion and understanding for the guy....just like you would want him to have for you. It should go both ways.

[valc3]

I'm glad you okay. You did what you had to do. I would go back, offer an explanation, maybe educate him a little and pay for the items no matter what his response is to you.


Take it easy.

[DeusXM]

Put it this way - if you hadn't done that, you'd be dead.

As a suggestion though, you really should have some glucose tablets on your person at all times, and you should also have an energy drink and something like a packet of crisps in your car too. That way you can pull over and get the sugar you need without having to go and buy some.

[psilocybin]

Put it this way - if you hadn't done that, you'd be dead.

As a suggestion though, you really should have some glucose tablets on your person at all times, and you should also have an energy drink and something like a packet of crisps in your car too. That way you can pull over and get the sugar you need without having to go and buy some.

deus i could not agree with you more...i carry tabs on me wherever i go. doesnt matter where. they usually come in handy like to save my life

[notme]

Going to my car with a bag of Starbursts as we speak. Sheesh! I 99.9% of the time have something with me. I have made mistakes before. I guess in our case mistakes could be deadly. Lesson learned. Thanks Doetsch. :****mate:

[JediSkipdogg]

Doetsch, I'm not going to yell at you or give you any ****. In the circumstances you did what you had to do.

However....I would highly recommend going back to the store when another employee is working and try to pay for the items. The worst part will be if any food products were damaged and they review the tape for insurance purposes and then see you stole some stuff. You could then have an unwelcome visit from the police, which in the end would just make you pay for it, but would take about 2-3 hours out of your day sitting down at the PD.

So I would find some way to pay for it.

Also, like some have said, you should always carry glucose tabs or something similar on you. What would have been worse is if the police were at the store when you walked in and thought you were drunk. They would have then taken you to the PD where you may have passed out and then you'd also get EMS involved and have you taken to the hospital adding piles upon piles of bills to you. Which is bad when all of this could have been prevented in the first place.

[Erin]

I needed to get some food or else I would go into shock so I picked up some crackers and a drink on the way out and I tried to pay for it but he kept pushing me. So I stole the crackers and beverage and left the store.

Technically in not allowing you to pay for them, and pushing you out of the store with them in your possession, the clerk GAVE you the food.

No harm, no foul.

It would be a nice gesture to go back and pay for the stuff, but you didn't do anything wrong. Other than not being prepared like a good little boyscout. Driving without a hypofix... tsk tsk tsk.

[DeusXM]

It's also a good reason to carry ID showing you have diabetes. Even if the clerk doesn't believe you when you show it to him at the time, if you do end up with an unwelcome visit from the filth you can explain you were doing it for reasons relating to your diabetes and that you attempted to explain. The clerk will either then grudgingly admit that you did show some ID and thus have to drop charges, or the police can check the CCTV tape and see you showing the clerk some ID. Either way, you win.

Frankly though you're in the clear. Convenience stores simply don't have the resources to hunt down every single person that takes something from their shelves and they probably haven't even noticed anything's missing. The police are also piss-poor at taking minor theft seriously. I spent 2 years working in a store and even when we had clear CCTV footage of shoplifting and called the police, they took 4 hours to show up and then didn't exactly do anything useful.

[Cinnabon]

I have had to unconsciously steal due to a LOW. I did not have a problem, but I would go back and pay and also leave some lil bit of info on Diabetes/or a diabetic.

This is so wrong, but unfortunately things like this happen. I have had something like this happen w/ my own family thinking I am faking having Diabetes.

I am real glad u are ok, I would def look into dome type of ID, even though I think this guy (IDIOT) wouldn't have believed u anyways.....

[JediSkipdogg]

I spent 2 years working in a store and even when we had clear CCTV footage of shoplifting and called the police, they took 4 hours to show up and then didn't exactly do anything useful.

Your police must suck then. The department I work for takes all theft seriously and we even prosecute on theft of gum (we have done that once.) We also respond to each incident ASAP and arrive on the scene within 15 minutes of it happening.

[Dewey]

I had a horrible experience yesterday and I wonder if anyone has had this happen to them. I know that Jedi will get me some **** about this. Don't call the authorities Jedi :(

So, yesterday was my Birthday and I was driving to go meet some friends for lunch. I got a low while I was driving and I pulled over to check. I was 32 :( This I belive was from a guestimate bolus at breakfast. I am a bad, bad man. So there is a convenient store that is accross the street and I decide to walk across the street due to not wanting to drive. I am in a bad part of town cause there is this awesome home cooked mexican restaurant that I wanted to go to. Anyways, I walk across the street and go into the convenient store.

I was dropping rapidly and started sweating like crazy. I go into the store and by this time I can't speak and I can barely walk. When I go into the store the shopkeep looks at me very rudely but I continue to walk to the aisle for some crackers or back to get some oj. I am weaving down the aisle and I fell to the floor. When I fell I happened to fall against a display and everything that was on it crashed to the floor with me. I began to stand up and starting picking everything up when the shopkeepe started calling me a drunk and yelled at me to get out of the store. I tried to tell him that I was Diabetic and I needed food but I am sure that my speech was garbled. He started to force me out of the store and continued to yell profanities at me and threatened to call the police. I continued to reason with him but he was not having it and pushed me to the front door. I needed to get some food or else I would go into shock so I picked up some crackers and a drink on the way out and I tried to pay for it but he kept pushing me. So I stole the crackers and beverage and left the store.

My friends told me I was in the right, my family told me that I should have called the police and continued to reason with the owner. What is ya'll's opinion on this. What should have I done differently.
Oh man, Doetsch! I'm sorry this happened to you, but glad you're alright now. Nevermind breaking the law, I'm just glad everything's ok! :eek:

[gettingby]

I'm with Dew. The main thing is that you are ok.
See, Jedi wasn't as rough on you as you thought he would be. He's really a sweetie. LOL:D Just don't tell anyone. We will keep it as a secret. LMAO !!!

[Cyborg]

Thank goodness you're ok...

The 1 thing I refuse to never ever leave the house without is my test kit. Inside are extra lancets, batteries for my pump and meter, test strips, and most importantly glucose. It goes with me absolutely everywhere. And I keep a spare at work, just in case.

Sorry you had to go thru such a dramatic experience. Geepers, the low was bad enuf without all the drama at the store.

[lgvincent]

Under similar circumstances I would probably do the same thing. I can't recall ever having done it but I can't say I haven't, either. I would return and try to pay for the items taken. If you feel it is unwise to do that, perhaps you could simply send cash and an explanation in an envelope without a return address or perhaps make a donation to a charity in that amount. Unfortunately, in a situation like this, you can't really trust the police department. Only one time during an insulin reaction has a policeman actually tried to help me. The other times I've encountered them while in insulin shock, they've tried to take me to jail for being drunk.

[Cyborg]

What about going directly to the police and approaching it that way if you want to make ammends? Would that maybe be a better alternative to going to the store directly? Just a thought... :idea:

[sydneya]

What a horrible experience. Glad you are okay!! I think you did what you had to do. Reading through the posts, I feel the best thing to do now to save yourself any further problems and educate the clerk is a trip back to the store. I am impressed with your integrity since you are concerned, not for yourself as much as the store.

[Cyborg]

I am impressed with your integrity since you are concerned, not for yourself as much as the store.

We Americans get a bad enuf rap around the world. We need more of us with integrity and high morals to stand up and make good examples. Bravo! :congrats:

[am1977]

After my own little experience driving :driver:in a hypoglycemic "haze"... I know how scary things must have been for you at the time. It's hard to think straight under those circumstances. I think your body told you you needed to get food and you did what you had to do. You don't know what would've happened if you didn't...things could've been a lot worse :frown:.

As for the "stealing"...well, I don't think it's really stealing when you are faced with an emergency situation like the one you were in. You definitely did not set out to steal. I think it would be a good idea to go back and explain what happened to the owner and offer to pay. It would show them that no, you were not drunk and were not looking for trouble, and he may not be as quick to assume that someone is drunk or causing problems if this should happen again in the near future.

As others said, please, please, PLEASE make sure to test and carry food with you. I learned my lesson...I hope you learned yours :wink:

Glad you are ok :smile:

[Cyborg]

Remember, it's not just your life that's at risk. It's the other innocent people on the road also. If you black out, you could potentially end up killing someone or worse an entire family with children.

I think that's my 3 cents...

[Belinda]

Glad your ok.

I would call the store and ask to speak to the manager. This may not be the same person who was working and explain it to him. Tell him you want to pay for the items and bring in info about diabetes. Make sure you approach it from the view of not everyone knows and the understanding of you realize people come in drunk......

Also, as hard as I try...I keep stuff in the car but sometimes I forget that I just used my glucose tabs on the way home and forget to refill the container. It happens..

[Mark C]

If nothing else, returning and discussing the situation with the person rationally, and paying for the item might just educate someone about the signals of hypos and save another life in the future of someone else. A little education might just make the difference.

I carry Smartees candies everywhere with me for just such an event. I should say that the local Publix Markets I frequent and I have been approached by the manager asking me if I was low and them helping me and others incase of an event. Not all store owners are oblivious.

[lgvincent]

You need to be careful. If the person acted that way when you were having an insulin reaction, how do you think he'll react if you told him you took something without paying? There are a lot of ignorant people in the world, many of whom are not interested in learning. If it bothers you, it might just be best to send an anonymous letter explaining what happened and say you think you may have taken something out of necessity but make sure you make it known it was necessary. You can included an amount to cover the cost of the things taken with a money order, cashier's check, or cash.

[Doetsch]

Thank you everyone for your replys. I appreciate ervyones care and insight into what had happened. To answer a few questions...

I was in my wifes car and unfortunetely I never drive it. I just had it cause she had to borrow my suv to move some things for work. I never use her car hence I didn't have any tabs in it. I should have thought in advance and pull mine from my car and switch them but I did not.

I went back to the store. I went in to pay for the items and explain what had happened and make good with the owner. Immediately upon arrival the owner saw and recognised me. I tried to approach him and explain what had happened but he immediately began to yell at me and told me to leave. I told him that I stole a few items due to a diabetic complication and that is why I was acting like a fool. He replied that I better leave immediately and if I ever return he will call the police for trespassing. I said okay I won't come back but I really would like to apologize and explain what happened. He told me that Diabetes doesn't make people act like that and I was just giving an excuse for being a drunken idiot. he them forcefully removed me from the store. He grabbed my shirt and pulled me out the front door.

It really sucks that this happened but I tried. I hate idiots and I do not feel bad at all for what I did after I tried ot make things right. I know it is probably just my anger speaking now but I wish I had taken more :(

[Cyborg]

The guy was a just a jerk. You did your best...

[DeusXM]

I think you did good. If that had happened to me, I'd be in the cells for assault/GBH right now.

You did the right thing. You tried to make amends. If the guy's not interested, then fine. Ultimately it's him down on the takings.

He must be an idiot though. If someone comes to apologise for doing something wrong and tries to make amends for it, the least you should do is accept their apology. Irrespective of whether your mistake was alcohol-related or because of your medical condition.

Don't beat yourself up about it. Consider the matter closed.

[Georgia]

Good on you Doetsch, you did all you could so you have absolutely nothing to feel guilty about.

[Pitzi]

Thank you everyone for your replys. I appreciate ervyones care and insight into what had happened. To answer a few questions...

I was in my wifes car and unfortunetely I never drive it. I just had it cause she had to borrow my suv to move some things for work. I never use her car hence I didn't have any tabs in it. I should have thought in advance and pull mine from my car and switch them but I did not.

I went back to the store. I went in to pay for the items and explain what had happened and make good with the owner. Immediately upon arrival the owner saw and recognised me. I tried to approach him and explain what had happened but he immediately began to yell at me and told me to leave. I told him that I stole a few items due to a diabetic complication and that is why I was acting like a fool. He replied that I better leave immediately and if I ever return he will call the police for trespassing. I said okay I won't come back but I really would like to apologize and explain what happened. He told me that Diabetes doesn't make people act like that and I was just giving an excuse for being a drunken idiot. he them forcefully removed me from the store. He grabbed my shirt and pulled me out the front door.

It really sucks that this happened but I tried. I hate idiots and I do not feel bad at all for what I did after I tried ot make things right. I know it is probably just my anger speaking now but I wish I had taken more :(Doetsch,

You did the gentlemanly thing, and I admire you for that, I would have done the same. he on the other hand, is the lowest form of human life if that is the way he responded to you.

Listen to me, stop losing sleep/peace of mind over this, not worth it at all.

[lgvincent]

He appears to be an extremely ignorant person. Many humans seem to be incapable of learning. The sad thing is, the ignorant seem to be increasing in number at an intense rate while the number of intelligent people seems to be in decline.

[Lynne1]

Thank you everyone for your replys. I appreciate ervyones care and insight into what had happened. To answer a few questions...

I was in my wifes car and unfortunetely I never drive it. I just had it cause she had to borrow my suv to move some things for work. I never use her car hence I didn't have any tabs in it. I should have thought in advance and pull mine from my car and switch them but I did not.

I went back to the store. I went in to pay for the items and explain what had happened and make good with the owner. Immediately upon arrival the owner saw and recognised me. I tried to approach him and explain what had happened but he immediately began to yell at me and told me to leave. I told him that I stole a few items due to a diabetic complication and that is why I was acting like a fool. He replied that I better leave immediately and if I ever return he will call the police for trespassing. I said okay I won't come back but I really would like to apologize and explain what happened. He told me that Diabetes doesn't make people act like that and I was just giving an excuse for being a drunken idiot. he them forcefully removed me from the store. He grabbed my shirt and pulled me out the front door.

It really sucks that this happened but I tried. I hate idiots and I do not feel bad at all for what I did after I tried ot make things right. I know it is probably just my anger speaking now but I wish I had taken more :(

Wow, what a jerk! You did the right thing but the guy's a complete idiot. Grrr...:secruity: He's needs a lesson in manners!

[rzrbks]

Doetsch

Thank you everyone for your replys. I appreciate ervyones care and insight into what had happened. To answer a few questions...

I was in my wifes car and unfortunetely I never drive it. I just had it cause she had to borrow my suv to move some things for work. I never use her car hence I didn't have any tabs in it. I should have thought in advance and pull mine from my car and switch them but I did not.

I went back to the store. I went in to pay for the items and explain what had happened and make good with the owner. Immediately upon arrival the owner saw and recognised me. I tried to approach him and explain what had happened but he immediately began to yell at me and told me to leave. I told him that I stole a few items due to a diabetic complication and that is why I was acting like a fool. He replied that I better leave immediately and if I ever return he will call the police for trespassing. I said okay I won't come back but I really would like to apologize and explain what happened. He told me that Diabetes doesn't make people act like that and I was just giving an excuse for being a drunken idiot. he them forcefully removed me from the store. He grabbed my shirt and pulled me out the front door.

It really sucks that this happened but I tried. I hate idiots and I do not feel bad at all for what I did after I tried ot make things right. I know it is probably just my anger speaking now but I wish I had taken more :(

You tried to do the Correct thing----there's nothing more you can do. The guy was just Ignorant.

This might be a lesson to be used by all, though.

Statistics show that men, especially, are assumed to be drunk while having lows so it's a good thing to have open ID showing that you're "With Diabetes."

[marked]

“always” never happens. One does the very best one can to be ready for a hypo, but life can dictate otherwise. people who are there when a low is witnessed are fearful. It is a fact of the disease. Fear is not anything you can rationalize or blame, it just is. And a lot of times anger comes out, instead of the fear. It is a more easy emotion to embrace. Obviously we must do what we need to do to get out of the low, it is matter of life or death, fear be ****ed in the moment. Explanations afterwards are also a fact of this disease.
Mark

[Doetsch]

Thank you everyone for your insight. You have all made me feel much more at ease :)

[sbuff28@charter]

I didn't read the whole thread but that was a funny *** story...errr not for you! sorry...


but next time if i were you i would steal the crackers and juice... then come back and steal a 6 pack later on cuz of that bullsh1te, He already thinks your a drunk theif anyways!!

might as well!


...
jk...

[Maddogg]

I went back to the store. I went in to pay for the items and explain what had happened and make good with the owner. Immediately upon arrival the owner saw and recognised me. I tried to approach him and explain what had happened but he immediately began to yell at me and told me to leave. I told him that I stole a few items due to a diabetic complication and that is why I was acting like a fool. He replied that I better leave immediately and if I ever return he will call the police for trespassing. I said okay I won't come back but I really would like to apologize and explain what happened. He told me that Diabetes doesn't make people act like that and I was just giving an excuse for being a drunken idiot. he them forcefully removed me from the store. He grabbed my shirt and pulled me out the front door.

It really sucks that this happened but I tried. I hate idiots and I do not feel bad at all for what I did after I tried ot make things right. I know it is probably just my anger speaking now but I wish I had taken more :(



Quite a compelling experience you had there. Glad your okay, at least you tried to go back and explain what happened... Its too bad you had to run into an ingnorant and uneducated person like that. Just don't let your anger take the best of you, its just not worth it. Let it go and move on.

Your story actually reminds me of a similar experience I had last summer, but with a very different outcome. On one particularly hot (high 30's) summer day, after 10 or 11 hours of physically strenuous work I started driving back home which was no more then 10 minutes away. I was already hypoglycemic before I even entered my car (but i couldn't really tell I was low at the time), but I had nothing (no sugar/food) that could remediate the situation and the office was closed. So I just started driving home, no biggie, or so I thought. Well, 10 minutes flew by and I was nowhere near my home. I somehow got lost, in a city i've lived in for 10 years. I was on some rural country road just north of the city, and was looking for a reference point (landmark, monument...) that would re-direct me back home but it was hopeless. I couldn't find a convenience store or even a general store (i was in a rural area) to help me out and my driving was quickly deteriorating. I didn't want to endanger the lives of other drivers and people around me so I pulled over near a cluster of homes. I literally stumbled out of my car, walking and talking coherently proved very difficult. I walked up to the first home I saw and banged on the door for help. No luck. Stumbled accross the highway to a house on the side and knocked on the door. An older woman answered the door and I quickly asked her if she had anything sweet I could consume. I guess she understood my babbling because she welcomed me inside her kitchen where she sat me down and gave me 2 cans of Five Alive and some crackers. I quickly drank one can, all the while telling her what happened, told her I was lost... I stayed there for maybe 10 minutes so we had time to talk and she told me she had some diabetics in her family which would explain her quick thinking (fast acting) and why she was so understanding about the whole situation. Anyway, she told me how to get back home and as soon as I felt better I got back in my car and drove off. Had I remembered where this nice lady lived I would've gone back to thank her the next day.
I definitely learned from this incident, I never start driving if i'm low (I'll test myself beforehand if I have any doubts). And I try and make sure I have something in my vehicle to bring me back up if I get a low while driving.

I'm just glad I came accross this nice lady who was able to help me (she understood what I was going thru) instead of some ignorant ******* who'd threaten me with some trespassing horse**** (like you experience)...

Again.... Glad your Ok, Best of luck in the future, hope this doesn't happen to you (Or anybody else for that matter) again.


Marc