Accidental theft is more common than you might think—and no, we don’t mean “accidentally” scanning the organic bananas as regular bananas in the self-checkout.
According to a 2026 survey from LendingTree, around 37% of Americans say that they’ve accidentally left a store without paying for an item. While 58% of respondents claim they attempted to return or pay for the item, that means over 40% simply kept it.
Usually, this just happens because you forget something is in your cart. You shove a box of diapers into the bottom of the cart, then don’t realize you didn’t scan it until you’re already loading up the car. Alternatively, you could be going through a lot of items and, without realizing it, throw one into your bag without scanning it.
Recently, a TikTok post about this very phenomenon has the internet talking—and sharing their own stories about becoming accidental criminals.
An Accidental Theft
In a post with over 1.5 million views, TikTok user Steven Vargas (@daedalus9042) recounts an experience he had at a furniture store.
“I was at a furniture store and the salesman asked if I needed help. I said ‘no, l’ll just take this’ and grabbed a catalog off a shelf,” he writes. “He said ‘uh, OK.’”
When Vargas returned to his residence and looked at the catalog he had taken, he discovered he had made a big mistake.
“Got home, looked at the catalog, and realized it was a book, that was for sale, and that I openly stole,” he writes.
In the caption, he adds, “Apparently everything is free with confidence.”
Viewers Say It’s Common
In the comments section, users claimed that they, too, had accidentally shoplifted.
“My brother didn’t know you had to pay for a gym membership, he would just walk in and wave to the front desk and go straight to the equipment,” wrote a user. “Not one did he ever get stopped.”
“I accidentally forgot to pay for some baby towels in my cart that was under my purse,” offered another. “I was too embarrassed to take it to customer service so next time I went in I snuck them back in and threw them on a random shelf.”
“Once accidentally stole $40 worth of stuff from an airport 7/11 because i didn’t realize my card declined after i tapped,” recounted a third. “ i just walked out with all my snacks and didn’t realize what i did until i was at my gate and my bank sent me a ‘card declined’ alert. i still feel bad about it.”
“I accidentally stole newspapers from stores for years. I’d always grab one and NO ONE EVER CORRECTED ME. I’ve stole hundreds of dollars of newspapers until my wife corrected me once at the store,” offered a further TikToker. “I said ‘what, these are literally free?’ I’ll never live THAT down.”
What’s The Worst That Could Happen?
Guilt paralyzes some people who accidentally shoplift, prompting them to return the item immediately. Others may feel unease, but figure that the amount is small enough that there won’t be any legal consequences for their actions.
If you go into a store and accidentally walk out with an item, you’re more than likely fine to simply re-enter, explain what happened, then pay for it on the spot. This is because many theft statutes specifically note that intent plays a role.
For example, Texas law states that theft has occurred if one “unlawfully appropriates property with intent to deprive the owner of property.” California law similarly defines shoplifting as “entering a commercial establishment with intent to commit larceny.”
Returning the item, or going back to the business and paying for it, goes a long way to show that one did not have the intent to steal an item.
However, if you keep the item, there’s a chance that, if a store can prove that you’ve taken it, you could get charged with a crime consistent with the state’s local laws. Punishments for these laws vary based on the state and the value of the item taken.
If you accidentally walk out with an item, it’s best to turn right back around and explain the situation. Alternatively, you can call the business if you discover the theft once you’ve already arrived at home.
We’ve reached out to Vargas via Instagram and TikTok direct message.
