Child Seized After Fainting Mother Forgot To Pay For Sandwich

A Hawaii couple was tossed in jail and their child taken by protective services for 18 hours after the mother forgot to pay for her sandwich at Safeway.

The pregnant mother was shopping at Safeway when she felt “faint, dizzy, like I needed to eat something, so we decided to pick up some sandwiches and eat them while we were shopping,” she told KHON.

Security guards stopped them at the exit after they bought and paid for $50 worth of groceries, but forgot to pay for the $5 sandwiches they had eaten, even though they saved the wrappers so they could pay for them at checkout. The store manager called the cops and they arrested the couple for 4th degree theft.

Child Protective Services also took the couple’s three year-old daughter.

In a statement the store issued to Fox News after the couple posted their story online at Babycenter.com, Safeway said, “It appears we may not have handled this matter in the best possible way and we are taking the situation seriously.”

Toddler taken by CPS over $5.00 sandwiches [Momformation]
Hawaii Couple’s Daughter Taken Away for 18 Hours Over Alleged Sandwich Theft [Fox News] (Thanks to Joe!)

Want more consumer news? Visit our parent organization, Consumer Reports, for the latest on scams, recalls, and other consumer issues.