Saturday

Rite Aid on 1st Ave & E. 5th in NYC

Received Saturday, April 4, 2009
nanny sighting logo Nanny: young 20-25, attractive African-American, wearing tight jeans with purplish decorated pockets, yellow tunic with hood and South Pole jacket in white and tan hiking boots.
Child: Blonde boy, Caucasian, age 3-3.5 in collapsible stroller with bright green and metallic bars and white print. Child was wearing a railroad inspired jacket, light up tennis shoes and a blue knit hat.
Where: Rite Aid Drug Store on 1st Ave & E. 5th
What: I witnessed nanny stealing two small containers which each contained two bottles of five hour energy drink. I don't know what else she stole, if anything. I debated whether or not to report her, but decided that A) I did not want to get involved and B) If I did report her, something could happen to the child, even if he was separated from her, he could be traumatized.
Let me be very clear that I 100% saw this. The woman had a black Kate Spade diaper bag hanging on the stroller and this is where she stuffed the two things I saw her take. She left the store before me, in part I think because she may have realized I saw her. There is no doubt that she left without paying for these items.

13 comments:

Seriously? said...

You think the momentary upset the child would have had is WORSE than the fact that he will now continue to be in the care of a thief?? What if next time this woman tries to steal something from someone who notices and tries to stop her? Do you think that will be less traumatizing?

People, if you see a nanny engaging in illegal behavior, DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. If not, you are just allowing a child to remain in a potentially dangerous situation!

Whats your point? said...

If u did not want to get involved then why are you reporting it here? You should have taken a stand then

take a stand! said...

i, tooo, agree that it should have been reported immediately.

i've read posts wherein the OP claims that a nanny is being harsh or abusive to a child and the OP does not want to step in for fear or causing retaliation against that child. while i still find that a poor excuse for not stepping in, i can at least imagine that train of thought. here, we get no picture of how the nanny is with the child, so i, personally, have no idea how this is even a nanny/child issue.

if you have reported the shoplifting, the nanny would not have been yanked off to jail. the authorities would have, i'm sure, contacted the parents. the child would have been no more upset to be separated from her than if nanny were done for the day and going home. and as far as long term upsettedness, i think the benefit of knowing your nanny has no regard for the law far outweighs your child's affection for said caregiver.

worlds best nanny said...

What would happen if she got caught? If it's the store's policy to prosecute, who would take the child? Calling mom to come to the police station wouldn't be too cool. You can guarantee she'd be fired.
Then what? Unemployment, a future court date to look forward to, fines, penalties, and court costs to pay all without an income. I think I would let store security handle it. I don't think I'd like all that stuff on my conscience.

Tired of this... said...

Notice how few posts are generated these days?

Its because people pick on the OPs.

If you don't like the follow up steps the OP took, that's your opinion, but obviously, I think the reason OP posted, was that he/she was hoping the parent would recognize the nanny/child by the description. She/he certainly wasn't asking to be flamed by people who may have handled it differently....

If you want to see this board flourish (as it did last year) then those of you who are certain you have the right solution to everything need to keep that to yourselves. Let people post without having to add our two cents.

Anonymous said...

I really don't think this is "I saw your nanny" material. Just because she stole, doesn't mean she's a bad nanny.

h said...

So, what would happen in NY if the nanny was arrested? And Mom didn't answer the phone straight away? The child would be seperated from the nanny while the nanny was atleast processed. Who knows what could happen or go wrong.


Thanks for the post, OP

not a park slope nanny said...

Emily
Please tell me you didn't just say that! Her thievery has everything to do with whether or not she's a good Nanny. It's called character, moral fiber, honesty....

oh well said...

Emily, I see where you are coming from, but stealing has everything to do with her being a nanny. What do you think is going to happen when she gets caught with her charge in a store?
I think OP did the right thing. It is so easy to figure it all out from behind your computer screen.3

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
stillneedamoniker said...

OP, i think that you did what you thought was in the best interest of the child. people are too harsh on here, and honestly there are some situations that you can't determine what you should have done, unless you were there. good job. and as far as emily goes, wow i can see that your child is going to have great morals. Children mimic everything that the people that they look up to do.

WTF? said...

You should have notified the store staff immediately.

OF COURSE, it's a "nanny issue." She's putting the child at risk for trauma while engaging in an illgel act that could get her arrested while caring for a small child. That, by definition, makes her a "bad nanny."

Responding said...

So, by notifying the store that child will then be in the bad situaiton we are afraid of: ie: Nanny getting arrested leaving the child stranded. I think this was a way better way to go about it and hopefully the parents will see this and know.