you're shopping with your best friend. She steels something and leaves the shop. A moment later the shopkeeper comes over and accuses you. He tells you to give your friend's details to him or be charged with the crime yourself. What would you do?
2006-09-29 07:14:07 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
You can't be charged for a crime you did not commit. It simply does not work that way. I'd politely tell the shop keeper that you have no idea what he is talking about, and suggest that he had better be careful of the shaky legal ground he is standing on.
Holding you when he knows that you did not steal anything is false imprisonment, and is an intentional tort that can result in a lawsuit.
Next, I would seek out your "friend", and explain what trouble you got in to because of them. If they were any kind of a friend, they would take the heat for their own actions instead of letting you take it. A true friend would not have put you in that position in the first place.
That would be my cue to stop hanging with that "friend".
(ps.. I am not a lawyer, nor do I play one on TV).
2006-09-29 07:20:15 · answer #1 · answered by Gonzo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You don't have to do anything, just prove you didn't steal it and the rest is up to them to deal with.
One case in which I helped out a friend was I was working with them, and they were smoking weed at work. It wasn't a super big deal, they were still doing a fine job, but we both knew that he would get fired if the boss found out. My friend, because of legal reasons, would have a hard time finding another job, and so when my boss found the pipe he had left the day before, he asked us about it and I took the blame because I knew I had a better chance of getting another better job. Sometimes it is good to cover for your friends. And now I have an awesome job that I love, so it just goes to prove that sometimes being an awesome friend can really pay off!
2006-09-29 16:13:30 · answer #2 · answered by deep bass 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Give him the details. Not a very good friend if she steals in the first place. Definitely not worth going to court over her stupidity. They can't charge you with a crime you didn't commit. But you could be aiding in the crime. Rat her out she's not your friend if she would let you take the fall in the first place.
2006-09-29 14:51:50 · answer #3 · answered by smile4u 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you have to follow your gut feeling on this. Why were you blamed for it, did you have it? Were you part of it after the fact? What are your ages? What trouble did you get in for this. Is your friend sorry? Is this something you friend does often, or was this the first time? Why would she let you take the blame?
It's really hard to help without knowing those things. I also think we all have a gut feeling, and already know the answer inside. Don't be afraid to follow your instincts.
2006-09-29 14:32:02 · answer #4 · answered by idontknow 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would empty my pockets and/or bag, thus easily proving that I had not stolen a thing. The shopkeeper would have nothing on me. Also I would most likely say that I hadn't noticed my friend stole anything.
He'd have to let me go.
2006-09-29 14:20:48 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You won't be arrested if they can't prove that you stole it. If the police got there and saw that you didn't have it on you then you would have been let go. They would pressure you to tell them who your friend is though. HOWEVER, if the shopkeeper first said that it was you and the police find out that it wasn't you, then find out that he said that to get you to tell him who your friend is then I doubt the police would follow up on that. It's just like "The boy who cried wolf".
2006-09-29 14:25:06 · answer #6 · answered by jdecorse25 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Since I did not steal the item I have not broken the law. I would tell the shopkeep to go ahead and try to convict me.
2006-09-29 14:24:15 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Crime is crime with friends like them you don't need enemies
2006-09-29 14:18:48 · answer #8 · answered by Sophist 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A friend wouldn't let their friend take the blame for doing something they did wrong..so that means their not your friend.. why should you be their friend..
2006-09-29 15:31:47 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No...I would never admit to doing something I didn't do. A friend like that is not worth it.
2006-09-30 18:08:32 · answer #10 · answered by belle 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋