Ok so me and my friends go shopping alot. When we are at the store though they steal things. I NEVER EVER HAVE AND NEVER EVER WILL!! I always tell them to stop and that they're gonna get in trouble, but they don't listen. So far they haven't been cought, but I know they will. I was wondering if I would get in trouble for just being with them, yanno guilty by association. Even though I never took anything. Could I still get in trouble with them?
P.S. They will not listen to me when I tell them to stop! I'm really frustrated I should just stop going with them!
2006-10-09 12:50:23 · 16 answers · asked by Erica M 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
Yes, you are considered an accomplice, whether you took something or not - as long as you are with them when they are stealing.
STOP going with them on their ""Shopping"" trips, better still, get a new group of friends. Any ""friends"" who would put you in danger or get you in trouble aren't REALLY your friends after all. They are disrespecting you when they don't listen to you to stop.
It is just a matter of time as to WHEN they will get caught. You don't want to be there when they do. No more slap on the hand like it was when I was younger and got busted for stealing - and all I was doing was waiting for my so-called-GF's to come out of the store. The just called our parents and they came & got us from the Security Office with the police & Securiry. Boy, I didn't sit for a week! Now, you jeoprdize getting into Harvard or Yale with a felony charge.
2006-10-09 12:58:06 · answer #1 · answered by midnightlydy 6 · 5⤊ 0⤋
If your friends wont stop stealing, you need to stop going with them. Once they are caught, you will be charged as an accessory, and the police won't care that you told them to stop. Those friends don't care about the possibility of trouble, and they don't care that you feel strongly against shoplifting. You may want to start spending time with people who have the same good values as you do. Much respect to you too, for not giving in to peer pressure!
2006-10-09 12:55:06 · answer #2 · answered by margarita 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you won't take physical action to stop them, do not signal them to store security, and go on going to the shop with them... well, you'll have a hard time pleading out of prosecution as an accomplice.
Better stop seeing them in any place where they might steal, and don't invite them into your home.
2006-10-09 12:55:38 · answer #3 · answered by Svartalf 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
accessory is not only a piece of jewelry. you would be an accessory to the crime.
ask your local police how they'd handle it call anonymous even. or ask school counselors to do a flyer on consequences. etc. anonymous of course.
sounds like may be they have some big problems stealing is sign of deeper problems if they are not desperately poor and stealing food etc.. maybe you need some new/better friends instead of more new clothes.
2006-10-09 12:59:37 · answer #4 · answered by macdoodle 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the thing is you MIGHT be classed as their accomplice of something similar OR you might have one of them do the same thing one of my so called mates did to me................she thought as I would NOT steal she would 'help' me and dropped something into my bag...........I found this as I went in my bag for my purse and was so shocked and turned and she was SMILING.....I tell you know I beat her down right there at the checkout and then turned back to the lady emptied out my bag and said lets go thru this together please................what I did NOT know was she & I had been watched on the survelance cameras and the gaurds where en route to arrest her and POSSIBLY me for this offence...the fact that I did punch her in the face and the check out lady said NO ONE could have faked the look of horror at finding the stuff that I had on my face...they let me go home....this was TWO weeks prior to my joining the military and would have STOPPED me from doing what I wanted to do.............she is currently serving her 5th jail term I might add
FRIENDS do NOT do this type of stuff to each other EVER so the decision is up to you.....find some others to hang out with cos you WILL get dragged down with them...........and whos to stop them saying when they get caught that YOU do it all the time as well..............
2006-10-09 13:49:38 · answer #5 · answered by candy g 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
While I don't think you will be sucessfully prosecuted on shoplifting, just for hanging around your "friends" while they are shoplifting. But you will be hassled and put through the system, just for being associated with them.
So you are correct in just not going there with them anymore.
2006-10-09 13:00:20 · answer #6 · answered by feanor 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My daughter was with a friend shopping and the friend stole an undergarment and my daughter did not see her do it . When they were leaving the store security got BOTH of them. Cost me $180.00 to get her out of jail and she was just with her.
Get new friends as told above. You are just waiting for a trip to jail. It WILL happen sooner or later...........
2006-10-09 13:09:43 · answer #7 · answered by xtrapr 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's time to get new friends. And yes you probably would get yourself involved in something that's over your head. What if their shoplifting becomes a felony theft? And you did nothing but watch.
2006-10-13 05:15:22 · answer #8 · answered by Eddie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would stop going with them. They may seem like friends but do you want to trust folks in your house that you know will take anything that they want?
2006-10-09 12:56:59 · answer #9 · answered by Ranger473 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
you answered your own question don't go with them you will eventually get in trouble too just for being with them
2006-10-09 12:52:13 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋