What happens if you pay for your item, the store alarm goes off, then you run?

Question

I was at Home Depot one time, and after paying for my item they forgot to deactivate the thing that sets the alarm off. Well, I started to leave and the thing goes off, so they run over as if I'm a shoplifter and treat me as such until they see the receipt. My buddy was like, "We should have just ran for it." I go to thinking, what's the worst that could happen if you do that, providing you did in fact pay for the item and have the receipt?

There's no good answer as to "why" run, I guess the same reason in the movie Dazed and Confused that they ran after paying for the beer to trick their friends. This is strictly hypothetical.

Answer 1

if you ran the cops would of been called and you would of been picked up for shop lifting. once the police realized you didn't shop lift but did run you would of then been charged with inducing a panic.

Answer 2

Once you leave the store, employees can't do anything about it. They can only do something, like call a member of management if they actually see you stealing something. If you have the receipt that shows you paid for the item, they cannot hold you for shoplifting. Otherwise, you can sue the store for false accusations.

I work at Wal-Mart and this is how we do it. Once the customer leaves the store and walks into the parking lot, the Greeter, or any other associate cannot go after the customer. The only way they can stop someone is if an associate actually sees a customer stealing something.

Answer 3

That's happened to me, before. But they don't treat me like a criminal. When the alarm goes off, I turn around, walk back into the store, and ask why the alarm is going off since I just paid for the item.

Then they see the receipt, take the "alarm-ringer" thing off and apologize for the inconvenience. Everyone's human. Sometimes the cashier screws up.

I dunno.. maybe you looked guilty? Or maybe because you're young... I'm in my 40's and I look it... anyway, whatever the reason, I've never been treated rudely when the alarm goes off... it's only happened a couple of times. Once at Wal-Mart and again at Barnes and Noble.

Answer 4

If after I paid for the item and THEY forgot to perform their job and remove or deactivate the theft control and the alarm went off. I would simply show them the receipt if they checked it and the item then detained me LONGER then I would sue them for unlawful detainment, and harassment.
If they touched me in any manner I would also file a criminal charge of assult against the person doing the touching. I would call the police and file a citizen's arrest and somebody will be going to jail. Then I will file a CIVIL lawsuit against that person


But in general I just show the receipt and no problems.

Answer 5

GOOD IDEA!!!!

I hate those things, the same thing happened to me. Talk about embarrassing!!! I think I will try that if it happens again.

What can they do? You paid for it. I think that would add some excitement to their day!

If they call the police and you get in trouble just play dumb, say you thought it was a fire alarm and you got scared and ran away.


I say GO FOR IT!

Answer 6

I've had them go off going INTO a store with stuff I bought from another store. Those alarms go off all the time. Don't worry about it. You had just left the cashier with a bag in your hand. I doubt they treated you like a shoplifter. They know they go off by mistake.

Answer 7

Worst that could happen would be you would get an overzealous employee tackling you in the parking lot. (It actually happens)

Then, if you struggled with him (normal reaction) you could be charged with assault, or even robbery (until they figured out you actually paid). But the assault could stick, since you knew you had not stolen anything and really had no valid reason to run.

Answer 8

You'd be one big horses @ss for intentionally putting anybody in any potentially harmful situation. Youd best leave the prankster crap to someone less hurtful,

Answer 9

then why run....You could be searched by a cop (which they will call if they think you stole something) you will be humiliated.... And you could have problems with that company if you run and did not do anything (like being banned)....

Answer 10

They can't do a dang thing if you have the receipt, so why would you run?