I was shopping at the nugget market grocery store a few days ago and was caught shoplifting. They have me on camera putting something in my bag. I dont shoplift! It is a long story, but I was called into the back by the security guard and they made me sign some form and took my photo after I had paid for a variety of items and walked to my car. no police were called and they just told me to pay a fine and send the check to some service dept. They asked for my addie and my SS# as well and said it would stay confidential as long as I paid? I was extremeley scared and just admitted to stealing eventhough the situation is much more complicated. I sent the money out as well. Will I be called by the police or do i have to worry about appearing in court and having this on my record? I dont want to lose my job. Hopefully it isnt anything to worry about. It is just a really awkward situation. I have never shoplifted in my life.
2007-02-11 14:42:57 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
I had walked in with items in my bag because i spent the night at a friends house...one of the things was an unopened box of aspirin. so while rummaging through my bag while walking around in the store they see me holding an aspirin in my hand and then putting it back in my bag. Noone saw me take it out is the problem! and i told the guard i took the stuff because he said he would call the cops if i didnt. "if you are lying and i look at the tape again to proove you did it i will call the cops" I dont care about this and dont want to deal with it anymore as long as my record stays clean!
2007-02-11 15:33:09 · update #1
Basically, no cops, no record. A lot of stores do the slap on the wrist 'go away and never return' bit to avoid headaches.
You may want to make a note of the situation in case it ever does come up- Murphy's Law says that if it does, you will have forgotten the details of the situation.
Oh, and background checks often do not show minor things like this, especially after a handful of years.
2007-02-11 14:49:40 · answer #1 · answered by Madkins007 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not even going to guess what you mean by "it was more complicated". Is this a real story? Stores usually call the police in those circumstances. What's an addie?
There is no legitimate reason why a store has any business getting your social security number, or taking your photo. Or having you sign anything. They can't detain you against your will unless they call the police and have them charge you with a crime.
They probably promised not to turn you over to the police if you payed them, right? That's why they're keeping your signed statement? How do you know that they won't turn you over to the police, even if you pay them?
This really sounds like a made up story, but in the chance that it isn't, it sounds like they scammed you to get your personal information. You might want to call a credit bureau and see if any credit cards or loans have been opened up in your name. They're probably identity thieves.
2007-02-11 14:59:00 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This situation sound fishy. If there were no police called that who charged you with a crime? Did you receive a summons from someone to appear for a hearing in an actual criminal court? I have never heard of anything like this where a security guard can assess a fine on the spot like this. I think you were the one who was bamboozled in this situation. I don't know how much you paid or if its worth it to you, but if you feel you did nothing wrong you should probably be the one calling the police to report this scam.
As for the record thing. Since it doesn't appear that this was an actual arrest for a criminal charge there shouldn't be any criminal record to find with the criminal courts. Even if this was a criminal charge with the criminal courts involved it's very unlikely your employer does periodic criminal background checks on you and would ever find a shoplifting conviction.
I'd love to hear more about this, please e-mail me if you'd like.
2007-02-11 14:58:46 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
OK, they have you on camera putting something in your bag, you signed a form admitting you stole something, you paid for the stolen items, and you willingly paid a fine? Yet you say you never stole anything?
Sounds like you have a denial issue more than a legal issue. No one admits to doing something they didn't do unles Jack Bauer is conducting the interrogation! Innocent people invite the police to come and investigate and don't hand over money willingly to the authorities!
If you're truly innocent, hire a lawyer to get your money back - a store can't levy a "fine!" Stores have the police arrest and prosecute shoplifters, they don't dole out fines themselves. If you've truly never shoplifted, you've done everything wrong to prove it!
2007-02-11 14:54:01 · answer #4 · answered by Mama Gretch 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some stores do in fact press charges BUT usually the cops are called right then and there. Some stores just charge you a fine and ask that you not shop there again. Some stores charge you the fine allow you to continue to shop there and then just watch you like a hawk every time you do. Make sure that you retain proof that you paid the fine. Did you happen to get anything in writing? It probably won't be an issue again.
2007-02-11 14:54:49 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Madkins is right, and here's some additional info.
Depending on the size of city you're in, some departments and prosecutors won't even mess with something like that. It sounds like that's the case here, based on the guard's statements. But do keep a detailed record of this, including, if possible, the name of the guard who promised you no cops if you signed the papers. In the extremely unlikely event it ever went to court, your signed confession might be inadmissable as having been promised a deal. (That wouldn't negate a videotape of you stealing, though.)
2007-02-11 14:54:26 · answer #6 · answered by The Avatar 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you sent the money and don't do anything else that even LOOKS like shoplifting in the future, I don't think you have to worry. If they were going to call the police, they would have held you in the store and called them then. Try to put it behind you, be more careful/honest in the future and learn the lesson that's there for you.
2007-02-11 14:51:32 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
What a load of crap. You switched the stickers You yelled on the clerk and the executive caved in to steer away from an issue. That sound nearer to the fact pumpkin? I labored in a retail keep and human beings will try this each and each damn day. they usher in ball element pens mark down the pricing, swap stickers, or claimed it became on a sale rack while it wasn't and demand the decrease cost. that's a simple con and you receive busted. Now take your medicine.
2016-10-02 00:00:21 · answer #8 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"... the situation is much more complicated."
I think you're leaving a lot of information out here. You say you've never shoplifted before .. did you or did you not shoplift? I can't make any kind of determination with this story.
2007-02-11 14:49:58 · answer #9 · answered by Rebel-X 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am pretty sure it will not be in your criminal record
You have not been judged according to the law
2007-02-11 14:50:47 · answer #10 · answered by sm bn 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋