Attempted shoplifting?

Question

My cousin was inside of a store in the mall, he has this idea where he takes a clearance tag and puts it on a expensive item and pays for it. he changes tags in the dressing room where no one can watch him. since it is against the law to have cameras in the dressing room. well, he noticed that 2 people posing as a couple were following him and his wife around, so when they got to the register,he told the cashier that he didnt want the items (he had a bad feeling) well, his wife noticed that the couple said "okay lets go" and followed him and his wife out of the store. They did not arrest them because they didnt actually walk out with the items and they took off, the gift card that they were going to purchase the items with, the balance was removed. Can they be arrested or tracked down for this? Even though, they walked out with nothing?

Answer 1

I would say there is nothing to worry about the people a the store are not going to spend the cost to try to capture and charge him in this case. But they are on to him now so they will pass the information and descriptions on to all the security and store owners, (and not in just this mall) So they are on to him this maybe a practise he wants to stop.
It is still theft anyway you look at it and is a crime. I say to bad they didn't catch him every time someone does this kinda thing the prices go up in the stores to pay for the loss so he has just cost everyone more money.

Answer 2

He may not have actually stolen something so that's not exactly shoplifting, but his intent to defraud by changing the price tags is just as deviant. He deserves whatever happens to him. Why couldn't he just be honest and pay the right price? Then he would have no worries.

Answer 3

While it sounds like there was lots of intent, it does not sound like an actual crime occurred this time.