ok i know a 55 year old woman who stole around about 500 dollars worth of merchandise (clothes mainly) she got questioned by the security people and she isnt good at speaking and understanding english and i wasn't allowed to interpret, i was worried if theyd ask her a question that she didnt understand and shed accept to it. police wernt involved but her details were recorded, pictures were taken of the merchandise and she was told that shed be sent to court 3 months later. she has been found stealing 10 dollars worth of food 14 years ago and im not sure if it was recorded and she is undergoing depresion and stress,... whats going to happen?
2007-12-04 19:40:18 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
edit, she was approached by police later and this is all in south australia, from about 3 different stores...
2007-12-05 12:31:18 · update #1
She'll probably be looking at Grand Larceny in a criminal court since it's over $250, which is a felony. Depending on the class of felony, maybe 1 to 5 years. If it's a civil case, the store probably just wants restitution. You need to find out if you are that worried about it. When my ex was 18, he was busted for stealing a pack of cigarettes and ended up with a petit larceny charge. Cigarettes cost less than $2 then. Stores really don't look kindly on this kind of thing, especially not with things of that much value. Because of the value, they may want her to go to jail.
Why was she stealing? And where from? How could she have concealed $500 worth of stuff on her person? If it was $500 worth of clothes from a high-priced store, no judge is going to buy that "poor little old lady" story.
I'm sorry about her depression or whatever but she is doing it to herself. She shouldn't be stealing. She can go to the homeless shelter and they will give her vouchers to get clothes for free. Social Services has programs that can help people who are really poor. If she just wanted something she couldn't afford, well then... she will get what she deserves.
2007-12-04 19:48:04 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
I wouldn't worry about it. She has stolen $500 worth of merchandise, which where I live is considered grand larceny, but just barely. I would say that she will either get a fine and probation or serve 30-90 days in jail. If I were her would take the jail time. When she gets out, she likely will not have to pay a fine and probably won't get any probation. If you think about it, 30-90 in jail goes by fast, a whole lot faster than 6 months to a year of probation plus hundreds of dollars in fines.
I have got two friends of mine that got popped at the mall for stealing about $600 worth of merchandise from a store. They both had the choice of paying $525 in fines and serve 9 months of probation or go to county jail for 45 days. One took the fine and probation and got arrested for being out past his curfew because he had to walk home from work one night. He ended spending the 45-days in jail anyway plus was out $525. The other took the 45 days, got out in 15 and spent 14 days of that 15 in maximum confinement after getting into a fight and telling the review board that he felt like he would he do it again.
2007-12-05 04:10:29 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Although there is nobody on this forum who is qualified to answer your questions of what she is facing or what is going to happen, I would like to point out that there is NO REASON whatsoever for any non-native-English speaker not to be provided an interpreter for every kind of questioning.
Although I know I can be arrested for "obstruction of justice" and/or "disorderly conduct" for so doing, I have never backed down from a badge-bearing bully's attempt to deprive someone I know to be ESL- challenged of an interpreter.
Remember, however, the next time you do get the chance to interpret, that you are only allowed to actually interpret the questions and the responses word-for-word, and to remind the accused that he/she has the right to await the counsel of an attorney before answering any question that is not directly related to the spelling of her name, her birthdate, and her residential address.
Lots of badge-bearing bullies will attempt to make your life miserable for making them actually have to operate within the confines of the law, but that's how you identify the badge-bearers who are in need of being rooted out of your local constabulary.
2007-12-05 04:52:51 · answer #3 · answered by Robert G 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Hey There
It will depend on the city prosecutor, a theft or $350.00 is considered grand larceny and is a felony. depending on the state you live in it could be a class c or d felony one to five years in prison or depending on the prosecutor she could just get probation mind that she has been caught before that might have a direct affect on her case. The police weren't called in then nothing is probably going to happen just band from the store, if police was involved she would have been arrested and charged with shoplifting and then charged with and theft.
I hope that helped you to understand it a little better.
Take care and have a nice day....cya....
2007-12-05 04:19:54 · answer #4 · answered by tmin 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It Shouldn't Be A Matter Of Jail Or Inprisonment.. Maybe A Fine A Criminal Record And Having To Pay All The Money Back.... Maybe Even Communtiy Service
2007-12-05 03:44:26 · answer #5 · answered by That Guitar Guy. 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
She could face a felony in my area for stealing over $500. IIn many areas it is anything over $1,000 though, so she may just face a misdemeanor. She needs to grow up, 55 year old people should know to work for their belongings, and not shoplift.
2007-12-05 08:39:30 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
LOL, my old boyfriend was really stupid and was always getting caught stealing cars. The worst that ever happened to him is he'd spend a couple months in jail, then go to court, and then he'd always get put on probation. He has a long record, so he wasn't able to find work so he just kept on stealing more cars when he got out.
Sorry I had to laugh, but the system is really a mess and the criminals are taking advantage of it.
2007-12-05 04:08:07 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
depends on what state she is in and this would be considered a first offense being the last was such a while ago
most likely real little jail time which i think will not happen
or
community service-some type of classes on impulses-court fines-regular fines-probation- and possably some couns. will be ordered.
2007-12-05 03:53:22 · answer #8 · answered by Thomas L 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
The woman is a thief. It's a simple as that. Let the judge decide her fate.
2007-12-05 03:49:32 · answer #9 · answered by Richard B 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Wait so they arrested her? If they did they had to tell her her Miranda rights in her language. They cant say them when she doesnt understand..so if she didnt know of her rights they cant hold any of that against her i dont think...
2007-12-05 03:44:53 · answer #10 · answered by Nat 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋