Shoplifting, Larceny, Robbery, Theft caught shoplifting at retail store, not guilty. questions!

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urbangirl14

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Hi, okay so I'm a 18 year old senior, honors student, and never been charged with any previous charges. Last night I was accused of shoplifting a $26 tank top at a teen clothing store, with price ranges from around $12-$100. The employees accused me of this because they found a "random hanger" near the dressing room with no item of clothing on it, and told me they had thoroughly searched the store beforehand for any empty hangers. Now, I've never stolen anything in my life, so when they told me to open my bag i was shocked. I honestly didn't think anything would be in there. They called the police, who rhen forced me to open my bag, where the $26 navy blue tank top was. I had no clue how that got in there, the only explanation to me was that my bag was open the whole time i was looking at the clothes, and i even set it down at one point. All of the items that i tried on, 10 things total were back on the rack, with three of those ten in my arm because i was on my way to the cashier to pay for them when this girl stopped me and accused me of stealing. I work in retail, so i know how shoplifting acusations work, and this one just did not seem justified. I was never planning on stealing anything from this retail store and felt very attacked by the employee who accused me without seeing me do anything! What I need t to know is how good of a chance I have of being determined "not guilty" in my court date, which is in a week. My parents have hired an attorney on the terms that i did not attempt to leave the store, i was planning on buying something, and all of my items i tried on were in the room. Also, I was exchanging something I had bought a week prior, with a recipt! All of these things are not behavior of a shoplifter. I'm just so worried of this being on my record, please help!!
 
You have very little chance of beating this since you had item in your purse where store staff said it was. I am sorry I know this isnt what you want to hear but its doubtful anyone will believe it fell into your purse and you never noticed. I certainly urge you to seek an Attorneys advice on this but from what you posted its seems lost cause
 
Re: caught shoplifting at retail store, not guilty. question

I do not see where concealment is a crime however fact you had item in closed purse and refused to show store staff does not help you. I realize you did not leave store but fact you had item hidden (unintended I realize) will not help your case. The Attorney fees to fight this will likely cost quite a bit more than the intial fine itself. I again urge you to talk to an Attorney and weigh your options.. Just so I know where in store were you stopped and questioned? Was it just outside fitting room or near exit? Any exit! Where was the cashwrap in comparrision to where you got stopped?
 
Ok I am going to be nice, dont want Admin to scold me again. 90% of the shoplifters I stop say they too item by mistake. So true or not this isnt going to be believed. Next you dont have to leave store. Law says you intend to deprive merchant of his merchandise. With item being in your purse they have that. No jury is going to buy your version of event even if true. Now I want to address a concern or two in your story that will kill you in court most likely. You refused to allow store to see inside your bag. This means it wasnt open! If you closed it you would have seen item! Next you show your guilty by refusing to show store bag contents. If the item fell into you ropen bag how is it you did not see it especailly since you closed bag otherwise store would have seen contents! You and this Attorney need to have a long talk.
 
I was stopped about ten feet away from the fitting room, ON MY WAY, to pay for the three, hung up, shirts that were in my hand. If I could have gotten to go to the cashrap to pay for my items i would have seen the shirt, realized the mistake, and given it to a store personel. I was not any where near the door! I was barely outside the fitting room! It was totally uncalled for. I never and would never intend to leave a store with a concelied item. The only reason she started attacking me is because she found an empty hanger somewhere, not in the fitting room though. She also said, "I've seen you before and have suspected you of stealing last time you were here!" Even though the last time I was there I bought two items totaling $62, and have the reciept. So unfair.
 
this is to the other poster, not the admin. My bag was unzipped the entire time, it was a slouchy type bag, sort of roomy, that's how i believe this tiny tank top fell in there, my bag was on the floor at one point. also, the only reason i refused to let the store person search my bag is because i did not feel there reason for searching was justified. They found A HANGERRRR!! I work in retail too, and our store policy is the only reason to search someones bag is if we actually saw them conceal the item, which i believe is fair. I was trying to protect my integrity, i honestly thought nothing was in my bag, and i did not want to be forced to show my personal things with out a valid reason. I was with a friend and they didn't ask her to show her bag, only me beause the sales girl got personal and said she thought i stole at the store before, another false and un supported acusation.
 
If it was my store I would have been fired for making that stop. However thats not the problem now. Can you beat the charge? I dont know! If you do it will cost thousands in Attorney fees. If your thinking you can sue for false arrest good luck on winning that. If you pursue a suit expect that to cost a few grand as well meaning your award will help pay your Attorney fees. I agree its unfair but it is what it is right now.
 
i wanted to sue, but you're right the steaks are too high. the main priority now is not having it put on my record. my mom's already hired an attorney and my court date is in a week. so i don't know what's going to happen, i'm just so worried because i work in retail and i don't want to get fired for being convicted of shoplifting, especially since i was acused in such a wrong way and i did not delibertely put that stupid $26 tank top in there! It wasnt even my size! this is all just so unfair, and losing my job ontop of that would be awful. i just need to explain myself correctely in court.
 
If you tell that story in court there is fair chance it wont be bought and Judge will be insulted. Talk to your Attorney and follow his instructions. You might discuss options like Diversion or if charge could be lowered to disorderly conduct or the like
 
Just because your store doesn't allow you to do something doesn't mean other stores can't.

Fact: You had unpaid merchandise in your purse.

Fact: The police had enough probable cause (the employees word) to detain you.

Fact: They had enough evidence to charge you.

Fact: You need a lawyer.

Fact: Stop making excuses and own your actions. Do not blame others, or say you did not know how it got in there.

Fact: If you tell your attorney the story you told here, they probably won't want to represent you.

Good luck to you.

And assetprotection, stores have different rules so while you may have gotten fired, other companies might condone these actions.
 
this is to the other poster, not the admin. My bag was unzipped the entire time, it was a slouchy type bag, sort of roomy, that's how i believe this tiny tank top fell in there, my bag was on the floor at one point.
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So the shirt fell off the hanger, into your bag and concealed itself?
You should take this act to Vegas.

also, the only reason i refused to let the store person search my bag is because i did not feel there reason for searching was justified. They found A HANGERRRR!! I work in retail too, and our store policy is the only reason to search someones bag is if we actually saw them conceal the item, which i believe is fair.
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You didn't want them to search your bag because you stole an item.
Also, Store Policy i.e. not the law.
One stores policy is very different from another.

I was trying to protect my integrity, i honestly thought nothing was in my bag, and i did not want to be forced to show my personal things with out a valid reason. I was with a friend and they didn't ask her to show her bag, only me beause the sales girl got personal and said she thought i stole at the store before, another false and un supported acusation.
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False and unsupported? They found stolen merchandise in your bag.

Look, you stole the shirt, you know it, I know it, the store knows it, the cops know it and everyone here knows it.
The sooner you stop making up stories and excuses and face this fact the easier it will be, no one believes it, and the Judge will be insulted by this if you try it in court and probably throw the book at you.

Get a lawyer, stop with the "the item magically teleported in my bag" excuse, and hope for diversion.
And most of all, stop shoplifting.
 
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