I was "caught" and cited for shoplifting (petty theft/PC 484) at Urban Outfitters. My friend and I exited the store at the same time, and the alarm went off. We ran, but got chased by a store worker and a cop (who happened to be outside the store at the time. just our luck.) who stopped us and made us open our bags. Actually, one of the store workers took my bag and opened it - is that legal? Anyway, there were some items in my bag from the store, but none of them had tags on them, but some items in my friend's bag still had the tags on. We were forced to go back into the store, at when we did, my friend's bag set off the alarm and mine did not.
We were marched into the back office, and one of the workers looked around the store and found the tags that had been ripped off of the items that I had in my bag. Is this sufficient proof to charge me with petty theft? There are no cameras in the store, no one saw me rip off the tags, and I did not set off the alarm. I never admitted to shoplifting; I said that another friend had given me the items, and that I could not say for certain whether she had stolen or bought the items. Is this worth fighting? I'm a college student so I can't really afford court fees or anything, so if there's a low chance I'll get off on this charge, should I just pay the fines and leave it be?
ALSO: neither of us has a criminal record, and the value of the items we stole was definitely under $100 (combined it was still under $100, i'm sure).
We were marched into the back office, and one of the workers looked around the store and found the tags that had been ripped off of the items that I had in my bag. Is this sufficient proof to charge me with petty theft? There are no cameras in the store, no one saw me rip off the tags, and I did not set off the alarm. I never admitted to shoplifting; I said that another friend had given me the items, and that I could not say for certain whether she had stolen or bought the items. Is this worth fighting? I'm a college student so I can't really afford court fees or anything, so if there's a low chance I'll get off on this charge, should I just pay the fines and leave it be?
ALSO: neither of us has a criminal record, and the value of the items we stole was definitely under $100 (combined it was still under $100, i'm sure).
Last edited: