Shoplifting, Larceny, Robbery, Theft Shoplifting In Florida

[kimbob5688]

First I would like to thank everyone in advance for any info they can give me,My 19 year old daughter was
arrested in florida for shoplifting thrown in jail for supposedly stealing a glade candle,glade air freshener and some hair ties.She had gone shopping for grocerys and was using a coupon bin which was on the seat part of the shopping cart along with her purse.she went through the checkout paid for her grocerys was on her way out when she was stopped by security and asked for her receiped.they immediatly drew her attention to the items sitting under her purse felling like and idiot she offered to pay the money.she was told that she would need to go talk to a police officer.after the police arrived he searched her purse where he found a pepper spray bottle and a stun gun her boyfriend had purched for her to defend herself, since she manages a large pharmacy and goes into work early hour he wanted her to have something for her safety.we live more than 1,000 miles away from her and thank god her boyfriend works for a kind man who bailed her out of jail after being in jail for several hours.This genteleman also knows the lawyer for the county who was kind enough to get her and attorney.The attorney has said he can get the weopons charge thrown out because she never pulled them out or showed them in a way.he feels he can also get the shoplifting charge thrownout because she had just left the checkout aand was walking toward the security door not outside yet.can she counter sue them if she wins bacause she lost one of her jobs due to the arrest being published in the local news paper,this is a girl who worked two jobs and was suppose to start pharmacy school and Now faces getting thrown out of her apartment because some security guard wanted to get someone arrested that day.The attorney has asked for the video of her supposedly stuffing items into her purse and it was not true as of today No Video has been turned over.Like my daughter told them if I wanted to steal something it would not be a glade candle and air freshener because she had coupons to get them free.instead they refunded her the money she spent on her grocerys and sent her to jail.It was a tramatic experence for her and I am angry because she is a good girl who is very responsable and did not deserve this

 

[thelawjournal]

She has a Lawyer so her advice should come from that source. However it is not a required a person leave the store to be stopped and convicted of shopliting. In some states concealment is a crime. All that was required was she pass the last point of sale. Keep in mind that if she fights shoplift charge and loses there are no plea deals. She can also expect a letter in mail asking for money. This is Civil Demand its state law. This is unrelated to court as its a Civil action.

 

[kimbob5688]

Thank you for your reply
its just very senseless that this is being dragged through the courts
when all they had to do is draw her attention to the items and she would of gladly paid

You mentioned she could get a letter for money
How much can she expect to pay over 10 dollars worth of items?

 

[thelawjournal]

Its not the store place to do this. Furthermore it was security who saw and stopped her. Again its not their place to do this. I am sure you can see that most shoplifters say this and are lieing. I am not saying this is case here. I understand caca happens and mistakes are made. Let me give you a small tidbit of info for you. You might see why they come down so hard even on small thefts. Retailers lose over 13 billion each year just to shoplifting. That isnt even the biggest bite either. Yes they can take a more preventive stance and I support a prevention motivated retailer but that is not case everywhere. Some stores even grade their staff by how many arrests they make.

The Civil fine coming in mail should be around $100.00 but that is not a guarantee it could be less or more. Keep in mind this has nothing to do with any court fines that might be placed in court case

 

[StoreDetectiveVet]

Thank you for your reply
its just very senseless that this is being dragged through the courts
when all they had to do is draw her attention to the items and she would of gladly paid

You mentioned she could get a letter for money
How much can she expect to pay over 10 dollars worth of items?

I've worked security for 13 years, you know who would have "gladly paid" for the items I cught them stealing"
EVERYONE.

She tried to exit with unpaid merchandise, merchandise CONCEALED under her purse. Taking out your anger on security ("he just wanted to arrest someone that day". He did, your daughter, for theft), and the store, for your dughters stupid mistake (although I don not believe it was a mistake) is just petty.

As for "suing" the store, if she wants to waste money on a lawyer and look like a fool, tell her to knock herself out. Security saw her select items, conceal items, then try to exit with those items. Open and shut case of THEFT.

 

[NormanJr]

As for "suing" the store, if she wants to waste money on a lawyer and look like a fool, tell her to knock herself out. Security saw her select items, conceal items, then try to exit with those items. Open and shut case of THEFT.

Even if they didn't see any of the above (I am sure they did) the fact is she took items from the store without offering payment for the items.

Good luck to you and your daughter.