accused of shoplifting, didn't do it.

[lotusesprit]

What is the name of your state? West Virginia

I am 16 years old.

I went to a local kmart recently and bought some packs of gum and stuff, then left the store. I was driving and suddenly remembered that i forgot to get some things.

I went back to the store, I had the things in my pocket that I had bought earlier. I went to go get the things that I had forgotten, picked them up and started to walk towards the checkout lines. I was waiting in line when the store manager came up to me and asked me if I had stolen anything. I said no sir. He asked me what was in my pocket and I showed him. He said are these stolen? I said no, I just bought them earlier. So he said let me see the receipt, and of course I had already thrown that out. So I said, I don't have it, I threw it away.

So he said please come with me. So I followed him to a room and sat down at a table. I waited for about an hour and a half. Finally a cop came in and sat down in front of me. He asked me some questions. I asked him what was going on, and he said that the manager said he caught you shoplifting. I said no, I did not steal anything. So he said if I didn't answer his questions he would take me into custody. So I said ok, I will answer your questions. He asked me my name, age, etc.... He eventually called my parents to come and get me. My mom arrived after about 20mins and sat down beside me. The cop told her that I had shoplifted and she asked me if that was true. I shook my head and said no, I did not steal anything. She signed some papers and I was released.

We were told to contact a juvenile detective within 73 hours. We called him later that day. The next day, I went to make a statement. I told him exactly what happend. He called me a thief and a liar. I said, no I am not lying and I did not steal. He didn't believe me.

Now I have to take some 3 week anti shoplifting class. Its taking up way too much time. I cannot finish homework at school because of it.

I need some advice on what legal actions I can take against whoever needs to have the blame put on them. The store manager, cop, whatever.


Thank You.

 

[stephenk]

"Now I have to take some 3 week anti shoplifting class."

How did that come about?

 

[lotusesprit]

I don't understand what you mean?

I haven't taken the class yet, its going to start real soon though.

The juvenile detective decided that.

 

[Jake648012003]

If you now have to take a class was you convicted in a juvenile court? IF that is what really happened I personally would take it to the end and stick with my story.....don't allow a juvenile detective or whomever make you change your mind. GENERALLY the store personnel FOLLOW you around, watch you conceal the items...then follow you out of the store. Kmart is big enough I would think that would be the policy as it is with Wal-Mart.

USUALLY the policy says if they lose sight....they let you go...( and no that's not what the law says, strictly store policy)

 

[mrcheerful]

thats why you keep receipts. sorry but your now in the grown up world and your word means nothing without proof that you didn't take those things. i'm not being mean or nasty, this is just a fact of life. about all you can do is accept it and learn from it. life is full of hard expensive lessons. by getting angry all you did was make yourself look guilty of something. hey thats life, nobody said it was fair and only guilty people get locked up. about all you can do is go to those anti shop lifting classes and make the best of a bad situation. as far as going after the store manager or police, well forget it, they did their job and theres not a thing you can do about it.

 

[lotusesprit]

Generally they follow you.

This guy came out of nowhere. I was standing in line and the next thing I knew the store manager was tapping on my shoulder.

I will take legal action against them. Im not going to forget this.

And another thing, what proof did they have against me? They won't take my word but they will take theirs.

 

[mrcheerful]

depends on the state jake. here in michigan you keep reciepts until you get home, as the stores here see shop lifters come in steal go back out then come back in. so if a store person saw her the first time, then see's her a second time, they will check her out. in some k marts here they have machines at the doors to see if you have any unpaid store items on you. this is no longer considered a minor offense, after seeing a woman walk out of a k mart with a 26'' tv, then go back in 15 minutes later and has 25 baby outfits under her coat things have gotten tough, lol.

 

[lotusesprit]

Thats not the point.

This isn't michigan.

 

[Jake648012003]

yes I agree...as long as they leave the store with it...thats all it takes here...but as far as police are concerned....all they have to do is conceal it from the rightful owner.....

 

[lotusesprit]

You see, now I am paying double. I payed for the items in my pocket. Now I am paying for shoplifting those items.

And yes, I agree ^

 

[Veronica1228]

I'm not sure if its too late for this now, but do you remember which cashier rang up your first purchase? If you do, then they can check that cashier's register tape for that day. While it won't prove that it was you, it would be a huge coincidence if they have a purchase on record for the exact same items you allegedly lifted, around the same time that you were in the store.

Just a thought.

 

[mrcheerful]

like i said this is the way we all suffer from those that do shop lift. without the receipt and your having the store items in your pocket thats going to happen. i knew a woman that had done the same thing bought some stuff and threw away the receipt, then went to another store that also happened to sell the same items she had in her bag. she had went into the store to get somethings that the k-mart didn't sell and saw the same items, it was at a mini mall, so she was picking up the items and checking out the prices, then put them back on the shelf, got what she had come into the store for, got into the check out line and was pulled out by security. they asked her what was in the k-mart bag she showed them, the guy asked her did she take them from the shelf, she said no i bought them at k mart, the security guy said wheres the receipt, i threw it away. they accused her of shop lifting. she ended up getting 90 days in jail and 2 years probation, plus a $500 fine. they even went back to k-mart and asked the cashier if she remembered the woman and the cashier said she never seen her before. it happens all over now a days.

 

[Jake648012003]

I'm not sure if its too late for this now, but do you remember which cashier rang up your first purchase? If you do, then they can check that cashier's register tape for that day. While it won't prove that it was you, it would be a huge coincidence if they have a purchase on record for the exact same items you allegedly lifted, around the same time that you were in the store.

Just a thought.

Good idea Veronica

 

[Florid-aise]

Just so that you know. Were it a T.V. or some other large item. A DVD itself might have a UPC code on the item. The UPC on the gum, once researched, might be shown to have gone through their very own cash register.

Wonder just how much money you will now get to fund your college education?

Have 'em throw in a Porche, and tell I said it was O.K., O.K.?

 

[lotusesprit]

I have no idea what to do about now, I will think up something.

Can't wait until walmart makes kmart go out of business.