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Caught for Shoplifting, but got away

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diwomno

Junior Member
What is the name of your state?GA

I bought something from a store, but I also took soemthing. As I was leaving the store, the sensor alarm went off. Can they and will they try to look up the charge draft that I signed when I bought an item, and then try to find out my information and charge me with shoplifting?
 
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snostar

Senior Member
diwomno said:
Can they and will they try to look up the charge draft that I signed when I bought an item, and then try to find out my information and charge me with shoplifting?
Click to expand...
Count on it!
 
J

JarMow

Member
Uh Oh

"Forgot to pay" did ya? Thats a shame. But to answer your question, yes, they will.

(Added) Actually, they may try to find out your info, but i'm not sure if they can charge you with shoplifting. Some of the other guys can help, but to be charged I believe they will need to see you actually attempt to flee with the item. Was it blatant that you were escaping with something stolen (running across parking lot) or did you simply continue walking? Suppose the cashier forgot to de-tag your items. Of course, thats a moot point if the sensor beeps and you hit the doors running.
 
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stealth2

stealth2

Under the Radar Member
JarMow said:
Suppose the cashier forgot to de-tag your items. Of course, thats a moot point if the sensor beeps and you hit the doors running.
Click to expand...
It's also a moot point when they look at the receipt and see the item's not on it.
 
U

Urtenfifteen

Junior Member
snostar said:
Count on it!
Click to expand...
Unfortunantly for the store, simply having a sensor activation and your personal information is not evidence of a crime and no law enforcement officer or investigator would make the arrest because no prosecutor would bring this before a judge.
Simply because I think someone stole something from me doesn't mean squat unless I can tell an officer what was stolen.
A retail sensor being tripped by an exiting customer is not a crime, it is only an indicator to the store that you may have something on your person that wasn't paid for. If they had witnessed you stealing and had proof enough to prosecute, then there would have been someone waiting there to apprehend you.
And by the way, you are NOT legally required to submit to a search because a sensor went off. They may call the police, but if a EAS alarm is all the evidence they had then police won't even be dispatched in my state.
 
Zigner

Zigner

Senior Member, Non-Attorney
Urtenfifteen said:
Unfortunantly for the store, simply having a sensor activation and your personal information is not evidence of a crime and no law enforcement officer or investigator would make the arrest because no prosecutor would bring this before a judge.
Simply because I think someone stole something from me doesn't mean squat unless I can tell an officer what was stolen.
A retail sensor being tripped by an exiting customer is not a crime, it is only an indicator to the store that you may have something on your person that wasn't paid for. If they had witnessed you stealing and had proof enough to prosecute, then there would have been someone waiting there to apprehend you.
And by the way, you are NOT legally required to submit to a search because a sensor went off. They may call the police, but if a EAS alarm is all the evidence they had then police won't even be dispatched in my state.
Click to expand...

This thread is 4-1/2 years old :eek:

Don't necropost
 
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