petty theft

[bigtruckerdad1]

my 16 year old stole a 16 oz dr pepper and a red sharpie from a california kmart store on 2-3-2011.he did not remove the items from the store but was searched by security.i was called and went to get him.on 3-12-11 i recieved a letter from kmarts attorney for 7.98 in damages.the total is now 375.00 with additional costs.my son never exited the premises!!!!!should i fight or pay?

 

[stealth2]

Go ahead and fight it. But when your precious little boy is found guilty (even YOU say he stole the items), it'll be way more that $375 owed to KMart.

BTW - your SON should be the one paying. Hope the Dr. Pepper was worth it.

 

[found27]

Why would it be more than $375 and why would they owe $375 for $8 worth of goods?

I have a friend whos little sister (13 years old) stole makeup from wal-mart for $35. She was watched by an undercover cop and then stopped walking out the door. Called the parents (she was with a friend) and they all came to pick them up. They were told that they were to be charged double the amount of the items and they took the items back. They are also going to charge her for theft.

Thats all fair but how can they charge double? Especially when they took the items back? That part doesnt seems right. How should they proceede with this? Obviously she is guilty but what is their best defense???

 

[mistoffolees]

Why would it be more than $375 and why would they owe $375 for $8 worth of goods?

I have a friend whos little sister (13 years old) stole makeup from wal-mart for $35. She was watched by an undercover cop and then stopped walking out the door. Called the parents (she was with a friend) and they all came to pick them up. They were told that they were to be charged double the amount of the items and they took the items back. They are also going to charge her for theft.

Thats all fair but how can they charge double? Especially when they took the items back? That part doesnt seems right. How should they proceede with this? Obviously she is guilty but what is their best defense???

Court costs, fees, and penalties.

Instead of whining about how much the penalty is, perhaps you should be working on teaching your child a lesson - by making them pay.

 

[stealth2]

Why would it be more than $375 and why would they owe $375 for $8 worth of goods?

I have a friend whos little sister (13 years old) stole makeup from wal-mart for $35. She was watched by an undercover cop and then stopped walking out the door. Called the parents (she was with a friend) and they all came to pick them up. They were told that they were to be charged double the amount of the items and they took the items back. They are also going to charge her for theft.

Thats all fair but how can they charge double? Especially when they took the items back? That part doesnt seems right. How should they proceede with this? Obviously she is guilty but what is their best defense???

Has it occurred to you that if people didn't steal (from stores), stores wouldn't need to install cameras, hire loss prevention personnel, and increase the prices legitimate customers pay so as to remain profitable? So when YOU or YOUR kids decide to steal, YOU or YOUR kids should pay the additional burden the store incurs. Not my other customers! I work retail, and at our last audit, we incurred in excess of $30,000 dollars due to theft. That's over a six month period! Because morons like OP's son and your friend's sister feel entitled to just take what they want.

Ugh. I hate people with a sense of entitlement. Tell these kids to get jobs and then pay for what they want - or do without.

 

[CdwJava]

This is a civil assessment. State law allows them to charge between $50 and $500 for a civil assessment that will be above and beyond those any criminal prosecution might assess.

You can choose not to pay it, but it might go to small claims court, or, it might be turned over to collections.

 

[davidmcbeth3]

my 16 year old stole a 16 oz dr pepper and a red sharpie from a california kmart store on 2-3-2011.he did not remove the items from the store but was searched by security.i was called and went to get him.on 3-12-11 i recieved a letter from kmarts attorney for 7.98 in damages.the total is now 375.00 with additional costs.my son never exited the premises!!!!!should i fight or pay?

If it was a Silver Sharpie, I could see the $375.00 cost.

I would be checking google scholar and see how similar cases were adjudicated ... and make a decision based on the available information you have.

Its likely the intent on stealing is determined on a case by case basis ... if I were to pay, I would want a secrecy agreement ...

Since you say he stole I'll take you at your word ... you do know that he likely has been doing this for some time.... blame his mother...

 

[stealth2]

Since you say he stole I'll take you at your word ... you do know that he likely has been doing this for some time.... blame his mother...

You are such an idiot, david.

 

[davidmcbeth3]

You are such an idiot, david.

Well, somebody's to blame !

 

[found27]

As for what I asked... I dont think anyone is entitled to steal at all! But it happened and now they are dealing with it which is fine. I am just trying to find out why she is being charged more and what the process is. We can blame whoever we want and thats fine. I am not defending anyone.

 

[mistoffolees]

As for what I asked... I dont think anyone is entitled to steal at all! But it happened and now they are dealing with it which is fine. I am just trying to find out why she is being charged more and what the process is. We can blame whoever we want and thats fine. I am not defending anyone.

As you were told - fines, costs, and expenses.

 

[stealth2]

As for what I asked... I dont think anyone is entitled to steal at all! But it happened and now they are dealing with it which is fine. I am just trying to find out why she is being charged more and what the process is. We can blame whoever we want and thats fine. I am not defending anyone.

And I told you why she's being charged more. Because thieves like her cost the store more than just the item she stole.