Both parties in this situation are under 18 with one being under 14.

[ryleighjordan]

My stepsister stole two pairs of my shoes but swears she did no such thing. When one of my younger sisters went over to her house, she saw one of the two pairs of shoes there and thought she saw the other pair. My stepsister still swears she did not. The sighting of the shoes was either Friday or Saturday of the Easter weekend. There are a couple of issues where I am having questions. One, my stepsister is 12 almost 13. Two, she lives with her mom with visitation to her stepdad whom I live with. I would like either the shoes themselves back or the $100 it would take to replace them (one pair was $60 at Journey's and the other was $40 on Amazon.) What kind of legal action can I take? Can I take her to civil court for petty theft? At the very least can I have the police go in and get my things back or find a way for me to go get them?

 

[Ohiogal]

My stepsister stole two pairs of my shoes but swears she did no such thing. When one of my younger sisters went over to her house, she saw one of the two pairs of shoes there and thought she saw the other pair. My stepsister still swears she did not. The sighting of the shoes was either Friday or Saturday of the Easter weekend. There are a couple of issues where I am having questions. One, my stepsister is 12 almost 13. Two, she lives with her mom with visitation to her stepdad whom I live with. I would like either the shoes themselves back or the $100 it would take to replace them (one pair was $60 at Journey's and the other was $40 on Amazon.) What kind of legal action can I take? Can I take her to civil court for petty theft? At the very least can I have the police go in and get my things back or find a way for me to go get them?

You cannot sue a 12 year old. You can tell her mother that she stole the shoes and ask that they be returned. OR your father can do that. How did stepdad get visitation?

 

[stealth2]

My stepsister stole two pairs of my shoes but swears she did no such thing. When one of my younger sisters went over to her house, she saw one of the two pairs of shoes there and thought she saw the other pair. My stepsister still swears she did not. The sighting of the shoes was either Friday or Saturday of the Easter weekend. There are a couple of issues where I am having questions. One, my stepsister is 12 almost 13. Two, she lives with her mom with visitation to her stepdad whom I live with. I would like either the shoes themselves back or the $100 it would take to replace them (one pair was $60 at Journey's and the other was $40 on Amazon.) What kind of legal action can I take? Can I take her to civil court for petty theft? At the very least can I have the police go in and get my things back or find a way for me to go get them?

LOL Are you for real? Keep your shoes in your room, with the door locked, in the future.

 

[not2cleverRed]

You cannot sue a 12 year old. You can tell her mother that she stole the shoes and ask that they be returned. OR your father can do that. How did stepdad get visitation?

I believe OP's stepdad is the legal father of OP's stepsisters.

I think OP should tread lightly here, in the sense that, stepdad is more likely to side with his legal children than his stepchild, and OP is stuck living with her stepdad for the moment. Of course, that is an interpersonal family problem, not a legal problem!

OP's only recourse is to tell her stepdad that her shoes are missing and to perhaps relay to him the information that her younger sister conveyed. I do not think that confronting her stepsister's mother would do anything useful, as clearly she doesn't care. I would notice if my kid showed up with different shoes, but a mother that doesn't perhaps also doesn't care where they came from. (Speaking of, my kid needs to get those snow boots back to the neighbor.)

 

[ryleighjordan]

He got visitation through the court system. Her mother refuses to cooperate and thinks her child does no wrong. Even if I can't sue her, can the police still be called and have them help with it or is that something that I just have to deal with myself?

 

[Shadowbunny]

He got visitation through the court system. Her mother refuses to cooperate and thinks her child does no wrong. Even if I can't sue her, can the police still be called and have them help with it or is that something that I just have to deal with myself?

Ryleigh, I know this is very frustrating to you. But this is NOT a police matter. Do not waste their time on this.