Originally Posted By DanishM1Garand:
A guy I knew got charged with theft.  He used the wrong dumpster out of a line of dumpsters behind his apartment complex.  Seems that half of them were for the other complex across that alley.  

He had problems getting jobs due to the “Oh well, it’s a 50 dollar fine, I’ll just pay it.”  

I guarantee you that he wishes he had hired a lawyer to get it thrown out.

Originally Posted By Bowhntr6pt:
Not the first time an ARFCOM'er told a story, the members rush to defend, only to have egg on their collective faces in the end.

Originally Posted By TEXASROOTERSBROTHER:

I usually don't ignore old timers but in this case I will.

She did not leave the store

Originally Posted By ClayHollisterTT:


Fuck that. Dads help their kids regardless of age.

Originally Posted By Imzadi:

Wouldn't be the first time that the boys in blue believe that anyone without a badge is a hardened criminal without any evidence too.

Originally Posted By GeneralDisaray:
I think C-4 wants you to get a lawyer OP

Originally Posted By gpoman:


Wrong.

https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/530275/IMG_5570_jpeg-3157502.JPG

Originally Posted By Bowhntr6pt:
These threads always go the same way... some just eat the entire story hook, line, and sinker with minimal hearsay.

IMO, it could have been an honest mistake or it could have been a calculated risk. Twenty-five years of experiencing shoplifters I've seen just about all there is to see.

Those saying she never left the store so she never committed the offense... that technically carries no weight in the three states I've worked LE. There are other actions/omissions that provide for a prima facie case. Physically leaving the store is but one element in most states I would suspect and certainly not a mandatory element.

Those suggesting the young lady was kidnapped... JHFC... really? Many states have statutes that empower employees to stop and detain, the defendant apparently rolled away from the register without paying for the two items so the approach and detention was certainly reasonable. This is not to say the subsequent investigation was good or bad. Many states have additional penalties for those who resist "reasonable efforts" to make the initial stop/detention.

Not the first time an ARFCOM'er told a story, the members rush to defend, only to have egg on their collective faces in the end.  

All I know is shopping carts are see-through... how you UNLOAD your buggy at the register then RELOAD the stuff back into it without noticing what's below is suspect... not impossible... it could happen. I'd have to see the in-store video, how things unfolded, and the actions/omissions of the defendant before I could begin to render an opinion.

One thing I feel very strong about is the defendant's claim that the cop was "made" to issue the charge... that's extremely suspect and taints the truthfulness and honesty of the rest of the defendant's story in my mind. No fucking store clerk is going to be successful in telling a cop who says there is no Probable Cause to make the charge anyway... not in any of the places I've worked and I've experienced the same thing multiple times over the years as a cop and responding supervisor when the clerk didn't get their way.

I'm inclined to believe it was an honest mistake... but the other things mentioned above make me lean towards she knew what she was doing.

Bottom line is none of us have enough information to fall on our sword one way or the other... to do so is foolish.

Originally Posted By Bowhntr6pt:
Twenty-five years of experiencing shoplifters I've seen just about all there is to see.

Originally Posted By MHowski:


How can you tell the difference between someone that missed scanning an item vs someone that did it on purpose?

Originally Posted By MHowski:


Ok.  This thread has me paranoid because even being cited for any kind of theft I would probably lose my job.  I’ve come close in the past and one time had the attendant come over because I was scanning items and putting them in the bag but they weren’t getting rung up even though it was beeping. I can easily see how it could happen.  I like self checkout and prefer it to a cashier but arresting people for a mistake is fucking bullshit.  If the store does the same thing it’s not a criminal issue.

Originally Posted By buckshot_jim:


Passing the checkout is the crime. Attempting to leave the store via not paying. Leaving the store has nothing to do with it.

Originally Posted By fadedsun:


She passed the registers which is an intent to not pay and universally seen as bypassing the last method of paying for items.

Yes, the elements of theft were met.

Originally Posted By MHowski:
Ok.  This thread has me paranoid because even being cited for any kind of theft I would probably lose my job.

Originally Posted By gpoman:


Wrong.

https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/530275/IMG_5570_jpeg-3157502.JPG

Originally Posted By SkiShooter:
My takeaway is don’t use self checkout shop at Target.

Originally Posted By StillGonnaSendIt:

Intent matters in this case and the prosecutor has to prove that their was mental and physical intent to commit the crime of petty larceny.

Originally Posted By MHowski:


Ok.  This thread has me paranoid because even being cited for any kind of theft I would probably lose my job.  I’ve come close in the past and one time had the attendant come over because I was scanning items and putting them in the bag but they weren’t getting rung up even though it was beeping. I can easily see how it could happen.  I like self checkout and prefer it to a cashier but arresting people for a mistake is fucking bullshit.  If the store does the same thing it’s not a criminal issue.

Originally Posted By MHowski:

Stores could do a much better job of setting it up.  They all still have all their regular registers not being used but instead of utilizing all that space they setup self checkouts with 6, 8, 10 or more crammed into an awkward rectangle area.  Your cart is in someone else’s space, there is no room to put scanned items. The little fuckups that a regular cashier picks up on like a delay in it coming up on the screen aren’t known by someone that goes there once in a while.  A beep at one store means you’re good, but that doesn’t mean shit somewhere else.  Plus anyone with kids is now doing 2 things at once.  There are reasons cashiers make fewer mistakes, it’s not all theft.

Originally Posted By mjohn3006:
Maybe don’t steal shit?

Originally Posted By Are-O-Be:
She hasn’t stolen anything until she has left the store. Show up to court and contest.

Originally Posted By Amped:
Buddy had the same thing at Walmart. All the lines were slammed so they told him to use self check out. He missed 32 worth of shit and they ticked him and set a court date. Had to hire an attorney to get a plea deal.

For what it’s worth he had $600 worth of shit for their new house and was trying to get home. I’ve known the guy for 10 years and he doesn’t steal. Sometimes people miss shit, sometimes people are shit

Originally Posted By StillGonnaSendIt:Passing the checkout is not the crime. Only attempting to leave the store is.