Shoplifting in New York

[newjohn]

I've seen some good advice on this discussion board, so here goes... I have a "friend" who occasionally enters a retail store, picks up an item from inside, and proceeds to return it without a receipt for store credit, which he either uses for merchandise or sells for cash. He's been fairly "succesful", but attempted to do this twice in three days at the same store with the same manager on duty (who must approve all non-receipt transactions). She recalled him from the recent visit, and denied the "return". She also pulled his hardcopy receipt from the previous return, which has all of his actual identification information (taken from his actual driver's license). I'm certain that this raised some red flags, i.e., as to the M.O. of this individual. do you think they will review surveillance footage and determine that the merchandise was taken from within, and he did not enter with it, both recently and the time prior? If so, since the return was not honored the second time, what charge might that be? And the first, since he was not "caught in the act?" What is the likelihood that they will pursue this matter criminally, in anyone's experience?

[aaron]

If your friend continues this conduct, your friend will likely end up facing retail fraud or "return fraud" charges, based upon the laws of your state. Typically the penalty goes up with the amount stolen, as well as with any prior record.

It sounds like the store is "on to him", and he should fully expect that they will investigate his past practice of returns to see if they have a case they can take to the police.

[jane smith]

If a person isn't detained at time of suspition, how can a store come back and press charges? If a store does decide after the fact to press charges, how will the person be informed? Would the police come to home or send a letter?

[Guilty Or Not Guilty]

If the police knows who the person is from a previous crime, there can be an arrest warrant out for that person.