Accusation of Shoplifting from Target

the citation says : 18-4-101 theft, unlawfull take food and merchandise from target with valu of $587.

And is there anyone here has experienced on this matter got charged and tell me what happened?

Quote:

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Quoting tsfrc

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I was using their shopping CART already. After reading all those threads I got agree that they will not believe me:((( But even with return items bag or from other store bag I asked them couple times if it is Ok to walk in and I got YES so that gives you think you do not have to ask and just walk in and I did so many times nothing happened. Ain't that weird they tolerate all those and then one time they use those reasons against you?! That is the point what I do not understand?! And again I DID NOT MEAN TO STILL anything!

And over all what is going to be possible charges?

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Honestly, no it's not weird that they allowed you to carry unpaid merchandise in shopping bags throughout the store. Why? Because I highly doubt that ever happened. If it did, I suggest that you don't use that as an argument. What I find weird is that you have stolen items before (at least 2,3 times by your account) and never did you say to yourself "maybe I need to stop doing this before I get caught and they arrest me for shoplifting!"

Knowing that you have "mistakenly" taken items out of a store using this off the wall brand of organizing your soon to be paid for items sounds like a pattern of shoplifting to me.

I guess there is misunderstanding here! I have not steal anything in the past or anytime! What i am saying is i walked out several times mistakenly with unpaid and after realized then got back and paid! you should read all threads I posted please!

And I walked in with EMPTY bags and ask them if it is OK they said yes previously.

I walked in with the bag, items bought from other store and asked if that is ok and I got YES.

After all those experience, I know it was a mistake but I thought it would be Ok and I do not have to ask!

After reading all those threads, basically I need someone who had same charged and let me know what happened.

You won't typically find kindred spirits here. People come to get answers and the go away from the board. No matter what you say, the correct advice is still the same:

1. The store is not obliged to listen to your excuses. You attempted to carry unpaid merchandise out. That's all the probable cause you need to be charged.
2. You need a lawyer.

Jumping up and down and stating you didn't mean to steal anything and nobody is listening to you will NOT work in a court of law. This is why you need the lawyer.
The lawyer will see if he can for a defense around what actually happened (not your perception of what happened) and if not, see if there is some mitigation or diversion that can apply.
It's almost a guarantee if you go to court with the attitude you display here, you will lose.

By the way, I think you were charged with 18-4-401. 101 is just a bunch of definitions.

18-4-401. Theft.
(1) A person commits theft when he knowingly obtains or exercises control over anything of value of another without authorization, or by threat or deception, and:
(a) Intends to deprive the other person permanently of the use or benefit of the thing of value; or
(b) Knowingly uses, conceals, or abandons the thing of value in such manner as to deprive the other person permanently of its use or benefit; or
(c) Uses, conceals, or abandons the thing of value intending that such use, concealment, or abandonment will deprive the other person permanently of its use and benefit; or
(d) Demands any consideration to which he is not legally entitled as a condition of restoring the thing of value to the other person.
(1.5) For the purposes of this section, a thing of value is that of "another" if anyone other than the defendant has a possessory or proprietary interest therein.
(2) Theft is:
(a) (Deleted by amendment, L. 2007, p. 1690, § 3, effective July 1, 2007.)
(b) A class 2 misdemeanor if the value of the thing involved is less than five hundred dollars;
(b.5) A class 1 misdemeanor if the value of the thing involved is five hundred dollars or more but less than one thousand dollars;
(c) A class 4 felony if the value of the thing involved is one thousand dollars or more but less than twenty thousand dollars;
(d) A class 3 felony if the value of the thing involved is twenty thousand dollars or more.

You're looking at 90 days and a $250 fine. Also expect a civil demand letter (regardless of your criminal trial outcome) demanding several hundred dollars in damages for what you did.

I do not know who you are and what do you want to do?!!! I am not looking here 'judgment' against me or behalf of me! Even you would say 'I was Right' does not make sense or say "I was guilty" does not make sense but the court!

I am telling the exact story what happened and stating that possible they will not believe me! And I did read that statue 18-4-101 as well. I wrote what I had experience in the past and asked anyone can help me or giving me advice besides 'consult attorney' and even I talked with an attorney, he asked $1500 and told me that he should see the tape and police report. Depends on evidence he would fight. As soon as possible I will get that report and the tape and go from there.

Once again I would like to know here, what other people think and know and what charged they got! Because every thread posted was closed without telling what happened at the end! Since 2005 there has been hundreds thread posted same or similar case but I have not seen anyone what happened at the end.

I walked in with the bag, items bought from other store and asked if that is ok and I got YES. (if this is in a strip mall, I can see this happening. HOWEVER after reading your original posts, you also grabbed two Target bags and filled them.

the citation says : 18-4-101 theft, unlawfull take food and merchandise from target with valu of $587. ($587 = that is not a first time shoplifter! That is someone who regularly steals!) No wonder no one believe you.

Tell these to the judge.....maybe he/she will......

What will happen? You may find yourself being charged with GRAND THEFT. You entered that store with the intent to steal. $587 is not an "oops, I ****ed up". $587 is a "I intended to deprive the store of this merchandise".

Wow! Maybe OP will finally get that! Pandora is quite concise. OP states that the bags were used to eliminate clutter of the small items, but in the end you have almost $600 in unpaid merchandise leaving the store. Being on an important phone call does not eliminate common sense. You would be hard pressed to find a judge of jury that would believe that you forgot that you had a big feakin' cart full of unpaid stuff. It's Target, not Costco. If the bags were just for the small items. how could you not notice the remaiming large items that were just laying randomly in the cart? How can you no see a pile of merchandise worth almot $600 and not realize that you had not paid for it? If you can't explain that to a court or a jury and make sense of it, get ready of a long day.

I am telling you that I did before and asked them if it was ok and they said 'yes' that is why I have not asked this time if it was ok or not! Again, I am telling the whole story what happened.

All right guys, I accepted all your accusations. Now let me ask you that; you had such a this experience and went to the court, any of you? If so what you got charged?

I have not signed anything at the store or accepted any accusation because I know I did not intent to steal! And I never plea 'guilty' at the court as well.

I will take that tape and police report to the attorney will see how we are going to deal with it!

But you have to understand these things are killing your mind and never get away till get the result! That is why I am seeking any thought, any idea, any help, any advice here!

That is exactly right! I mean that bags full of little things but rest of the merchandise could be seen, unpacked, unhide.

So you guys telling me that you were an attorney, police officer, judge or just had experience same case and charged with?

I will share what I will be charged at the court here. And I wished who had same case written down something after their threads here.

With all sincerity, I implore you to update the board with the final result. I am quite interested to see the outcome of your argument.

It's like this....very few people who come here for questions post as what the result is. Nothing we can do about that.

I'm one of the few. I shoplifted. I came here for advice. Hired a lawyer. I decided to volunteer afterwards. That's right - we do not get paid to do this.

My case: I shoplifted. I got a lawyer. I paid my fines and court costs and Civil Demand.

I stayed here to help other people. Because the "what will happen to me?" was scary. I found help here. I came back to help others.

What I am telling you comes from 2.5 years of experience with other shoplifters here. Nearly $600 of merch...that is not your first time shoplifting.

I'm also telling you the "I got distracted by the phone" excuse has been used numerous times. The prosecutor and judge have heard it more than any volunteer here. It won't wash.

The minute you put the items in the bag was enough for them to bust you. That is called CONCEALMENT. The minute you got distracted by the important call....you left the store with the items.

I will say this...you leaving the store previous with items....not good. Even if you were honest about always returning them. After the first time, you should have been more careful.

Sorry, but you are going to court. Your attitude is going to be noted by the judge. If it is like it has been here, you can expect no sympathy, and the judge won't go easy on you.

The judge will also realize that $600 is not a first time shoplifter.