Can You Be Charged With Shoplifting If You're Not Caught Before Leaving the Store

My question involves criminal law for the state of: Ohio

In this scenario there is person a and person b, person a and person b go into a store and person a shoplifts and they get out without getting caught, then person a an b return the next day and person a shoplifts and doesn't get caught again, they return they return on a third day and this time person b shoplifts and gets caught. In the shoplifter interrogation room they supposedly make it clear to person b that they are aware person a shoplifted the previous day(s). Person b now has to go to court. Now if person a was supposedly knowingly a shoplifter, wouldn't they detain the person on the third day recognizing him/her even if they didn't take anything that day? After release person b tells person a that the store knew person a shoplifted, but why wouldn't they have detained person a? Keep in mind person b attempted to leave the store before person a about 2 minutes after person b was detained on the third day. Would person b possibly be require to give up information on person a in court? person b was trying to steal $30 worth of goods, person b is also a minor, person a is not a minor. Also person b claims they weren't asked any details about person a, and also person b recommends never returning to this store. In this scenario the store is a chain store of 3-4 of about medium size with this particular store closing within a month. Also person a was in a camera blind spot while hiding goods both times. Upon the third visit there was also a person c who was not a minor, and when person c and b exited, only person b was detained and person c was left.

So my questions are.
Can person b be required to give up details on person a in court?
Wouldn't they have detained person a as well?
Do you think person b ratted out person a and the LP wasn't really aware of person a's theft?
What are the statue of limitations for person a?
What evidence would they have against person a?

If you are asked questions in court you MUST answer them truthfully. The only escape is you are allowed to not answer questions that would be giving testimony against yourself.
LP and the police can detain whoever they think it is advantageous to detain (given reasonable suspicion they are involved in the crime).
I'm not going to make any conjecture as to LP's thinking.
They have between two and six years to charge this (depending on just how they charge it).
Testimony from a witness or accomplice would be sufficient. They might have video evidence as well.


I don't know who you are in this situation, but I would recommend that you:

1. STOP BREAKING THE LAW
2. Stay away from this particular store for ***ANY*** reason

And 3....stay away from the so-called "friend".

Quote:

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Quoting flyingron

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If you are asked questions in court you MUST answer them truthfully. The only escape is you are allowed to not answer questions that would be giving testimony against yourself.

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That is to say, you are expected to testify honestly if you choose to testify, but as a criminal defendant you cannot be compelled to testify.

Quote:

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Quoting Mr. Knowitall

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That is to say, you are expected to testify honestly if you choose to testify, but as a criminal defendant you cannot be compelled to testify.

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Right, but the other situation here is that he's called as a witness in the case against the other party. He's not allowed to remain silent just because he doesn't want to snitch on his friend.

If person A mails the goods back to the store with a heart felt letter, do you think it would help or hurt the situation?

Hurt. It's called an admission of guilt.

I meant an anonymous box and letter

- - - Updated - - -

Also consider that the mother of person b told the LP and the cops the name of person a, and according to person b, the lp claims to have spotted person a also stealing.

Then Person A should be expecting a visit from Detectives P and O.

And if it's anonymous, how are they supposed to know who is heartfelt?

consider this, if person a and b and c were in the store for about an hour, wouldn't they have called the cops due to the previous days theft?

Depends on who witnessed what. And what is on surveillance tape. You can have your lawyer ask for "discovery" - aka "evidence".

Lets say to the best of my knowledge person A was off camera and clear of LP when goods were concealed.

Let's say...until your attorney asks for "Discovery"...you don't know what is or is not on that tape....

Without knowing the details beyond Person A, B, or C...well, we are not psychic. You are best to get a lawyer. You would have lawyer/client privacy laws...and be able to ask for discovery.

A -B - C this all sounds like a school project.