Stopped for Shoplifting Due to the Acts of a Boyfriend
My question involves a consumer law issue in the State of: California
My sister and her boyfriend (now her ex) had gone to Walmart and while there shopping he had sneaked into her purse a 14 dollar wallet. He walked out of the store and when she was about to leave the store, she was stopped by security. They told her that they saw what happened and that they can't do anything to him because he left the store. My mother was called by my sister's boyfriend and he told her what happened. My mother had gone to the store and Walmart had stated that they will not call the police because my sister was not the one who stole the item, but that my sister would receive a bill in the mail.
A month has gone by and my sister received a bill for 300.00, and it's stated in the letter that if she doesn't pay Walmart the 300.00 that the bill will go up and that she can get civil action against her.
My question is, is this legal? Because this seems illegal to me by Walmart, my sister was not the one who stole the wallet and Walmart had gotten the wallet back, so i don't understand why my sister is getting charged 300.00 over a 14.00 wallet. That just seems excessive to me over something she didn't do.
Should my sister seek some legal counsel in order for her to NOT pay this bill, especially since it's not her bill in the first place?
Re: Sister Stopped for Shop Lifting but Didn't Do It
Quote:
My sister and her boyfriend (now her ex) had gone to Walmart and while there shopping he had sneaked into her purse a 14 dollar wallet. He walked out of the store and when she was about to leave the store, she was stopped by security. They told her that they saw what happened and that they can't do anything to him because he left the store.
well, somebody isn't telling the truth. If they saw him put it in there and had no reason to believe she knew about it, she did nothing illegal but he did. If that was the case, they would have stopped him before he walked out the door.
but even if they didn't stop him it wouldn't matter. They could do something. They could take the name your sister gave them, call the police and file a complaint of theft. The police could then take that report, forward it to the prosecutor's office who could issue a warrant for his arrest.
so, did your sister give up his name?