Camera Evidence of Shoplifting if the Shoplifter is Not Caught

Maryland

A friend of mine shop lifted at Kohls and stole a $90 pair of headphones. She concealed them in the dressing room and walked out and was not stopped. No one approached her in the parking lot and she drove away in a car registered to her parents. The store has no way of getting her ID other than her parents info from the license plate that may have been seen on camera. Is there any chance action could be taken from camera evidence even though they did not see her conceal the items since she was in the fitting rooms? If so, would they contact her parents since they are the owners of the vehicle or are they not allowed to do that? What are the chances of action being taken or is she most likely free? She vows to never steal again. She also went back later that day and returned the headphones without the packaging because she felt guilty; again, no one stopped her.

There is always the chance that she will be subsequently caught. They have a year to do so. Just because she returned things doesn't mean she's off the hook.

She should:

1. Stop stealing things.
2. Stay out of this particular Kohl's (they may or may not suspect her)
3. Stop telling people about her crime with the exception of an attorney. If she is contacted by either the store or the police, decline to speak until she has talked to an attorney.

Good for you for doing the right thing, even belatedly, and returning the headphones.

The fitting room provides no cover and doesn't conceal theft; it is VERY EASY to catch people who steal in the fitting room. COULD action be taken based on identification and video evidence? Sure. Will it? I don't know, the Magic 8 ball isn't working today.

Here's what most people don't realize: They think that there is "no way they could be identified." But that's usually not the case. Most people forget that they actually told a store employee their first name while being helped. Or that they were in the store a week ago making a return and gave their ID, even though TODAY they didn't tell anyone their name. Or that they purchased merchandise 2 weeks ago with a credit card, thus capturing their name. And all an investigator has to do is compare the person on camera when the theft occurred with the person on camera using the credit card, or making the return, or putting something on hold. Plus, as you noted, there's the license plate.

Why would they not be allowed to contact the owners of the vehicle when they are the ones the license plate is registered to? Usually the police would be involved at that point, although it's not totally impossible for LP to run plates and get the info.

In short, cut your losses and don't steal again. You can't be sure you're out of the woods on this, but all you can do is wait, and if nothing happens you're lucky - and at least your conscience knows you did the right thing in the end.

Oops. Everything I wrote above I meant for your "friend." Let her know all of this please.

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Quoting DeputyDog

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Good for you for doing the right thing, even belatedly, and returning the headphones.

The fitting room provides no cover and doesn't conceal theft; it is VERY EASY to catch people who steal in the fitting room. COULD action be taken based on identification and video evidence? Sure. Will it? I don't know, the Magic 8 ball isn't working today.

Here's what most people don't realize: They think that there is "no way they could be identified." But that's usually not the case. Most people forget that they actually told a store employee their first name while being helped. Or that they were in the store a week ago making a return and gave their ID, even though TODAY they didn't tell anyone their name. Or that they purchased merchandise 2 weeks ago with a credit card, thus capturing their name. And all an investigator has to do is compare the person on camera when the theft occurred with the person on camera using the credit card, or making the return, or putting something on hold. Plus, as you noted, there's the license plate.

Why would they not be allowed to contact the owners of the vehicle when they are the ones the license plate is registered to? Usually the police would be involved at that point, although it's not totally impossible for LP to run plates and get the info.

In short, cut your losses and don't steal again. You can't be sure you're out of the woods on this, but all you can do is wait, and if nothing happens you're lucky - and at least your conscience knows you did the right thing in the end.

Oops. Everything I wrote above I meant for your "friend." Let her know all of this please.

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Ok so she said that she has never been to this store before this incedient so they don't have an credit card information on her. She also never talked to anyone while in the store. I understand that there is a chance of them taking action. I'm asking what is the likelyhood of them doing so?

Let's explain how a shoplifting bust works in a fitting room.

See, while cameras are not allowed INSIDE the fitting rooms...they are allowed OUTSIDE the fitting rooms.

- So your friend enters fitting room with headphones. Captured on video.
- Your friend exits fitting room without headphones. Captured on video.
- Loss Prevention enters fitting room and finds packaging for headphones.....
- L.P. now reviews tape.
- Next, they review parking lot tape.
- They also print a screen capture from the video and circulate it other Kohl's stores in a certain radius, all LP employees, and may post your friends photo in the Employee BreakRoom, next to the time clock "See this person, call LP immediately". And if the store is in a mall, they circulate the pic to mall security and other stores.

Get the idea?

Will the store keep the surveillance? Well, what does it cost to burn a CD? Not much, eh?

Some stores also have Facial Recognition Software. And it doesn't have to be that plain silver mirror over the register or that black bulb hanging down. The eyes of a mannequin can conceal cameras. I worked one high theft store and saw that even some interesting placement of cameras.

Should your friend be scared? The store has 1-2 years (depending on state law) to press charges. She can bet that if she steps foot into any Kohl's for a long time....she can expect that her every move will be watched.

I'm asking what is the likelyhood of them doing so?

Somewhere between zero and 100%. I can't be more specific until the crystal ball gets back from being recalibrated.

We really don't know.

Is Kohl's watching the tapes now? Have they already started the process of filing a police report with all evidence? Are they just watching for your friend to come in to shop and bust her then? Again, is it a mall or strip mall and mall security is watching for her to show up at Sbarro's for a slice of pizza? We don't know.....

She just gets the pleasure of for 1-2 years wondering......

Actually cameras are allowed in fitting rooms in Maryland. There must be signs posted notifying customers and same sex monitoring is required. The are only 15 or so States that do not allow it.

Now on the practical side, most retailers do not use cameras in the fitting rooms.

Didn't want to get into that one.

Your friend may read a sign that says fitting rooms may be monitored....guess in this case she was lucky that someone was not monitoring....but....that can change....at any store....

on top of the camera in the store, there are generally camera outside the stores. In fact we had an incident at a Kohls in my area where there was video recording of the thief in the parking lot.

so, if the license plate was caught on camera, it can be tracked. Then they can talk to the parents about the situation. I would suspect that unless the parents fessed up to doing it, the cops would ask for pictures of any children in the household.

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Actually cameras are allowed in fitting rooms in Maryland. There must be signs posted notifying customers and same sex monitoring is required. The are only 15 or so States that do not allow it.

Now on the practical side, most retailers do not use cameras in the fitting rooms.

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I'm surprised to hear there are any states where it isn't allowed. Other than posting a notice (which means if the patron continues they are granting permission for the recording) and avoiding children (not sure how you would do that), I don't see why it would be illegal in any state.