When Should Shoplifters Worry About Getting Caught

My question involves criminal law for the state of: PA

My neighbor was caught shoplifting from a major chain, or at least she thinks so. It was a $120; she claims she concealed it, went into the bathroom and removed the security device, and placed it in her pocket. She says she then continued shopping (says that was the only item she wasn't paying for). She then noticed a manager watching her and obviously coordinating with an employee that was checking everywhere around the spot where she concealed it. She immediately walked out and was seen doing so. Does she have a right to be worried? I keep telling her that, from my experience in LP, that they did not see her inside the bathroom and cannot do anything about it outside be on heavy guard if she is seen entering the premises. I'm hoping she learned her lesson as she claims she has, but I want to know exactly what I should tell her about the situation.

Hopefully she looked nice for the camera since it is likely going to be played in court and that will make a better impression on the judge.

You should tell your friend to stop stealing, and that she'll have to wait and see what the future holds for her.

Let her continue worrying. In fact, do what you can to increase her anxiety.

It might help convince her not to steal again.

When Should Shoplifters Worry About Getting Caught

Any time they steal.

I'm fairly confident she won't do it again. She says it was her first time doing it and is a regular shopper there; supposedly they know her to some extent. Basically, I want to help her calm down since she knows it was a dumb move. She's been freaking out about it over the last week, so I think it's safe to say she won't do it again as I've never seen her in this much of a nervous wreck.

I just want to know what kind of advice to give to her about the possibility of them pressing charges at this point. She already knows I think she's a complete idiot for it.

If she walks back into that store, the odds will increase greatly.

She says prior to the theft that she traded in a couple games for store credit and she had to present ID and is a very regular customer to the point of knowing her by name. What actions can they take? All they would find is a security container in the bathroom, is that enough or is that merely circumstantial despite the possibility of having her on tape concealing it the first time before going into the bathroom? They didn't confront her about it, but she was followed by the manager throughout the store and shadowed all the way to the entrance but not outside.

They have her on tape entering the bathroom and exiting. They likely went in and found the security device. They will have her on tape concealing the device.

Your friend needs to spend a little time with the yellow pages and make notes of some phone numbers for Criminal Defense Attorneys.

They have up to a year to press charges. Since they know her name, it can bite her in the butt any minute now when the police knock on the door. Or should that store, she may find herself in the LP office.

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Quoting Saren

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I'm fairly confident she won't do it again. She says it was her first time doing it and is a regular shopper there; supposedly they know her to some extent. Basically, I want to help her calm down since she knows it was a dumb move. She's been freaking out about it over the last week, so I think it's safe to say she won't do it again as I've never seen her in this much of a nervous wreck.

I just want to know what kind of advice to give to her about the possibility of them pressing charges at this point. She already knows I think she's a complete idiot for it.

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Here's some advice. Tell her not to break the freaking laws. How hard is it? How many shoplifting posts do we need on this forum? Literally every single day 4 people post about being caught or arrested about shoplifting. She should be a nervous wreck. She committed a crime. And the fact that she feels this way shows that she knew it was wrong and still did it anyway. Guaranteed she's on camera, so if the store can identify her by name from her pictures (which seems likely since you said she shops there all the time and they know her) she WILL be sent a civil demand at the minimum, charged criminally at the maximum. If she really wants to learn a lesson, she should take the item back, confess what she did, and offer to make the store whole. Fat chance I bet.