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How to Return Merchandise Stolen from a Store

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  • 08-14-2015, 08:58 PM
    pikezander
    How to Return Merchandise Stolen from a Store
    My question involves criminal law for the state of: colorado

    I went to Macy's today and did something very dumb. Please do not respond to this post with comments about how I'm a terrible person - I feel terrible about it and I've been paranoid ever since. I want to make up for the mistake that I made, but I'm afraid of the consequences (yes, I know that I deserve the consequences but I would like to forget this ever happened - I will NEVER be making this mistake again!)

    I was shopping in Macy's and I took two items without security tags that add up to approximately $160. It happened on two separate trips to the dressing room. In each instance, I had multiple items in my hands, including clothes that covered the items I took, and I went into the dressing room to try the clothes on. I put one item into my bag during each trip (two items total), left the clothes in the dressing room, and put some of the other items (like wallets) back in the area where I found them.

    Is there any way I can bring these back without suffering a penalty? I'm afraid that going back to the store will I feel so bad about it and I don't know why I did it. I'm also paranoid because I saw an employee walk into the dressing area as soon as I left, and when I was driving away in my car, I saw a mall security car at the crosswalk with its lights flashing. Also, even if they kept track of the number of items I brought in or what I brought in, how do they have proof that I took them? Couldn't I have technically left them in the dressing room and then someone else could have taken them?

    I know that there's no guarantee that returning the items will not lead to a penalty. What is the best course of action? I'm afraid that returning the items in person will lead to a penalty, and I am 24 (old enough to know better), so I would probably not be let off with a warning.

    Please let me know what the best course of action would be in this situation. I've heard stories that the police could show up at your house and arrest you if they have your license plate.
  • 08-14-2015, 09:53 PM
    adjusterjack
    Re: How to Return Merchandise Stolen from a Store
    Well, I suppose anything can happen.

    But trying to return the items to the store is almost guaranteed to get you detained and possibly prosecuted.

    I hate to suggest this because I really think you should have your ass handed to you for this but it might be wise to throw the items in the trash (away from home) then never speak of it again.

    I hope you didn't use your real name when you posted.

    Watch this video so you know what not to do if the cops do come to your door:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wXkI4t7nuc
  • 08-16-2015, 08:13 AM
    pikezander
    Re: How to Return Merchandise Stolen from a Store
    I know I messed up and I haven't been able to eat or sleep at all because of it. I don't know what got into me, and I feel awful.

    I've already gotten rid of the items because I can't stand to look at them or have them anywhere near me.

    I did not use my real name when I posted.

    Thank you so much for your advice.

    - - - Updated - - -

    If they were to show up, do you know how long it would take?

    If I were to get a third party to return the items to the store, wouldn't they realize that the items were present when doing inventory?
  • 08-16-2015, 09:34 AM
    eerelations
    Re: How to Return Merchandise Stolen from a Store
    Quote:

    Quoting pikezander
    View Post
    I know I messed up and I haven't been able to eat or sleep at all because of it. I don't know what got into me, and I feel awful.

    I've already gotten rid of the items because I can't stand to look at them or have them anywhere near me.

    I did not use my real name when I posted.

    Thank you so much for your advice.

    - - - Updated - - -

    If they were to show up, do you know how long it would take?

    If I were to get a third party to return the items to the store, wouldn't they realize that the items were present when doing inventory?

    OK something doesn't make sense here. In your first post you say you want to return the items to the store. Then in this second post you start off by saying you've already gotten rid of the items, and then you close off this second post by saying you want a third party to return the items...

    So you either have the items or you don't - which is it? (And if you don't have the items, what is this thread all about?)

    Regarding the third party, this third party person must be either really really stupid or completely insane, because I can't think of any other possible reason why someone would willingly set him/herself up like this to be arrested for shoplifting when he/she didn't actually shoplift.
  • 08-16-2015, 02:03 PM
    geek
    Re: How to Return Merchandise Stolen from a Store
    Ever hear of the USPS? If you still have the items, mail them back...anonymously. Do you have them or no?

    Ditto on the youtube video. That video should be a sticky post.

    Stay out of Macy's. ALL Macy's. They may very well have your face recorded.

    Stop stealing! Shoplifters eventually get caught.
  • 08-16-2015, 03:31 PM
    pikezander
    Re: How to Return Merchandise Stolen from a Store
    I don't have the items in my home, my car, or on my persons. They're in a place where I can access them - I purposefully put them there in case I found a good way to return them without compromising myself.

    The third party... I read that a lawyer or minister can act on your behalf while still maintaining your anonymity.

    - - - Updated - - -

    Believe me, that instance was enough shoplifting for me - never doing it ever again. It's literally not worth the stress.

    If I mail them back, isn't that just like admitting my guilt, especially if they have me on tape? What's to stop them from calling the cops or pressing charges after they receive the package?
  • 08-16-2015, 03:35 PM
    bam!
    Re: How to Return Merchandise Stolen from a Store
    Send a money order for the amount plus tax to the store attention Asset Protection. Type a letter saying it's for items stolen. It's cleaner and easier that way for both parties.
  • 08-18-2015, 08:02 AM
    DeputyDog
    Re: How to Return Merchandise Stolen from a Store
    Quote:

    Quoting adjusterjack
    View Post
    Well, I suppose anything can happen.

    But trying to return the items to the store is almost guaranteed to get you detained and possibly prosecuted.

    I hate to suggest this because I really think you should have your ass handed to you for this but it might be wise to throw the items in the trash (away from home) then never speak of it again.

    You have never worked in retail loss prevention, have you? And you watch too much T.V.

    I'm not saying your scenario is impossible or would never happen, I'm just saying that your statements are a bit ... overdone. I'll leave it at that.

    As for the last poster saying to simply send a money order: This will not actually help the store, and therefore make reparations, in any way without the store knowing the exact merchandise taken. It has to do with "shortage." Even with them getting the money, the items are still not going to be inventoried and are still going to come up short. So if one were going to go this route, include the tags or photos of the tags, or an extremely exact description of the merchandise, brand, color, etc. Otherwise, it's not actually repairing the damage done in any meaningful way.

    To the OP: I'm not a fan of sending things back and trying to evade consequences. I think you should grow up, be an adult, and do the honorable thing, accepting any possible consequences of your actions. But - with that being said - Has it really not occurred to you to go back into the store with a bag containing several items, including the stolen items, and go into a fitting room and then simply leave the previously stolen items behind in a fitting room with items you took in? And no, there is not any real chance of you being arrested if you do that.

    Believe me or not, but I have 15 years experience with several national companies, and a solid understanding of retail loss prevention as it relates to external theft. I also have specific knowledge of Macy's and their AP/LP program and policies.
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