Can You Get Charged if You're Shopping With Friends Who Shoplift

My question involves a consumer law issue in the State of: Illinois

Before I start, I want to thank you for taking the time to read this.

So, a couple of my friends and I decided to go to Walmart. 5 of us to be exact. We were just roaming about the store until my friend (2 of them) decided to take some things(headlight bulbs($45) and 2 bottles of jack Daniels whiskey($50 dollars)(95 total). Little did we know, that from the start, we were being followed and watched by Loss Prevention Employees, otherwise known as "fake" shoppers. One of my friends brought a backpack and decided to just toss them in there. I was a part of the "group" that walked into Walmart but I did not actually put something in my hand and stole it. Obviously, I am technically affiliated because the "two that were stealing" got caught and I was with the group stealing.

Nonchalantly, one of my friends decided to buy something(to look less suspicious) but 3 of us just walked out, without disturbance or suspicion. However, the two friends were actually doing the "stealing" were still in the store, roaming about
So as they(2 of them) were trying to walk out the store, they were stopped and taken into the room. We were sitting out in the parking lot and soon got a phone call from our friends that they want all of us to come back. And they specifically said "me". They described my clothing, height, and ethnicity and asked that I return because I "stole" something. We did not go back. But I did not take a single thing. So erroneously, one of the friends that were caught, spilled the beans and gave them my full name(only my name). The police appeared there and gave them two citations and a court date for "retail theft".

In conclusion, all Walmart has is the information of the two friends that got caught. and my full name.(video surveillance of us all roaming the store and employee witness of the stealing) (no address or any personal information). However, I have a very very unique name, probably a name that is the only one of the state. I have a driver's license linked to the State. Although, I have a clean record, all my information is at the DMV.
1) Am I going to be in trouble? (will they come to my door look for me)?
2) Will I be listed in the National Retail Theft Database?(with only my full name(video surveillance and employee witness) and nothing else. no signed documents)
3) Can they decide to prosecute me?

they told us all to come back, but we didn't. and our friends understood the situation. I am just looking for some advice and information regarding this situation. Any information...experiences...thoughts, please do tell.

1) It is very possible.
2) It is very possible.
3) The prosecutor could charge you because you are as guilty as the friends stealing. You knew what they were doing and are an accomplice.

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Quoting buckethead3162

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In conclusion, all Walmart has is the information of the two friends that got caught. and my full name.(video surveillance of us all roaming the store and employee witness of the stealing) (no address or any personal information). However, I have a very very unique name, probably a name that is the only one of the state. I have a driver's license linked to the State. Although, I have a clean record, all my information is at the DMV.

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In today's day and age, all a police department would need is your full name and a city/township that you live in order to get all your information including your address.

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Quoting buckethead3162

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Am I going to be in trouble? (will they come to my door look for me)?

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Yes they can. But most likely if they do come to your door, it would be for an arrest.

If they call you on the telephone, they may want to ask that you come down to their department for an interview. Don't go down for the interview as most likely you will incriminate yourself and will be arrested.

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Quoting buckethead3162

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2) Will I be listed in the National Retail Theft Database?(with only my full name(video surveillance and employee witness) and nothing else. no signed documents)

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Yes they can.

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Quoting buckethead3162

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3) Can they decide to prosecute me?

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The store and police can't. The prosecutor can thou.

The other issue, aside from an pre-organized theft ring is any item specific charges for minors in possession of alcohol.

I think that this whole story is fake. Walmart keeps hard liquor behind lock and key. Nobody but a Walmart employee could steal hard liquor from them. On top of that, I don't buy the whole "Walmart called and told them to come back in" bit either.

On top of that, everything they attempted to steal was bulky. Who is that stupid?

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Quoting llworking

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On top of that, I don't buy the whole "Walmart called and told them to come back in" bit either.

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Actually, this is a pretty common tactic in LP. Either a known accomplice gets out ahead of the person with the merchandise or LP thinks they stole something and got away/couldn't quite prove it/have all the policy required steps so they ask them to come back in. That makes it a consensual encounter and they generally don't have to worry about having broken any policies should the fishing expedition come up empty.

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Quoting free9man

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Actually, this is a pretty common tactic in LP. Either a known accomplice gets out ahead of the person with the merchandise or LP thinks they stole something and got away/couldn't quite prove it/have all the policy required steps so they ask them to come back in. That makes it a consensual encounter and they generally don't have to worry about having broken any policies should the fishing expedition come up empty.

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Ok, that makes sense. However, that still doesn't change the fact that Walmart keeps their hard liquor under lock and key.

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Quoting llworking

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I think that this whole story is fake. Walmart keeps hard liquor behind lock and key. Nobody but a Walmart employee could steal hard liquor from them. On top of that, I don't buy the whole "Walmart called and told them to come back in" bit either.

On top of that, everything they attempted to steal was bulky. Who is that stupid?

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Not in Ohio -- liquor is right on the shelves. I am not sure about Illinois but in some states that is not true.

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Quoting Ohiogal

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Not in Ohio -- liquor is right on the shelves. I am not sure about Illinois but in some states that is not true.

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Wow, I have never been in one that didn't have it locked up. I am kind of surprised that they do in OH. I have seen stores that have interlocking devices on the bottles so that they cannot be opened, but never anything less than that.

Come to Ohio. They have whiskey, wine, tequila, and mixers. Some stores have lower quality booze while others have the good stuff.

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Quoting llworking

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I think that this whole story is fake. Walmart keeps hard liquor behind lock and key. Nobody but a Walmart employee could steal hard liquor from them. On top of that, I don't buy the whole "Walmart called and told them to come back in" bit either.

On top of that, everything they attempted to steal was bulky. Who is that stupid?

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The only liquor that can be purchased in Alabama WalMarts are beer/wine, if the county/city they are located in are not 'dry' (and they are not placed behind lock and key). So, stop supposing.

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Quoting BooRennie

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The only liquor that can be purchased in Alabama WalMarts are beer/wine, if the county/city they are located in are not 'dry' (and they are not placed behind lock and key). So, stop supposing.

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Beer and Wine are not hard liquor, and I and the OP were talking about hard liquor. I have never seen beer or wine under lock and key anywhere.

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Quoting llworking

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I have never seen beer or wine under lock and key anywhere.

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You oughta see some of the liquor stores in Atlanta. Cheap stuff is locked up cause that's what everyone steals.

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Quoting free9man

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You oughta see some of the liquor stores in Atlanta. Cheap stuff is locked up cause that's what everyone steals.

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Yeah, let me rip off that $1.88 bottle of Mad Dog 20/20 and leave that $200 bottle of Johnnie Blue right there...

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Quoting Who'sThatGuy

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Yeah, let me rip off that $1.88 bottle of Mad Dog 20/20 and leave that $200 bottle of Johnnie Blue right there...

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I've been to liquor stores that were cash-only behind bulletproof plexiglass, and it sure wasn't Wal-Mart.

So what we've established here is that in some areas, Walmart does indeed keep liquor on the shelves. No lock and key required.


Glad we sorted out that absolutely critical issue.

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Quoting Dogmatique

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So what we've established here is that in some areas, Walmart does indeed keep liquor on the shelves. No lock and key required.


Glad we sorted out that absolutely critical issue.

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It was only an issue because it made me think that the story was fake. Now I still wonder because the OP has never come back to comment on anything.