ExpertLaw.com Forums

Caught Shoplifting Cosmetics at Walmart

Printable View

  • 01-22-2016, 03:57 PM
    breezypond613
    Caught Shoplifting Cosmetics at Walmart
    My question is for the state of Texas.

    This is my first time stealing and happened to be the first time i got caught. And i feel absolutely horrible and i realize it is stupid. And now i do not know what to do.

    At walmart i stole a small make up pallete and face product and the total came out to be around $15.
    LP stopped before i walked out the door and introduced himself to me and told me he saw me steal the make up and to follow him. He asked why i did it and i replied i only had money for what i bought. We walked to a little office that had one guy sitting at the computer. They asked me for my ID and called another lady in there. He than checked the system to see if i was in there, and of course not because it was my first time. He told me he was going to take a picture of me so if another walmart or sam's club saw me and i stole from them the cops would be there immediately. So I'm thinking I'm not banned. They told me from the get go the cops weren't going to be called. I signed a paper that barely had any writing on it, so i wasn't really sure was i was signing for. And it didn't cross my mind to ask at the time. they didn't say anything about me paying or getting fined. but they told me i would be getting mail from walmart and that i just needed to reply. again they didn't mention anything about paying a fine.

    After reading many threads i haven't found a similar situation as mine.
    My question is will this be on my record? and if it does how will i be able to keep it off?
    What will that letter contain than I'm " replying " to?
    What further actions should i take?

    Please help!
  • 01-22-2016, 04:09 PM
    jk
    Re: Caught Shoplifting at Walmart
    well, it's dumb to shoplift at walmart or any store, in any state for that matter.


    was there something else?
  • 01-22-2016, 04:18 PM
    flyingron
    Re: Caught Shoplifting at Walmart
    While it's a fairly tightly held secret, you'll have to expect Walmart has reported you to the NRTD. You can kiss off getting a job in retail. There's nothing that you can do about it. What you CAN expect is a letter from Walmart's "lawyers" demanding more money in civil damages. The letter will tell you where to send money. That's the only "response" they are looking for. This isn't a fine, it's a demand for compensation for the damages criminals like you cause them.

    While it is unlikely at this point, if the police or a prosecutor contacts you, decline to speak to them without an attorney.
  • 01-24-2016, 11:05 AM
    Daisy Florida
    Re: Caught Shoplifting at Walmart
    Why weren't the cops called? Usually if there is Retail Theft and the person is detained, cops are called to write a report and make an arrest. In this case, you weren't busted by the police...so it sounds weird.
  • 01-24-2016, 11:23 AM
    flyingron
    Re: Caught Shoplifting at Walmart
    Quote:

    Quoting Daisy Florida
    View Post
    Why weren't the cops called? Usually if there is Retail Theft and the person is detained, cops are called to write a report and make an arrest. In this case, you weren't busted by the police...so it sounds weird.

    It's not weird at all. A lot of retailers use the catch-and-release method. The criminal prosecution doesn't really help them financially (as I said you can 100% expect the civil demand to come) and in fact costs them additional money as the LP who was the witness would have to be paid to go to court. Even the trauma of being detained by the LP and getting potentially sued is sufficient deterrent overall. Of course if you return and try again you may end up being criminally charged not just for the theft but also criminal trespass and in some states burglary.
  • 01-27-2016, 04:44 PM
    Balkins
    Re: Caught Shoplifting at Walmart
    Quote:

    Quoting flyingron
    View Post
    It's not weird at all. A lot of retailers use the catch-and-release method. The criminal prosecution doesn't really help them financially (as I said you can 100% expect the civil demand to come) and in fact costs them additional money as the LP who was the witness would have to be paid to go to court. Even the trauma of being detained by the LP and getting potentially sued is sufficient deterrent overall. Of course if you return and try again you may end up being criminally charged not just for the theft but also criminal trespass and in some states burglary.

    Sounds to my like the OP LUCKED OUT. In my area, retailers bust people all the time. Wal-mart, Home-depot, etc. The stores have UC plain clothes ppl walk the stores and bust ppl all the time. That means they get arrested, and prosecuted. It could have been a pack of chewing gum...they don't care. That also means they now have a Crim. Rec.. If i were OP, i would be going to church and throwing money in the coffer. S/he should Pay the fine and costs, and never do it again. Some people are just born lucky!
  • 01-27-2016, 05:03 PM
    flyingron
    Re: Caught Shoplifting at Walmart
    Didn't say he wasn't lucky to not be facing charges, I was just pointing out it's not "irregular" in the least. It often depends on how aggressive/responsive the police and prosecutors are.
  • 02-05-2016, 07:43 PM
    Lola13141815
    Re: Caught Shoplifting Cosmetics at Walmart
    I'm on the same page. The first time I did it it was for lip liner and the second time was for a powder which I got Caught!!! All they got from me was my license and a pic that I couldn't have said no. I wonder if they can go back and check their footage historiy and Track me down. What would happen if they find something? I'm definitely not doing it again and yes I know that won't clean my history
  • 02-23-2016, 04:01 PM
    scholar29
    Re: Caught Shoplifting Cosmetics at Walmart
    Can you update about what happened now and what were your actions?
  • 03-03-2016, 07:39 AM
    WorriedShopper
    Re: Caught Shoplifting Cosmetics at Walmart
    Can you update on this?did you receive civil demands letter?
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 06:05 AM.
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.4
Copyright © 2023 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2004 - 2018 ExpertLaw.com, All Rights Reserved