Accused of Organized Shoplifting
My question involves criminal law for the state of: Oregon.
Yesterday my friend and I were shopping at the local Walmart here, we put alot of stuff in our cart and probably were in the store for about an hour or so. I always go to the store for groceries and the basics. After shopping for a while we were ready to checkout, I got my wallet and realized I didnt have enough for everything, we back tracked and put everything back in the right place and I just bought the groceries I had picked out. After leaving the store and reaching about a 1/2 of the way to the car we were stopped by a manager and an LP. we were told we were SEEN putting stuff in our purses and were caught on camera doing so, we denied and requested to see the tapes. I was told I was the "mastermind" of the situation and that my friend must be younger than me because she follows my every move. I had no idea what the heck they were talking about. I insisted on showing them my purse and dealing with this situation, they would not. Multiple customers were staring at us in the parking lot. I was so confused and scared. How can they say the have TAPE of me stealing if I didnt? They claimed I had stolen before and they know I did. I have no idea HOW they could if I had not? Is this a normal practice to tell potential suspects they've been seen when they really haven't?
Today I wrote them a complaint explaining what happened and how embarrassed I was and humiliated. I explained I won't be coming back, I had to fill out my name and email address. Will they pursue legal action now that they have my name? and if so what can I do to maintain innocence? I'm terrified, I'm a new young mom and have not stolen before or ever - and really dont want to have my record screwed up over a false accusation. Can they pursue me because I made a complaint?
Thanks.
Re: Scared and Confused. Walmart
There are way too many details missing here to give an answer.
This is the internet and you are anonymous here. What's the real deal? Did you TRY to steal and dumped the stuff, were you THINKING about stealing and started to conceal but then gave up, or what? What gives?
You claim complete and utter innocence, but your moniker is "dumbgirl," which implies you think you did something dumb. Shopping normally and paying for items isn't dumb.
You also left a huge gaping hole in the story between the time they confronted you and the time you made your complaint, ostensibly at home, later. So what happened in between? Did you refuse to cooperate and drove off? Did you go back in the store and once there they found nothing on you? Did they apologize? Did the police come?
Re: Scared and Confused. Walmart
If they have you on tape putting items in your purse, of course they an pursue you.
They have cameras in the parking lot as well, so if you drove off, they have your license plate. Which means they can file charges regardless of whether or not you filed a complaint.
Charges won't be filed unless they have evidence proving you stole something. You could have 'maintained' your innocence by staying at the store and waiting for the police to show up (presumably if they were called).
Re: Scared and Confused. Walmart
Sorry, I didn't quite give enough. No, I cant speak for my friend, we were stopped outside of the store and they claimed to have tape of us stealing - I did not and as far as I KNOW she did not either, they talked to me mainly and accused me of loading my purse and dumping it - I did not, I literally just put things back that I was wanting to get but didnt have money for after loading my cart. Grabbed my wallet out of my purse and then put my purse on the bottom of the cart, there was like no more room on the top and didnt want to pile my purse ontop of stuff. I tried explaining I didn't etc. My moniker is dumbgirl cause I feel dumb because of the whole situation, in my past yes Ive thought of stealing but did not.
They didnt call the cops and just told me to think about my future, we were outside of the store the whole time - no real issue was had except for the fact people were staring and I felt embarrassed. I look alternative, piercings, the way I dress etc. I feel like I was profiled because of it. I cooperated the whole time and talked to them calmly about it, explained we didnt do anything, they let us go and we left with no issue.
Im just mainly worried that now they are going to make an issue because I sent a complaint. It asked for my name and email address but no other information. Is there a possibility they can use just my first and last name to try and pursue me?
We were in my friends car. I dont drive.
Re: Scared and Confused. Walmart
Quote:
Quoting
dumbgirl
Sorry, I didn't quite give enough. No, I cant speak for my friend, we were stopped outside of the store and they claimed to have tape of us stealing - I did not and as far as I KNOW she did not either, they talked to me mainly and accused me of loading my purse and dumping it - I did not, I literally just put things back that I was wanting to get but didnt have money for after loading my cart. Grabbed my wallet out of my purse and then put my purse on the bottom of the cart, there was like no more room on the top and didnt want to pile my purse ontop of stuff. I tried explaining I didn't etc. My moniker is dumbgirl cause I feel dumb because of the whole situation, in my past yes Ive thought of stealing but did not.
They didnt call the cops and just told me to think about my future, we were outside of the store the whole time - no real issue was had except for the fact people were staring and I felt embarrassed. I look alternative, piercings, the way I dress etc. I feel like I was profiled because of it. I cooperated the whole time and talked to them calmly about it, explained we didnt do anything, they let us go and we left with no issue.
Im just mainly worried that now they are going to make an issue because I sent a complaint. It asked for my name and email address but no other information. Is there a possibility they can use just my first and last name to try and pursue me?
We were in my friends car. I dont drive.
If they didn't call the police at the time, they are not going to call the police now. What likely happened is that they saw you get in your purse on tape, and then put things back. To them that looked suspicious.
Re: Scared and Confused. Walmart
Quote:
Quoting
dumbgirl
Sorry, I didn't quite give enough. No, I cant speak for my friend, we were stopped outside of the store and they claimed to have tape of us stealing - I did not and as far as I KNOW she did not either,.
Find better friends. You shouldn't be going anywhere with anyone whom you cannot with some reasonable certainty say "She did not commit a crime." Also, weren't you with her the whole time? If not, that's pretty shady in and of itself.
Generally I'd agree with llworking, but God knows what other details you happened to have left out. Add to that the fact that you have a genuine fear of them charging you, which you would not have if you knew neither you nor her did anything wrong, and I can't tell you much one way or the other.
And if you hoodwinked them into thinking they made a "bad stop," i.e. you made them think you were innocent and they let you go, thinking they screwed up, only to review camera footage and find that you did in FACT steal and they missed something, it would actually be a good bet they WILL file charges against you after the fact to cover their butts and reduce their civil liability against a potential complaint that they detained you without cause.
Re: Scared and Confused. Walmart
I only have got a fear because I have been falsely accused before when I was about 15 years old, they didnt charge me or anything because there was no proof of me on tape doing anything (just looking at DVDs) but there was a buuuunch of ridiculous drama created from it & Im a new mom (my baby is only 2 months old) and Ive heard of people getting their children taken away because of shoplifting crimes. thank you guys for the replies!
Yeah needless to say Im not going anywhere with her again, chances are SHE was doing something suspicious Im just the one that looks different and stands out.