Circumstantial Shoplifting Misunderstanding in Kansas

panther, I appreciate you telling me the worst case scenario so that I can be aware of it. I know the clerk has no reason to lie, and that certainly works against me, but it is also my belief that the word of one person should not in itself be reason enough to convict me of a crime! I am frustrated that the police are not considering other possibilities. Maybe she miscounted my items, maybe she misplaced the dress... things DO happen!

I thought that since I came at a time when nobody else was there, that could be used in my defense because from what I've read, thieves like privacy and other customers around to distract the salespeople. I had nothing to hide, and came on a weekday evening instead of a Saturday afternoon.

If she had suspected that I took the dress when we were talking, I don't understand why she didn't ask me about it or detain me. She told the police when she gave them my info that she suspected someone was falsely using my identity. It seems unlikely that she'd let me walk out of her store, thinking I stole a $300 dress, when she did nothing except get some information that even she thought was false. Maybe if she had stopped me, I could have shown her that I had nothing, but I was not given the opportunity.

Plus, I can't stress this enough... I gave her my *true* information. Nobody with half a brain cell would do that when they're hiding a $300 dress. Nobody with as much on the line as me would make it as easy as possible for themselves to be apprehended.

From what the detective has said about the case, the clerk only noticed the dress was missing after I was gone. That means she did not see me leave with it. If she didn't see me stealing, how can she press charges? Just because an item went missing doesn't mean I am responsible!

I suppose if she ends up pressing charges then I will be forced to get myself the best lawyer I can... you're right, I can't afford a criminal record, but it seems so unfair that a guilty person gets to return the dress and walk free while someone innocent has to have their life turned upside down while they pay ten times that amount just to clear their name. That sure sounds just to me.

Just because she did not stop you does not mean she didnt suspect you. She may have felt threatened or she has instructions not to confront just gt info.