$10 Return Fraud in Massachusetts
Hi there -
Just looking for advice as I have never shoplifted or have been involved negatively in the law in any way. I am not going to make excuses just state what happened: I went to my local grocery store and bought items and took my receipt. When I got home I saw that another receipt was attached to it and I saw that there was an item on that receipt for 10.49. I went back to that store and took the item off of the shelf and tried to return the item at the courtesy desk. As I said, I am not a seasoned criminal and was so awful at it - I was openly looking at the receipt in the aisle, etc. Long story short - I returned the item, they gave me the money, and I left - a few seconds later a plainclothes police officer approached me in the parking lot and asked me to come inside. I did and gave the money back and explained what I had done. He asked for my license and took a copy of that and acknowledged that I was a first time offender. However, he did tell me that I would be receiving a summons within 30 days to appear in court and that I was being charged with (I'm not sure how he worded it here - it was very fast and I was in shock) but some form of shoplifting charge. He did not have me sign anything though and neither did the store. Is that standard procedure? Should someone have had me sign something or is it possible that he was just trying to scare me and because it was 10 dollars I might not get a summons. I'm not excusing what I did but just asking - I thought it was odd that he didn't ask me to sign anything and on top of that he kind of questioned me/ made up a date and said, "When you were working at so and so in 1993 you didn't get charged with some sort of felony there??" - I looked at him quizzically (again, don't have a record at all) and said, "I didn't even work at so and so in 1993?" and then he relented and said, "Well maybe I meant 2003..." and I'm thinking, is he trying to freak me out here or what is really going on? If anyone out there has some advice for me I would really appreciate it. I know what I did was wrong and I deserve punishment for it.
Re: $10 shoplift - Massachusetts
If the store presses charges you will get a summons
Re: $10 shoplift - Massachusetts
Thanks for the quick response panther - how will I know though if the store is going to press charges? Is it a given or up in the air if they didn't have me sign anything?
Re: $10 shoplift - Massachusetts
You will know when you get the summons. I might add that DA will be reluctant to push a case of $10.00 but it can happen
Re: $10 shoplift - Massachusetts
What a mess. Like I said, I know what I did was wrong and I'm going to pay for it - just wondering though because I was confused about how they went about things. Maybe if the police officer is present though then they don't have to have me sign anything - perhaps his presence is all they need in that case.
Re: $10 Return Fraud in Massachusetts
I'm sorry but no one here can predict the future. You can call Police in about 30 days ask them or even court.
Re: $10 Return Fraud in Massachusetts
Okay, thanks for your help - much appreciated. I guess I will have to live with the nausea/nervousness for the next 30 days but again, it's the consequence. I have to say that that experience was so awful/surreal/scary that I won't ever steal again so even if it never goes to court - mission accomplished.
First time - 10 dollar shoplift - Help!
Hi there -
Just looking for advice as I have never shoplifted or have been involved negatively in the law in any way. Panther was kind enough to respond to me before from the technicality standpoint - I was also looking for any input from anyone who has been in a similar situation (please read below), any LP that have input or store security. Thanks for your help!!
I am not going to make excuses just state what happened: I went to my local grocery store and bought items and took my receipt. When I got home I saw that another receipt was attached to it and I saw that there was an item on that receipt for 10.49. I went back to that store and took the item off of the shelf and tried to return the item at the courtesy desk. As I said, I am not a seasoned criminal and was so awful at it - I was openly looking at the receipt in the aisle, etc. Long story short - I returned the item, they gave me the money, and I left - a few seconds later a plainclothes police officer approached me in the parking lot and asked me to come inside. I did and gave the money back and explained what I had done. He asked for my license and took a copy of that and acknowledged that I was a first time offender. However, he did tell me that I would be receiving a summons within 30 days to appear in court and that I was being charged with (I'm not sure how he worded it here - it was very fast and I was in shock) but some form of shoplifting charge. He did not have me sign anything though and neither did the store. Is that standard procedure? Should someone have had me sign something or is it possible that he was just trying to scare me and because it was 10 dollars I might not get a summons. I'm not excusing what I did but just asking - I thought it was odd that he didn't ask me to sign anything and on top of that he kind of questioned me/ made up a date and said, "When you were working at so and so in 1993 you didn't get charged with some sort of felony there??" - I looked at him quizzically (again, don't have a record at all) and said, "I didn't even work at so and so in 1993?" and then he relented and said, "Well maybe I meant 2003..." and I'm thinking, is he trying to freak me out here or what is really going on? If anyone out there has some advice for me I would really appreciate it. I know what I did was wrong and I deserve punishment for it.
Re: First time - 10 dollar shoplift - Help!
Wait till you get summons! then either hire an Attorney or ask for public defender. Talk to said Attorney about diversion programs and if you qualify this can help keep a conviction off your record. You should also get a Civil Demand request pay it or make arrangements to pay it. Keep those promises or things could get worse. The summons make take longer than 30 days but 30 day mark is likely. the DA will not give this priority because of amount. If found guilty you can expect the following but not a guarantee
.Fines (less than $1000.00)
.Community Service
.Probabtion (summary)
.Possible ban from store
Civil Demand (serparate from court around $250.00)