Question On Shoplifting

My question involves criminal law for the state of: Illinois

I was at Lowes and I saw a opened chainsaw sitting under the shelves in the trimmer isle. It had a sticker on it that said $35 or something. So I thought it might of been clearance or something. So I put it on top of my cart and walked right by the lawn and garden guy, and went to cashier. The Cashier was ringing up my merchandise, and a girl came up and said that isn't right. Then the lawn and garden guy came up and said, this is $109.00 and not $35.00. I was like, ok, nevermind then especially after they were treating me like a criminal. And then I paid for what I had and went out. I was pretty pissed on how they treated me, so I went back in and said, that for the record, I picked that up like it was, and he was like, well our security manager will review the videos later, etc etc etc. So I asked to speak to the manager, but he wasn't there, and I was like, lets review the tapes now cause I didn't do anything, and he said that the guy that does it wasn't there. So I left.

Should I be worried about anything? IF a price is marked wrong, and you go to the cashier and they catch the mistake, and you never pay for it, and don't leave with it, how can they treat you like that? Is there anything I should worry about as far as charges being brought up on me? Or should I just not worry about it. I am more mad then anything.

Thanks

By what you wrote you didn't put the wrong sticker price on the item. So when they review the security tape, they won't find that you did anything wrong.

You can call and make a complaint with the store as to how you were treated.

I called later and spoke to the main store manager and he said he apologized. He said if they suspected me of anything they would of kept me. He said that sometimes people stage items by switching price tags and then come back later and get it, and he said this may of been the case.

He said that if the cashier catches the wrong sticker and then informs you of the correct price, there is no crime. He said something like a criminal would have to be seen switching the price, actually paying for it, and then leaving the store to be in trouble. He said as long as cashiers catch the mistake on the price, and the person leaves with or decides not to buy it, even with video, they can't do anything unless they paid for it and left and got caught right on the spot. He said this makes all the employees really cautious and probably is why they acted like they did. I was amazed by his explanation above.

He did apologize so I will leave it at that, but it was still a horrible experience.

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Quoting crazystupid

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I called later and spoke to the main store manager and he said he apologized. He said if they suspected me of anything they would of kept me. He said that sometimes people stage items by switching price tags and then come back later and get it, and he said this may of been the case.

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Yes, that is probably the case.

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Quoting crazystupid

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He said that if the cashier catches the wrong sticker and then informs you of the correct price, there is no crime. He said something like a criminal would have to be seen switching the price, actually paying for it, and then leaving the store to be in trouble. He said as long as cashiers catch the mistake on the price, and the person leaves with or decides not to buy it, even with video, they can't do anything unless they paid for it and left and got caught right on the spot. He said this makes all the employees really cautious and probably is why they acted like they did. I was amazed by his explanation above.

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Well, it wasn't your fault. I also can see why the employees reacted that way, they are only human.

I have to disagree on one thing the manager told you. If they find in the video that someone switched tags and then attempted to purchase it, that person could get charged with shoplifting, even if they didn't successfully purchase it or leave the store with it.

Illinois law states:

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Sec. 16A-3. Offense of Retail Theft.

A person commits the offense of retail theft when he or she knowingly:

(a)Takes possession of, carries away, transfers or causes to be carried away or transferred, any merchandise displayed, held, stored or offered for sale in a retail mercantile establishment with the intention of retaining such merchandise or with the intention of depriving the merchant permanently of the possession, use or benefit of such merchandise without paying the full retail value of such merchandise; or

(b)Alters, transfers, or removes any label, price tag, marking, indicia of value or any other markings which aid in determining value affixed to any merchandise displayed, held, stored or offered for sale, in a retail mercantile establishment and attempts to purchase such merchandise personally or in consort with another at less than the full retail value with the intention of depriving the merchant of the full retail value of such merchandise; or.....

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So, as you can see, they don't have to be successful at purchasing the item.

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Quoting crazystupid

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He did apologize so I will leave it at that, but it was still a horrible experience.

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I can understand that it must have been awkward. I'm glad you got an apology. Maybe next time you can ask if the price is right if it seems too good to be true, that could save you from another embarassing moment.

You shouldn't worry about it, as you didn't do anything wrong.