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  1. #1

    Default Best Buy Shoplifting

    My question involves criminal law for the state of: MD

    Well, I got caught shoplifting at Best Buy today. I'm only 18, I was nervous and my conscience told me not to do it.. but it's just one of those impulses "what if.." and so I brought the game CD into the bathroom and unpacked it. As before I exit the bathroom I had doubts and was about to leave the game on the counter and head home, but a Best Buy employee opened the door and kinda told me to go to this retainer room for questioning. It's just bad luck I guess.. and kinda made the right judgment a bit too late. In the end, they let me go and I bought the game, but I got banned from the store but they didn't call the police. I didn't have to fill out any forms of any kinds. I just needed to show them my i.d. The guy was pretty rude, but he has every rights too. He broke the game I just bought and let me on my way. And I am thankful that he let me go, so I have no right to be mad.

    I know it was a stupid decision, and it's my first time of ever trying it. I have never shoplifted before in my life. I'm a good student and I've never been in trouble before.

    I have 3 questions:

    1. Does this mean from every single Best Buy stores or only that one?
    2. How long is the banned? If it is permanent, is there anyway to work it out?
    3. I think they might have caught me on camera. Are they going to press charges on me later?


    Thank you,

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Toledo, OH
    Posts
    16,307

    Default Re: Bestbuy Shoftlifting

    1) Only that one, unless otherwise specified.
    2) It's usually permanent, but sometimes you can work things out with the manager.
    3) Are they? No way to tell. Can they? Sure, they've got a year to do so.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Posts
    19,901

    Default Re: Bestbuy Shoftlifting

    1. Most likely just this store unless they told you all of them.
    2. Permanent, though you may wish to write to the manager of this particular store.
    3. Anything is possible, but I think you dodged a major bullet there.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Michigan
    Posts
    6,808

    Default Re: Bestbuy Shoftlifting

    When writing....hold off atleast six months, and prove you have a job and will pay for all merchandise. You usually have to write to the Corporate office of Best Buy and address it to Loss Prevention.

  5. #5

    Default Re: Bestbuy Shoftlifting

    Thank you for all the quick replies. May I ask, what are my options as of now on how things might proceed, if, lets say they decided to press charges. And for security cams vids, I think they may only have captured me with taking the game (I didn't really try to conceal the game, I might have looked just like any customer taking the game off the shelve), and walked out with a broken game and receipt. Thought, they might have one in-front of the bathroom. If the guy didn't opened the door too quickly and startled me.. I could have been able to just leave it behind instead of panicking and left with the goods because I kinda had it out and pondered on whether i should leave it (I kno.. a caught is still a caught no matter what the excuse is, because to other people.. I did attempted to steal). And for the manager, what should I avoid telling him when I try to appeal to him about the ban? because I'm sure he had heard lines like "it's my first time doing it" a lot of times before even if it is really my first time to attempted it, or should I just keep my mouth shut and wait to see if they would press charges?

    And how often do stores press charges on the people they let go without calling the police or make those people sign any forms?

  6. #6

    Default Re: Bestbuy Shoftlifting

    I'm sorry for double posting but the editing option isn't there. Erm.. Would it be a bad thing if the store manager refused to reply to my email? I tried 2 emails, one under part of my name, and the other with a false name. He replied to the false one, but not my first one. Does this mean that my chances of getting charged for it is higher? What r my chances (says %) of being able to clear my name (like get off with a warning or free of charges? How would the charge affect my financial aids and scholarships?

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Posts
    19,901

    Default Re: Bestbuy Shoftlifting

    Letters are written on paper. However, if he is ignoring you purposely, stop nagging him. It's purely at his discretion to let your thieving ass back in the store and you're not heling things.

  8. #8

    Default Re: Bestbuy Shoftlifting

    I understand that so I didn't spam his inbox. If he doesn't reply to me then I fully understand that he's ignoring me from when i sent him the msg from 2 different email under different context. I didn't know that I was suppose to write him a letter though.. but I don't know where he live. Ok, this is my last question and thank you for all the replies so far. What is the price difference between getting a regualar lawyer off a site and a PD lawyer when u plead "not guilty?" Is the cost would be $1000 or $2000 more?

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Posts
    19,901

    Default Re: Bestbuy Shoftlifting

    What part of "lay off for a while" don't you understand. The world is not going to come to an end for you to keep out of Best Buy.

    You write him as the manager c/o the store. You can get the store address probably by using the FIND STORE button on the best buy website, but * PLEASE* stay away.

    You don't need a lawyer unless the police contact you. Expect a private counsel to run $2-3k. The PD prices vary depending on what the state laws are and how much you can actually afford to pay. I'm not going to bother looking that up for you. If you have the option of paying for private counsel, chances are your income isn't low enough for a PD.

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