Civil Liability and Ban From Store After Accidental Shoplifting

[Andi]

Initially I came to this newsgroup, I’ll admit in a knee jerk reaction, looking for some direction after experiencing a tremendously disconcerting event. All I’ve pretty much received from this group was condemnation for having made the mistake that we made. Pfft, no help there.

Actually, the ONLY advise I was ever given was by PANDORASBOX suggesting that I get a consultation with a criminal defense lawyer for my civil liability issue…. Brilliant.

Now, it’s being suggested that I’m a liar too boot. Whatever. I will try….one last time to impart my position;

This guy is dangerous and completely demonstrative of the problem

Actually, I would *love* to get into the LP field...just do I can bust dummies like the OP! Sounds like fun!
And I, too, think the OP is full of crap about the outcome...OP: Please provide some scanned evidence of the outcome, just so you can prove your point! Until then, you remain deserving of all the scorn....

I said this earlier… We live in a world of hurried, harried, tired and distracted people. When you are the Manager of a store and your LP agent harasses the wife and “busts and bans” daughter of an important vender, or the store manager’s physician or pastor, or maybe a known customer that regularly spends +/- $1000.00 a month in your store for a $6. and change oversight; do you think you are going to get a pat on the back? I’ll answer that for you. It’s a resounding no.

Believe it or don’t, all was rescinded because it fell into that category.

Fact is: stores NEED customers. Stores NEED REPEAT customers. Stores NEED A GOOD REPUTATION. ANYTHING that detracts from those 3 items can sink a store. If ANY employee cannot see beyond their role and see the bigger picture, they do a dis-service to their employer.

[Dogmatique]

And what certain idiot consumers don't realize is that for every disgruntled ex-shopper, there are 10 lining up to take their place.

You're just not that special.

[PandorasBox]

I told you to consult with a local lawyer - we advise this because a local lawyer is familiar with the prosecutor and judge, and knows if diversion programs are available, plea deals are possible, how the judge tends to rule.....

So...as for you spending thousands per month in the store, and being "important" - the store is supposed to allow you to shoplift? Honey - I don't think so.

[Mr. Knowitall]

Initially I came to this newsgroup, I’ll admit in a knee jerk reaction, looking for some direction after experiencing a tremendously disconcerting event.

This is not a newsgroup. And what you appear to have come here for is somebody to either take your hand and say, "there there, poor baby", or to blow smoke up your skirt about how it would be impossible to convict your daughter of shoplifting. For the former, I suggest a therapist. For the latter, go talk to the village idiot. We'll hit you with the facts here, even if you don't like it. Even if you gripe and grouse, throw temper tantrums, call us names....

All I’ve pretty much received from this group was condemnation for having made the mistake that we made. Pfft, no help there.

Apparently your ability to read is roughly on par with your ability to act in a polite or courteous manner - well below average.

Actually, the ONLY advise I was ever given was by PANDORASBOX suggesting that I get a consultation with a criminal defense lawyer for my civil liability issue…. Brilliant.

You came here stating "How can my daughter be accused of shoplifting when nothing was ever concealed" - that's not a statement that your daughter was only facing a civil demand, not a criminal charge. If you want to insult pandora for not reading your mind, well.... for that you need to consult a psychic. Given that you're not interested in facts and only want people to tell you what they think you want to hear, although the information you obtain will be worthless, a psychic should be able to serve you quite well.

Now, it’s being suggested that I’m a liar too boot.

I don't think you're a liar. Rude, argumentative, ungrateful, obnoxious... yes, all of that in spades. But I don't think you're a liar.

When you are the Manager of a store and your LP agent harasses the wife and “busts and bans” daughter of an important vender, or the store manager’s physician or pastor, or maybe a known customer that regularly spends +/- $1000.00 a month in your store for a $6. and change oversight; do you think you are going to get a pat on the back? I’ll answer that for you. It’s a resounding no.

Please, end your self-righteous, self-important prattle, right now. Stores ban thieves, even if their parents are customers. Most often the parent understands why stores ban thieves and keeps on shopping at the store. The ones who don't care that their kids are thieves? No big loss.

Believe it or don’t, all was rescinded because it fell into that category.

Your argument is that some store managers will excuse theft by a child, even an adult child, if the parent spends enough money in the store? I'm not going to dispute that it can happen, but are you actually saying that's what happened in this case?

If you think the LP was reprimanded for spotting and following up on your daughter's actions - something that reflects good attention to detail and the effective prevention of inventory shrinkage - think again. He spotted your daughter as a potential shoplifter, observed her putting items into the bags, followed through to the register to see if she took the items out of the bags, and when she did not he intercepted her as she attempted to leave the store with the unpurchased merchandise. That's good work.

[PandorasBox]

And if you think a store manager is going to let you off the hook next time....well, unless he values his job, he will be making sure criminal and civil charges stick.....or that you pay him enough hush money to overlook things and still risk his job.

If you think the prosecutor is going to say "but it's Andi"....may I refer you to a huge case in Detroit. Because the former MAYOR of Detroit has already gone through City charges and now he is facing FBI charges as well. And yeah, it doesn't matter that his name is Kwame, or who his mom and dad are....

[Mr. Knowitall]

It's not so much her as it is her daughter. If we accept this as a bona fide mistake by the daughter, and that she doesn't shoplift, then future incidents shouldn't be an issue. But you're correct that, should something like this happen again, "It was an accident" is not going to cut it.

[cbg]

But I don't think you're a liar

I do.

[bam!]

Consumers make me laugh.

Your $1000 a month is $250 a week. That is nothing. Grocery stores work on razor thin profits. $6 theft means by industry standard, they will have to sell $600 worth of full priced merchandise to break even. That is three weeks of your shopping just to break even from your theft. If you stay or go, it does not matter to a chain like Winco. Maybe a mom and pop store.

Can you provide evidence they dropped the civil and trespass? Please redact all personal information. Dont worry this is not malicious, I have rarely seen this before and am curious.

[Trailboss]

We live in a world of hurried, harried, tired and distracted people. When you are the Manager of a store and your LP agent harasses the wife and “busts and bans” daughter of an important vender, or the store manager’s physician or pastor, or maybe a known customer that regularly spends +/- $1000.00 a month in your store for a $6. and change oversight; do you think you are going to get a pat on the back? I’ll answer that for you. It’s a resounding no.

Believe it or don’t, all was rescinded because it fell into that category.

Fact is: stores NEED customers. Stores NEED REPEAT customers. Stores NEED A GOOD REPUTATION. ANYTHING that detracts from those 3 items can sink a store. If ANY employee cannot see beyond their role and see the bigger picture, they do a dis-service to their employer.

Stores *don't* need thieves! And they *don't" need thieves running around telling other thieves that their store is an "easy mark" and if caught, thieves get a "slap on the wrist". Stores prosecute vigorously for a reason. The LP did his job. As a store owner, I wouldn't see you or your money as necessary in any way. As someone said: there are 10 more customers lining up behind you and you are just not needed, if you bring that kind of hassle. The law of diminishing returns applies. Your sense of self-importance is shining through like a beacon. This makes it quite easy to disbelieve everything you said about the charges: it makes you look like a dweeb. Say what you want, believe what you want: you are simply not that important....

[PandorasBox]

Lady, it's like this. I'm sure you've heard of "Black Friday". It is called BLACK FRIDAY because that is the day retailers finally see a profit for the year.

Also, look around a store - see all those security cameras, those security tags on clothing, other theft prevention devices - they cost money. Which is passed onto the consumer.

Shoplifting....guess who pays for it? Consumers in the form of price increases.....

This is why many stores BAN shoplifters from entering their stores. They want to keep costs down and shrink/theft down.