Shoplifting Charges for Opening Merchandise in a Store

[eerelations]

If you didn't switch items, and if you didn't steal anything, and you do have a receipt that matches your purchase...then you're acting awfully paranoid just because some store employees looked at you while you were leaving.

(And regarding opening boxes, I have found that the size tag on the underwear inside boxed women's underwear very often doesn't match the size showing on the box. Sometimes the colour is wrong too. I have no idea why this is, but I have learned to always open the box and check the item inside the box before deciding whether or not to take the item to the cash register to pay for it. Saves me a huge hassle - which I had to undergo several times before learning my lesson - of having to pay for the item, go home, find out that what's in the box is wrong, return to the store, go through an enormous amount of explaining, get an exchange note, only to find that the item I want isn't there. And then more explaining to get my money back. Easier just to open the box at the beginning. Just sayin')

[Sameliza]

That I did not pay the correct price for the product I brought home?

[eerelations]

Aha! Then it certainly does look like you were stealing. I would not go back there if I were you.

[darwinrules]

You would be wise to not return to that (or any other nearby) Best Buy. For now you get to play the wait & worry game.

[Sameliza]

How long before you know your in the clear?

[Mr. Knowitall]

If you don't want to worry about being prosecuted for stealing, don't steal. In Texas, the limitations period for a theft charge can be as much as five years.

[flyingron]

Only if it were more than $1500. Otherwise they have two years as I answered in the second post in this thread.

[DeputyDog]

Good grief, you claim to be oh-so-particular about what you buy, and now you're telling us you don't even know one item from the other, or which you purchased? You switched the items to buy a more expensive item in the box for the cheaper item. If that were not the case you would not be worried about whether the store will figure out that you switched the items.

We have a winner.