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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2016
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    Question If You Fail to Report a Friend's Shopllifting Do You Become an Accomplice

    My question involves juvenile law in the State of: Washington

    I was at a store and was purchasing an item with a few friends, when one of them decided to steal something minor. Me and the other guy that didn't want to be part of this just went to the cashier and purchased our items legitematley. However, on our way out of the store we were stopped and told to go into the back room where we were accused of shoplifting. The one guy that they caught immediately gave up his items, but the other guy had ran away(although he returned later to return the items). We were told that because we did not call security immediately, we were accomplices to the crime. Soon after our parents were called and we were banned from the mall the store was located in. For all the definitions i have found, we were not accomplices to his crime. Were we though? And if we were not did we do anything illegal in that situation?

    Thanks

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
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    19,901

    Default Re: Shoplifting: Am I Considered an Accomplice

    Never take legal advice from those seeking to arrest or prosecute you.

    You very well could be considered participants in this crime. You should talk to nobody and stay out of that store. If you are charged/arrested/whatever, talk only to your attorney.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2016
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    3

    Default Re: Shoplifting: Am I Considered an Accomplice

    No no no, they let us out with just a warning and that ban I just want to know for my own self

  4. #4
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    Default Re: Shoplifting: Am I Considered an Accomplice

    Having worked LP for years, I would not call you an accomplice simply for not ratting out your friends as far as most store policies go. An accomplice in every LP training course I ever took/gave was someone who actively participated in the theft in some way; such as selecting merchandise that is concealed, helping conceal merchandise, acting as a look out while merchandise is concealed, carrying concealed merchandise when you know it is in the bag or purse or whatever.

  5. #5
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    Sep 2005
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    Default Re: Shoplifting: Am I Considered an Accomplice

    If there are no criminal charges involved, it doesn't matter if the LP says that not reporting your friend's acts of theft make you a grapefruit or a koala bear. It has no significance moving forward.

  6. #6
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    Jun 2016
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    Default Re: Shoplifting: Am I Considered an Accomplice

    So what course of action should I take against the guy at walmart/ the owner so I can return to that mall.

    Quote Quoting Mr. Knowitall
    View Post
    If there are no criminal charges involved, it doesn't matter if the LP says that not reporting your friend's acts of theft make you a grapefruit or a koala bear. It has no significance moving forward.
    Yea but i got banned from the mall and plan on contacting the owner

    Quote Quoting free9man
    View Post
    Having worked LP for years, I would not call you an accomplice simply for not ratting out your friends as far as most store policies go. An accomplice in every LP training course I ever took/gave was someone who actively participated in the theft in some way; such as selecting merchandise that is concealed, helping conceal merchandise, acting as a look out while merchandise is concealed, carrying concealed merchandise when you know it is in the bag or purse or whatever.
    So what should I tell the owner/manager of that store/ owner of that mall/ security

  7. #7
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    Jul 2010
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    Default Re: Shoplifting: Am I Considered an Accomplice

    Quote Quoting Bobsleder
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    So what should I tell the owner/manager of that store/ owner of that mall/ security
    Nothing. They have the right to ban you from the property for hanging out with thieves. In a few months, you could contact them and request the ban be lifted as you didn't steal anything but they don't have to let you.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jun 2016
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    141

    Default Re: Shoplifting: Am I Considered an Accomplice

    Quote Quoting free9man
    View Post
    Nothing. They have the right to ban you from the property for hanging out with thieves. In a few months, you could contact them and request the ban be lifted as you didn't steal anything but they don't have to let you.
    Or, perhaps the OP can just go back into that mall and hope that no one recognizes him. And he'd better pay for all of his merchandise in cash.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
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    Default Re: Shoplifting: Am I Considered an Accomplice

    Quote Quoting TechWorker
    View Post
    Or, perhaps the OP can just go back into that mall and hope that no one recognizes him.
    That is certainly an option but if he is recognized, he could be arrested for trespassing. That wouldn't work out too well for him.

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