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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Wisconsin
    Posts
    11

    Default Theft at a University Campus

    There's a loading dock next to an outdoor basketball court at this college. Me and a few buddies were playing some b-ball for a few minutes, and they started to wonder around for a bit. They came across these mini-fridges, and we (3 of us, together) decided, "how cool would it be to have a mini-fridge?" So we loaded 3 out of the like... 20-30 mini-fridges into my station wagon. We drove off, but police were waiting for us. We admit we took the fridges. We HONESTLY thought they were going to be thrown out. If we knew it was going to result into theft, we never would have done it. The guy tells us that he witnessed the event in action. He said he could have also ticketed me for parking on a private property that would result in a $180 fine. I parked near the loading dock only because... THE PARKING LOT WAS COMPLETELY BLOCKED OFF. The next closest parking lot would have been Subway a mile and a half a way. He assumed we parked down there to steal the fridges because there was a no parking sign.

    1. This is hard to describe, when you turn the corner to enter this loading dock area, there's a sign with two different phrases on each side. One says "no parking at any time," the other, I believe, says "handicap accessibility" or something of that nature. When you're heading straight, the sign of "handicap accessibility" is directly in front of you. So I'm thinking if they have "handicap accessibility," there should be regular parking near there as well. Anyways, I took a right into the lot, and to the far right of the corner of my eye is the "no parking at any time" sign. Honestly, I wasn't aware of that sign, as I was (like I'm supposed to) look directly in front of me as to where I was going.

    2. The other thing is, we didn't think they were on a loading dock to be transferred. We thought they were going to be thrown out. There was a dumpster near by. So we thought, maybe it's a dumpster or dump off AREA. We didn't think of it as a loading dock. If I knew it was going to result in theft, or that we were in the act of being thieves, I never would have done it.

    3. Also, the cop said he witnessed the act.... why wouldn't he just stop us in the act? It would have been so much more easier, and a lot less of a problem for us and the cop.

    This is the biggest problem, though. I, the driver (17 years old) was convicted of shop-lifting almost 9 months ago. I never got the chance to explain that situation to that judge, or get it lowered to trespassing. Which I believe I would have made a good case. This situation did happen in another city though, so is it possible that this judge in this city would take what happened 9 months ago in a different city into thinking that I'm a serious thief? I'm not a thief, I've changed. I got a job, my grades are good, I haven't stolen anything, and I buy all my stuff. Also, I don't know if this matters or not, but the cops that pulled me over were university police.

    This fine is a hefty $280.50. Money is not an issue at all whatsoever. I do NOT WANT THIS ON MY RECORD. That's the only thing that matters to me. I would pay $280.50 just so long as this wasn't on my record. Because it shouldn't be.

    Those three arguments a little further at the top are what I will be saying to the judge. There is no way I'm just going to pay the fine and move on. I want this off my record, because it's not what it looks like when it's on my record, and I don't want any possible businesses that I would be applying for a job at to take that into consideration to completely ignoring my application. I know I have a job now, but what if I want to get a different one that involves retail? Are those 3 labeled paragraphs enough for the judge to drop this charge? Is it enough to lower it as trespassing maybe? Could he drop the theft charge and just hit me with the $180 parking fine? Will he consider the fact that I shoplifted 9 months ago that my intentions were to steal these fridges? Do I at least stand a chance?


    P.S. - what is the term for taking an item such as a couch or TV that someone has thrown out on the curb for garbage? Because that's what I thought I was doing.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    supratentorial region
    Posts
    818

    Default Re: Theft at a University Campus

    Quote Quoting josh023
    View Post
    There's a loading dock next to an outdoor basketball court at this college. Me and a few buddies were playing some b-ball for a few minutes, and they started to wonder around for a bit. They came across these mini-fridges, and we (3 of us, together) decided, "how cool would it be to have a mini-fridge?" So we loaded 3 out of the like... 20-30 mini-fridges into my station wagon. We drove off, but police were waiting for us. We admit we took the fridges. We HONESTLY thought they were going to be thrown out. If we knew it was going to result into theft, we never would have done it. The guy tells us that he witnessed the event in action. He said he could have also ticketed me for parking on a private property that would result in a $180 fine. I parked near the loading dock only because... THE PARKING LOT WAS COMPLETELY BLOCKED OFF. The next closest parking lot would have been Subway a mile and a half a way. He assumed we parked down there to steal the fridges because there was a no parking sign.

    1. This is hard to describe, when you turn the corner to enter this loading dock area, there's a sign with two different phrases on each side. One says "no parking at any time," the other, I believe, says "handicap accessibility" or something of that nature. When you're heading straight, the sign of "handicap accessibility" is directly in front of you. So I'm thinking if they have "handicap accessibility," there should be regular parking near there as well. Anyways, I took a right into the lot, and to the far right of the corner of my eye is the "no parking at any time" sign. Honestly, I wasn't aware of that sign, as I was (like I'm supposed to) look directly in front of me as to where I was going.

    2. The other thing is, we didn't think they were on a loading dock to be transferred. We thought they were going to be thrown out. There was a dumpster near by. So we thought, maybe it's a dumpster or dump off AREA. We didn't think of it as a loading dock. If I knew it was going to result in theft, or that we were in the act of being thieves, I never would have done it.

    3. Also, the cop said he witnessed the act.... why wouldn't he just stop us in the act? It would have been so much more easier, and a lot less of a problem for us and the cop.

    This is the biggest problem, though. I, the driver (17 years old) was convicted of shop-lifting almost 9 months ago. I never got the chance to explain that situation to that judge, or get it lowered to trespassing. Which I believe I would have made a good case. This situation did happen in another city though, so is it possible that this judge in this city would take what happened 9 months ago in a different city into thinking that I'm a serious thief? I'm not a thief, I've changed. I got a job, my grades are good, I haven't stolen anything, and I buy all my stuff. Also, I don't know if this matters or not, but the cops that pulled me over were university police.

    This fine is a hefty $280.50. Money is not an issue at all whatsoever. I do NOT WANT THIS ON MY RECORD. That's the only thing that matters to me. I would pay $280.50 just so long as this wasn't on my record. Because it shouldn't be.

    Those three arguments a little further at the top are what I will be saying to the judge. There is no way I'm just going to pay the fine and move on. I want this off my record, because it's not what it looks like when it's on my record, and I don't want any possible businesses that I would be applying for a job at to take that into consideration to completely ignoring my application. I know I have a job now, but what if I want to get a different one that involves retail? Are those 3 labeled paragraphs enough for the judge to drop this charge? Is it enough to lower it as trespassing maybe? Could he drop the theft charge and just hit me with the $180 parking fine? Will he consider the fact that I shoplifted 9 months ago that my intentions were to steal these fridges? Do I at least stand a chance?


    P.S. - what is the term for taking an item such as a couch or TV that someone has thrown out on the curb for garbage? Because that's what I thought I was doing.
    You could have found a custodian, security guard, or called the purchasing department on campus to ask whether they were being thrown away and, if so, if you could take one. There's a difference between a couch laying in some one's front yard with a "free" sign on it and 30 minifridges sitting on a loading dock at a college.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Michigan
    Posts
    28,906

    Default Re: Theft at a University Campus

    It is likely that the police didn't stop you before you took the mini-fridges, because up to that point you could have denied your intentions. Once you took them and tried to drive away, they had a much easier case to present to a prosecutor.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Wisconsin
    Posts
    11

    Default Re: Theft at a University Campus

    Damn. Alright. But do I at least make a good case for the judge to at least lower the fine and charge to trespassing or some sort? I just want to know if I have a chance.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Michigan
    Posts
    28,906

    Default Re: Theft at a University Campus

    You have a chance, which is improved if you get help from a criminal defense lawyer.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Wisconsin
    Posts
    11

    Default Re: Theft at a University Campus

    Are they going to look at me record? Because, I'm afraid if they see this shoplifting incident, they'll NEVER believe me.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Michigan
    Posts
    28,906

    Default Re: Theft at a University Campus

    You should expect that the prosecutor will be familiar with your record.

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