Shoplifing Friends

[Helpmenow92934]

I am 17 years old and I was at walmart in Iowa with 4 friends who shoplifted. They knew that I was not going to steal anything and nothing was for me that they stole. I did open part of the box for my friend but that was all. I knew that was kind of bad but i didnt think that was stealing. The rest put their stolen things in their pockets and we walked out. We were stopped and taken to a little room and talked with the guy and a police officer. We were asked to give the stuff back and i was the only one that didnt take anything. The police officer said we were all getting tickets for theft in the fifth degree. I asked him what i was getting charged with and he told me the same thing. He then asked me if the reason that i didnt take anything was because my dad is a cop. I said no thats not the reason, I just know better than to steal. I was wondering if I really did commit a crime? If so if I should have gotten the same charge as the rest? And was that something that could be asked by the officer?

[souperdave]

It's called "acting-in-concert" and it sounds like you did get the same charge as your four buds.

You admittedly opened merchandise packaging. Whether or not you removed merchandise from the store would appear to be a moot point. You aided and abetted the commission, sorry about your luck, it appears you're equally as culpable as your friends that actually did the concealling.

Your father's a police officer and you did not walk, or better, RUN, away from these 'friends' when they started this little criminal endeavor?

I'm not saying that's really stupid, but I'm thinking it.............

[usedbranflakes]

What you did was participate as an accessory. Wal*Mart does not usually charge kids for petty $hoplifting, so you must have participated in stealing something $ub$tantially expensive, like a video game. ...but you were participating and attempting to deprive the store of their right to sell the merchandise.

Let's look at it another way, as if you all were stealing a car...
...and this is where most career criminals start...
...just a little theft.
You and your friends decide to go joyriding. You open the car door for them. ...and you decide that you don't want to drive the car, you just want to sit in the back seat and go along for the ride.

You are lucky that the officer did not nail you with conspiracy to commit charges, which may carry Felony charges in some states.

You are too old for a good ass beating by your dad to do any good. ...but you are young enough to turn your life around and quit hanging around these dumbasses you call friends and start doing something worthwhile with your life.

I work all day with 17 year old kids and 18 year old kids who are sacrificing their lives for other 17 year olds like you. Talk to Mom and Dad, join the military (ROTC or Enlisted) or attempt to get in a service academy. Chances are Dad was a decorate Soldier before he became a man in Blue.

...and while we are talking about Dad. His paltry police officer salary is going to have to cover several hundred to potentially several thousand dollars in civil remediation fees to the Walton family and their shareholders. ...money your Mom and Dad could have spent on several good dinners or your dad could have spent on a good bulletproof vest. We all know that the issued ones from the department won't stop the rounds that kids have loaded in their weapons nowadays.

You really need to re-think the impact of what you are doing and, as Dave mentioned, RUN away from these kids.

[usedbranflakes]

...and if they know your dad is a cop they are not your friends...
...at most they are your fellow partners in crime.
...at most they are your future cellies when you move on to Felony crimes.
...at least they are trying to use you, figuring your dad would help them out a little.
...and those are not friends.

What you did was participate as an accessory. Wal*Mart does not usually charge kids for petty $hoplifting, so you must have participated in stealing something $ub$tantially expensive, like a video game. ...but you were participating and attempting to deprive the store of their right to sell the merchandise.

Let's look at it another way, as if you all were stealing a car...
...and this is where most career criminals start...
...just a little theft.
You and your friends decide to go joyriding. You open the car door for them. ...and you decide that you don't want to drive the car, you just want to sit in the back seat and go along for the ride.

You are lucky that the officer did not nail you with conspiracy to commit charges, which may carry Felony charges in some states.

You are too old for a good ass beating by your dad to do any good. ...but you are young enough to turn your life around and quit hanging around these dumbasses you call friends and start doing something worthwhile with your life.

I work all day with 17 year old kids and 18 year old kids who are sacrificing their lives for other 17 year olds like you. Talk to Mom and Dad, join the military (ROTC or Enlisted) or attempt to get in a service academy. Chances are Dad was a decorate Soldier before he became a man in Blue.

...and while we are talking about Dad. His paltry police officer salary is going to have to cover several hundred to potentially several thousand dollars in civil remediation fees to the Walton family and their shareholders. ...money your Mom and Dad could have spent on several good dinners or your dad could have spent on a good bulletproof vest. We all know that the issued ones from the department won't stop the rounds that kids have loaded in their weapons nowadays.

You really need to re-think the impact of what you are doing and, as Dave mentioned, RUN away from these kids.