Retail Fraud in Alabama

[Patricia22]

My question involves criminal law for the state of: AL

I work in an upscale retail department store and I switched tags on 15 items to make them a cheaper price. I did this back in September or October 2008 of last year. I switched tags primarily on all costume jewerly and each piece was marked between $39.99 - $200.00 and how I did it was I took a scanner gun, and I went around to other jewerly items that were on sale and scanned them, then I printed the tickets out, and applied the new price tags to the jewerly, and I purchased them the following day. I got about $1,500.00 of items for about $300.00. I am scared now, because inventory is coming up soon and I was wondering if they could possibly catch me and arrest me? I mean, nobody knows what I did. I am scared to death right now because will they find out what I did? I don't know what to do, I was thinking of quitting but I don't know what to do. Somebody help me please.

[Patricia22]

Somebody respond, please.

[cyjeff]

We cannot predict the future.

We don't know what will happen and if they will trace it back to you.

We can't tell you what to do.

[Patricia22]

This was done back last year, so I don't understand how they could find out if I made new price tags from other jewerly that was already on sale, and stuck those tags over the jewerly that I bought? I mean, my reciept will show I bought other items when in fact I really have the items that are missing. I hope this isn't confusing. I feel really, really, bad for what I did, and if I could I'd go back in time and change it. I have *never* done anything like this before, and whats done is done. I can't change it. I just don't want anything to happen. I am scared.

[someguy77]

I can tell you from experience what has/is going to happen:

1) They do not know you frauded $1200 worth of merchandise

2) Unless you tell them, they will not know you committed fraud, even despite taking inventory

3) You are going to feel bad about it, and have knots in your stomach for a while

4) You are never going to do it again because it can result in jailtime



Im on your side here, didnt mean to come off as an asshole, if I did. Anyway, you have 2 options:

1) Tell them, and come clean. They will probably fire you and make you pay

2) Dont tell them, keep it a secret and either quit because of guilt or continue to work there



Trust me, learn it the easy way. Quit while youre ahead.

[gigirle]

1) Tell them, and come clean. They will probably fire you and make you pay

If you tell them, your very likely to be charged criminally as well as in a civil court. You can also forget about working in any retail store.
I'm with the learn your lesson the easy way...