Shoplifting Question

Everything2113 · Mar 19, 2011

Just a quick question.

If someone concealed an item in front of a security camera (in a large well known store) and walked out with said item completely unnoticed by staff or security.

Would the staff review the security camera and go after this person?

Would it be safe for the person to legitimately shop at this store again?

Should they have any worries knowing they were not noticed, and could only be found out if the security cameras were reviewed.

Schlick · Mar 19, 2011

Odds are they know the item was stolen, and know the perpetrator. The person can go back shopping there, just don't steal again. The security team at the stated store will just wait for a bigger heist and report it to the police to give a larger sentence.

As long as the thief does not go to the same store and steal again, he/she will be fine.

tamachan · Mar 19, 2011

Schlick said:
Odds are they know the item was stolen, and know the perpetrator. The person can go back shopping there, just don't steal again. The security team at the stated store will just wait for a bigger heist and report it to the police to give a larger sentence.

As long as the thief does not go to the same store and steal again, he/she will be fine.

NO!

Once you're caught on tape, THAT'S IT! You're fucked.

If you go back to the shop, The shop owner will hand you over to the police.

Never have I heard any shop owners waiting for a bigger heist or whatever, If they have proof of you stealing shit, That's it, You're fucked if you come back to the store.

Kabal · Mar 19, 2011

Depends what store and what item. I work at a big name grocery store and we don't give a fuck about little things. We have a board out back in the lunch room with pictures of people who steal big things (razors, batteries, meat etc). But not a single staff member can actually memorize all these people, I would have no idea if I saw one of them come in.

But if it's a small store and you take something like an ipod or something expensive... you better hope you got away with it and never risk going back

Everything2113 · Mar 19, 2011

Extra information - A big store such as Walmart, Target, Jewel.
And the item being of a value between $7-$14.

Austintheman · Mar 19, 2011

Everything2113 said:
Extra information - A big store such as Walmart, Target, Jewel.
And the item being of a value between $7-$14.

Then it's really not a big deal, they're not going to call the feds

Punchy · Mar 19, 2011

If it's less than 50$ your fine. Another over 50$ it'll show on your record, sometimes over 25$ but rarely. If you steal anything under 50$ in value, you just pay the store a fine if your caught. Usually it's 85$ + the cost of item; fine if you steal anything under 50$.

malakadang · Mar 19, 2011

Well to simply answer your question, let's say you stole a packet of chips from a supermarket. If you did that in front of a security camera, and it could clearly identify your face, then your sort of screwed, but only if your exceptionally unlucky.
When they review the tapes they will easily who the perpetrator is, however the fact that you stole such low value item they won't press charges, they probably won't even ask you to pay a fine, however if you stole something of greater value they probably will.

Some of the people I know at school use to go around stealing stuff from shops, however they did get caught occasionally. They got caught from the same store twice in a row, and they said that the shop owner told them if they were caught again they'd call the police; They did however call the school and the guys got severely reprimanded.

Life of Sin · Mar 19, 2011

here's something to keep in mind. Don't steal.

Towelie · Mar 20, 2011

This all depends on the store. Your probably okay as long as you don't go back into that store at least for a good month.

sith kid · Mar 20, 2011

There really is no point in stealing low value items. If this concerns you, which I think it does, refrain from similar further incidents. After a week it will probably be long gone.