My question involves criminal law for the state of: Virginia
It is my understanding that the definition of shoplifting requires the INTENT to steal. This case is a little different; it's only since I've been talking to a friend about the events of my day that I've even realized that a theft was most likely committed. I'm sure that all of the events below were caught on CCTV.
An acquaintance of mine had mentioned that he had bought a coffee maker for his mother as a Christmas gift. She didn't like it, so he was trying to return it but was unable to do so as he had lost the receipt and has no ID. I volunteered my assistance (and my ID), and so today we met up at Walmart.
He didn't immediately bring in the coffee maker he had bought as he had some other shopping to do. Initially, he said he was interested in exchanging the item, so we walked to the appliances section, he picked up a different coffee maker, and we started walking towards the front. At this point, I realized I had left my ID in the car and went out to get it.
When I came back in, I saw him browsing the aisles. I told him that I had an appointment to get to, so to speed things up he told me to go out to his friend's car and bring the coffee maker in.
Outside, I didn't see the car he described. I looked around for a few minutes, then returned to the store where I eventually found him. He explained that when I hadn't returned, he went to get the coffee maker himself. I figured that in the huge parking lot I must have just not seen him.
We walked to the front to return the merchandise, but as I waited in line he stepped out to answer a phone call. I then tried to return the item, but after fifteen or twenty minutes of waiting for the store's system to work (their explanation) I had to leave for my appointment. I told them I'd bring the coffee maker back later to return it, picked it up, and walked out of the store.
After dropping my friend off (with the coffee maker) and going to my appointment, I met up with another friend. I happened to mention the above to her, and she told me that the coffee maker was likely from inside the store. As proof, she cited the fact that there was a person standing behind my car as I left, which I hadn't told her. That person was the loss prevention staff taking down my license plate number.
So yes, the whole story makes me sound pretty naive, but where does it leave me? I didn't INTEND to shoplift, I didn't even know I was doing it. Had any of the staff said anything to me at any time, I would have apologized, left, and never spoken to my guy friend again. But because no one said anything, I didn't even have a chance. What should I do, and can I talk my way out of a charge on this? Please help! Thanks.
It is my understanding that the definition of shoplifting requires the INTENT to steal. This case is a little different; it's only since I've been talking to a friend about the events of my day that I've even realized that a theft was most likely committed. I'm sure that all of the events below were caught on CCTV.
An acquaintance of mine had mentioned that he had bought a coffee maker for his mother as a Christmas gift. She didn't like it, so he was trying to return it but was unable to do so as he had lost the receipt and has no ID. I volunteered my assistance (and my ID), and so today we met up at Walmart.
He didn't immediately bring in the coffee maker he had bought as he had some other shopping to do. Initially, he said he was interested in exchanging the item, so we walked to the appliances section, he picked up a different coffee maker, and we started walking towards the front. At this point, I realized I had left my ID in the car and went out to get it.
When I came back in, I saw him browsing the aisles. I told him that I had an appointment to get to, so to speed things up he told me to go out to his friend's car and bring the coffee maker in.
Outside, I didn't see the car he described. I looked around for a few minutes, then returned to the store where I eventually found him. He explained that when I hadn't returned, he went to get the coffee maker himself. I figured that in the huge parking lot I must have just not seen him.
We walked to the front to return the merchandise, but as I waited in line he stepped out to answer a phone call. I then tried to return the item, but after fifteen or twenty minutes of waiting for the store's system to work (their explanation) I had to leave for my appointment. I told them I'd bring the coffee maker back later to return it, picked it up, and walked out of the store.
After dropping my friend off (with the coffee maker) and going to my appointment, I met up with another friend. I happened to mention the above to her, and she told me that the coffee maker was likely from inside the store. As proof, she cited the fact that there was a person standing behind my car as I left, which I hadn't told her. That person was the loss prevention staff taking down my license plate number.
So yes, the whole story makes me sound pretty naive, but where does it leave me? I didn't INTEND to shoplift, I didn't even know I was doing it. Had any of the staff said anything to me at any time, I would have apologized, left, and never spoken to my guy friend again. But because no one said anything, I didn't even have a chance. What should I do, and can I talk my way out of a charge on this? Please help! Thanks.
Retail Fraud / Shoplifting: Is Accidental Shoplifting Still Shoplifting
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