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Walmart, Suspected of Shoplifting? ADVICEPLZ
Before I explain the story, I just want to note: WE DID NOT STEAL A THING.
My friend and I were at Walmart today in the make-up section and I noticed a man who was looking at us in the aisle next to ours. Clearly this was odd because most middle-aged men don't wear makeup... so as my friend and I are walking I notice this guy run and hide behind these two board game boxes and peeking through them to watch us, then he peeked his head out and made eye-contact with me. Then we turned a corner and AGAIN he's looking at us through the fitness section. Clearly he thought we were shoplifting.
I DID NOT have any intention on taking anything, nor did I attempt to. My friend however, put lipstick in her bag. The second I saw this man following us, I informed my friend to remove anything she may have put in her bag, she did, and we continued walking. As we were walking to go pay for my item, I saw him again follow us to the registers. [Nothing was stolen!]
As we were walking out, the man was standing at the exit with a woman, and watched us walk out. He didn't say a word to us or ask to check our bags, as we got in my car and proceeded to back out and drive off, I saw him in my rear-view mirror at the entrance to the store with a walky-talky in his hand.
BASICALLY, I have NO idea if this man took my plate #, I didn't do ANYTHING, and my friend put everything she had planned on taking back. They hadn't asked to search our bags, so I have no idea why he'd have followed us outside and he was clearly looking at my car cause he was at the end of the aisle my car was in.
Any idea what this man was doing? He had no right to take my plate # if that's what he did, I didn't do anything nor did he catch us doing anything or with anything on our person.
I'm pretty positive he was an employee, I've heard employees have to actually see you place items in your bag before they pull you over, so I'm assuming that's why he stalked us.
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Anytime someone grabs an item on the shelf and conceals it somewhere on their person,stuff's it in a box, price switches, ect and dous not pay for the item, it is considered shoplifting. In some states, the shoplifter could actually be apprehended upon concealment and not have to pass through the exits first. Meaning, in those states, just the sole fact that she concealed it before paying for it would be considered shoplifting. The fact that he did not apprehend you or your friend suggests that he either saw her dump the merchandise or he was not sure she still had it. I don't believe he took down your plate number, but what he wanted to do is make sure that you and your friend knew that you were being watched and to scare into believeing that he called the police. Which dous happen sometimes and a person still could be charged even if they leave the property.
Either way, your friend is a shoplifter and if you go into a different store in a state where the shoplifting laws are different, then if she get's caught shoplifting, they could get enough evidence against you to charge you as an acessory.
If your in one of the states where shoplifting is considered upon concealment and not the last point of sale, your friend could be apprehended on the sale's floor right then and there and will be charged for shoplifting.
If you don't want to run in this situation again,I would suggest to tell your friend to stop or don't go shopping with her. If she is stealing from wal-mart she may be steal from you to.
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Once you've left the store, legally, there isn't much they can do. He was probably taking the plate down for future reference. If they see you or the car in the area in the future they know to "keep an eye on you". So either don't go back there or don't go back there with your friend. She DID put something in her bag, so they had every right to 'stalk' you. As long as you don't turn into a thief, you have nothing to worry about, no matter if someone takes your plate# or not. The only people who need to worry are guilty people.
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He had every right to take your plate number (if he did), and of course he was watching you.
In most states employees will wait to see you place items in your bag, and you need to attempt to leave the store, before they will confront you.
Anyone can write down your plate number for any reason they choose. I could write down all the plate numbers of everyone who drives past my house if I really wanted too. I just couldn't do anything with them and the police would stare at me dumbly if I asked them too tell me something about the people behind those plates.
He just can't DO anything with it or pass it to the police because there is no proof you stole. But he, and the people he works with, can write it down and remember you and your car, so if you came back in the same car and they did actually catch you stealing, they'd be able to say to the police, honestly, "We suspected the person driving this car of stealing before."
Don't steal. Stop shopping with this 'friend'. You got lucky this time. Next time you might not.
He 'stalked' you because he was doing his job. He 'stalked' you because your friend tried to steal from the store. Would she have put things back if he hadn't 'stalked' you? Probably not.
Shopping with a shoplifter is a stressful thing to do. You'll get people following you and suspecting you, writing down your physical description and your license plate. That's just what happens. If you don't like it, leave the wannabe thief at home.
No one will ever do anything about this, so long as you stop the behavoir that is the problem, but just because no is coming after you doesn't mean your friend didn't commit a crime. Would bank robbers get to walk away if they just put the money back? Not likely. Concealing someone else's property with intent to deprive them of their rights to it, is the crime. That's the illegal bit. And you know your friend did that, even if they aren't sure and let her walk away.
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All of this is assumption and not fact. I wouldn't freak out about this until you are actually formally accused of stealing which you may not be.
The fact of the matter was that your friend intended to pocket lipstick and something else that she put in her person and later removed. That's intent to shoplift and if anyone sees her doing so you can be charged.
This individual you mentioned could be anybody or an employee or civilian who saw what your friend did and noticed sneaking around which is bizarre behavior.
Also, you better believe that the store has you both on security video putting things in her bag and then removing, hiding etc. etc. And just because they didn't physically grab you for it they can still have the police charge you with theft.
Anyone has the right to jot down any plate number they want if they suspect you of something be it impaired driving, dangerous driving, suspicious activity and can later report it regardless of what you may or may not have done.
In theft cases they can put a car and a security video together to lead police to later charge you. Until such a thing ever happens I would just relax about it.
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If you didn't break any laws, you didn't break any laws. Simple as that. If he thinks you did, but he can't prove it, don't worry yourself at all.
Also, anyone has the right to take your license plate number if they think you're doing something suspicious so don't get worked up over that.
Again, if you didn't break any laws, you didn't break any laws. Don't worry. If your friend DID steal something, but you didn't know it, you're still going to be okay. If your friend DID steal something and you DO know about it. If the police ask you about it, do not lie. Any friend who puts you in a situation like that would not be a friend you'd want to have. Trust me.
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