Decoding Legalese: How AI Can Help Navigate Legal Rights When Accused of Shoplifting by Police
- May 18, 2024
- Posted by: legaleseblogger
- Category: Related News
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## Allegation of Theft
I want to clarify that I was not stealing, despite the accusations made against me. I did not place anything in my purse or near it, as alleged by the individual. When asked to be searched, I declined and proceeded to check out of the establishment.
## Coercive Behavior
Throughout the interaction, the individual in question continuously insinuated threats, stating that if I had indeed stolen something, I would face severe consequences. He repeatedly mentioned that if I did not return the alleged item, he would take me to the station and ruin my entire life. These threats made me feel extremely uncomfortable and intimidated.
## Personal Attributes
I must mention that I am short, visibly awkward, and tend to be unaware of my surroundings. Despite my edgy appearance, which typically consists of a hoodie and pants, I lack the demeanor of a criminal. The whole incident has left me deeply troubled, and I am seeking clarification on whether the actions of the individual were appropriate and if any recourse is available to address this situation.
Using the AI Legalese Decoder can help in understanding the legality of the actions taken by the individual and determine if any laws were violated during the encounter. The tool can provide insights into the legal implications of the threats made and offer guidance on possible courses of action to address the situation. By utilizing this technology, individuals can better navigate legal complexities and seek justice in instances of misconduct.
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****** just grabbed a
I was accused of shoplifting once – I walked out of the store having paid for my items – 20 feet down the street two cops and someone from the store stop me and ask me to come back to the store to search my bags. I asked ‘why?’ and the cops just asked me to come back to ‘check’.
I said ‘not unless I am being detained’. The store owner makes a frustrated face and the cops shake their heads, and they all walk off.
Nope, there’s nothing illegal about giving a warning to a suspected shoplifter. Even if they were not actually shoplifting.
Nothing illegal, you could file a compliant with the department but it isn’t likely to go anywhere.
The first question is… was he a real cop.
A lot of places dress up their private security like cops, but they aren’t.
They have some very limited authority while in the store, but not nearly as much as they imply.
If he was a real cop… there’s a couple things to consider.
He may have actually been trying to give you a legit “pass” to “do the right thing” im my youth more than once cops just chased me off or gave me a slap on the wrist for things they could have arrested me for. I know it’s not the popular notion, but there really are a good amount of cops who aren’t out there looking to fuck everyone up.
The second possibility is that he didn’t have enough evidence to actually detain you and wanted you to confess to something so he could in fact snatch you up.
Unfortunately, there’s not a solid way to know if he’s type 1 or 2.
Regardless, if you did nothing wrong then you’re fine. You’re posting on reddit so he obviously didn’t arrest you for whatever he thought you did.
Had some cops tell my buddy and I we “burglarized” a house and had a witness. He said “we have your prints everywhere and can compare them at the station” Soon as he said that my buddy and I put our hands out and said “Well let’s go” he was bluffing, and we called him on it. Sat there while they had the “witness” drive by who confirmed it was not us. Cops will indeed lie to you and no it’s not illegal, but then it’s not illegal to be a smart ass in those situations when you know you’re clear.
im confused a bit, what DID you do and what did the police then do?
Yes, it’s legal. You’re allowed to be accused. You’re allowed to be lied to or bluffed (hell, in that moment if you had replaced a stolen item he could have still arrested you). With probable cause you’re allowed to be arrested and charged with a crime.
The cop suspected you but he had nothing on you. He was just trying to scare you into providing him evidence that he could then use to arrest you.
Think about the flip side… If you had been steeling, would you expect the cop to just accept your answer that you didnt?
As for what could be done about it… You *could* submit to a search to alleviate his suspicion, but you don’t have to. Don’t be “deeply troubled” though… You had an interaction w/ a cop that suspected you of a crime. You (presumably) didn’t. Happens all the time. It’s how criminals are found. I know it’s scary but don’t take it personally.
When I was a kid, say 10 or so, I went to one of those mom and pop toy shops. I had my savings coffee tin with me and found a little cup of silly putty for $1 I wanted to buy.
I put it in my coffee can and went to the front counter to pay for it. When I got to the counter, I took out the silly putty and put it in the counter, and handed the lady behind the counter a dollar and a dime out of the coffee tin.
She pretended to ring in the item but instead called the police and accused me of shop lifting. Luckily, my dad’s office was next door, and the responding office knew my dad. He took me outside while another office stayed inside with my coffee tin, the silly putty, and the lady. Then, outside, we called my dad (local insurance agent).
When my dad got there, the officer asked me to tell my dad what happened, and I repeated what I typed above.
The officer went inside and got my coffee tin of money, and brought it back to me and said I was free to go with my dad.
When I got back to his office, I realized that the lady stole my dollar and dime. My dad went back over to get the silly putty I had paid for, but she insisted I never gave her any money for it.
Who does that??? To a kid!? Over a $1 item…..!?
“Am I being detained?”
“If not, kick rocks; you’re dismissed!”
The “I’m afraid of the police defence” is not an acceptable tactic, legally, in Canada. From what you’ve written, the police officer verbally confronted you about an alleged offence, encouraged you to make the correct decision, and then informed you of the potential consequences of theft. If the police officer was there for a complaint about you stealing or concealing items in your purse, he or she is obligated to take preventative action. It is ridiculous that *some* people think a police officer confronting a civilian about an offence, alleged or otherwise, is somehow unprofessional. You being “short, visibly awkward and oblivious” is irrelevant.
So, if the security person forcefully grabs you, then the store is civilly liable.
But that also doesn’t define probable cause.
Does refusing to let the old person at Walmart look in your bag and check your receipt count as probable cause? Does refusing to let the police search you, or your car, count as probable cause? Does the smell of marijuana in your car, but no smoke, or visible items, give police probable cause to search your car?
In all cases, the answer is “No”.
Refusing a voluntary search does not grant probable cause to compel a search.
Smelling something that could be illegal, but not seeing it, means it could be an air freshener, or perfectly legal hemp derived THC.
Oh, and unless they changed their mind, detaining someone for over an hour, without them being actually arrested, is not just a civil liability, SCOTUS ruled that the detainee’s 4th Amendment rights were violated.
And I swear, 20 years ago, due to an incident at a Best Buy, SCOTUS ruled that physically preventing someone from leaving a store is false imprisonment. Guy who wasn’t shoplifting didn’t grant voluntary permission to search his bags on leaving, so the bag checker and the store manager followed him out to his car, and stood behind the car in order to prevent it from leaving. So as it required a higher court ruling, yes, guy was arrested, found nothing to charge him over, he sued Best Buy, won, lost on appeal, won in SCOTUS.
What store … so I can avoid..
It’s only stealing until you attempt to leave out the doors without paying.
Once I spent like an hour or more at target just browsing and enjoying kid free time and stimulation that wasn’t ms Rachel. A lady followed me the entire time and I found out months later it was probably the anti theft person. 😂 I get followed a lot at Walmart too, presumably because I look like shit. I bet they actually got stolen from while thinking my poor looking ass was about to steal. I wonder if I’ll ever get asked to empty my purse.
There is nothing unconstitutional about confronting a shoplifting suspect and asking them to return items they are expected of shoplifting. If it violates some sort of police procedure in that jurisdiction, it is possible, but unlikely.
Some cops are just overly aggressive dicks that jump to conclusions.
Police are fully allowed to lie to you if they so choose.
Let them take you to the station then sue for false arrest.
Hell, you can call the cops on them and ask for help because you unsafe (not that you feel unsafe but that you are literally in danger). Anyone falsely accusing you of something and threatening detention = you need help, call cops. Ask for copies of video surveillance from the store.
They will have backed off long before this but when you are innocent, feel free to go,on the offensive.
I was accused of stealing once. I walked into an adult store on my way home. Went inside, looked around, didn’t see anything I liked, and walked out. The store owner came racing out, saying he thinks I stole a dilldo making kit. I was like, yeah, let’s go back inside and check my purse. I said, “I don’t even know what the kit looks like.” I showed him my purse and even helped him figure out who had stolen the stuff. It wasn’t a big deal to me at the time.
A month later, I went back to the same store. I asked if he remembered me. He did after a moment and said how badly he felt accusing me at the time. I told him not to worry about it and that it actually was a good thing because it became a really funny story to tell people. I didn’t have any bad feelings towards that him and that I hope he caught the person who did steal from him.
Around about 1985 I was in my 20’s and in my first big boy apartment.
I had just sold a ‘78 celica and my little bro and I were watching football and my 11” zenith b/w set and smoking bong loads.
I go to drop a deuce, when right in the middle my bro comes to the shitter door and says I better go answer the door.
Two detectives wee outside my door with guns out.
I let them in, and they tried to tell me that I was seen in the car when it was used in a bank robbery.
I called bullshit and happened to have the release of liability paperwork sill since I hadn’t mailed it in yet.
The cops left after I identified the dude that brought my ride ( they had pics), and didn’t give two fucks about the mound of weed on my table or the bong, even in the ‘80s.
Happened to me in a Walmart over a $3 box of tea. Pissed me tf off because asset protection came out and dumped all mg bags because the attendant called them instead of telling me the tea hadn’t scanned. I was in black pants, a type o negative shirt and docs. It’s profiling at its finest
There seems to be something missing from your story. Like the ending.
Can people who post these things put what jurisdiction where it happened in their posts. The laws can vary from country to country and state to state or province to province.
Sounds like the cop was trying to bait you into incriminating yourself.
What did he do? I assume since you didn’t steal anything that you didn’t put anything back on the shelf. Did he take you to the station?
The most they could do is hold you long enough to check the cameras. With no proof, they’re not allowed to arrest you and you’re not obligated to help with their investigation (ie emptying your pockets). It’s ALSO legal for you to tell him to fuck off.
Welcome to the reason why most adults don’t like police officers. They are very often just bullies with guns.