I'd like some information from those with experience in this field.

So my 'friend' and his girlfriend went to a walmart in another city. They put many items in a cart, then went into the garden center where it appeared to be camera free and/or hidden behind the trees. They then cut packages open and placed them in the girls purse.
Then took the cart back into the store, and left it, headed for the door and the alarm went off. (one censor was missed when removing them from items). They then ignored the greeter, and the cart pusher said "Im going to write down your tags". My friend and his girl ignored him and walked across the street to a resturant, however they noticed they were being followed by 2 walmart employees in their personal car, so they walked into the woods to lose them.

Once exiting the woods, a few policemen were waiting, arrested them because "they ran", and took them back to walmart security room.

LP and police began emptying the purse, and counting EVERYTHING they Thought was stolen, (including their own personal items), which was over $300, that caused a charge of grand theft.

They're now waiting for the first court date to claim guilty or not guilty. They were told by LP and police that they've got the video of them entering, and leaving the store. If there is no video proof of them actually cutting open, and concealing the items from walmart, can they be charged for them?

Are there even cameras on the inside of garden center, and is the cart pusher allowed to pursue you by car, outside of walmart?

Thanks.

This should be in I Am The Law.

But, it's incredibly obvious and i think they're pretty screwed on this one. Maybe be more careful next time.

they should have ditched the merchandise. and stayed in the woods a night or two.

This should be in I Am The Law.

But, it's incredibly obvious and i think they're pretty screwed on this one. Maybe be more careful next time.

Ah sorry about that, it wont let me delete, just edit it.
The woods were also very small, wouldn't have taken more than an hour to scout through the whole thing. A cop in camo was already walking in there, the dog was in the truck.

They don't need security tape necessarily, don't assume authorities are stupid and can't put two and two together. Using the video cameras they at least have you and her entering and exiting the store and going around with a cart full of shit which was found by security to be open and stolen so they rounded up the two individuals they watched on camera. Found it in her purse, BAM your guilty end of story no defense plead guilty and save yourself the extra legal hassle and maybe get off with a fine and community service. Fight it and get all of that and then some possibly even jail time.


You can't (being a thief) seriously assume you can go to a dark video spot with shit and then come back out (with cart) and drop it off and not think that is suspicious. Sounds like they got too caught up with trying to grab all the shit they could that they thought nothing about masking there trail and making it less obvious.

BTW by her leaving the Wal-Mart premises and technically the employees probably did it on purpose yes they can arrest you for running. Its the oldest trick in the book and they are stupid for not have running in opposite directions. That is what you do when you go in with more people then yourself. Split the fuck up and minimize the damage.


Stop thinking Security is stupid and you will stop getting caught!

They don't need security tape necessarily, don't assume authorities are stupid and can't put two and two together. Using the video cameras they at least have you and her entering and exiting the store and going around with a cart full of shit which was found by security to be open and stolen so they rounded up the two individuals they watched on camera. Found it in her purse, BAM your guilty end of story no defense plead guilty and save yourself the extra legal hassle and maybe get off with a fine and community service. Fight it and get all of that and then some possibly even jail time.


You can't (being a thief) seriously assume you can go to a dark video spot with shit and then come back out (with cart) and drop it off and not think that is suspicious. Sounds like they got too caught up with trying to grab all the shit they could that they thought nothing about masking there trail and making it less obvious.

BTW by her leaving the Wal-Mart premises and technically the employees probably did it on purpose yes they can arrest you for running. Its the oldest trick in the book and they are stupid for not have running in opposite directions. That is what you do when you go in with more people then yourself. Split the fuck up and minimize the damage.


Stop thinking Security is stupid and you will stop getting caught!

QFMFT


when my friend lifts large amounts he always goes in with at least 4 other people

presumably Weed-mart's policies are similar to Target's; if they are then it boils down to Wal mart's employees acted outside of their authority. Additionally, I am suprised that the cart pusher believed your friends were stealing. The robber detector stands go off all the time, the greeter says oh its probably your cell phone, have a good day. The cart guy would have to have been informed to watch for your friends.

No, the 'friends' haven't been to that walmart in over a year, and never stole anything until this time, so the cart pusher wouldn't have been told to look for them.

Now i'm aware what set off the alarms, was the cobra walkie talkies. The sensor is inside the device, where the battery goes. :mad:

The empty packages were hidden through out the store, some probably still hidden. The cart was Loaded with items that were left behind after things were taken, so nobody would notice stuff was missing.

If for some reason walmart has a full recording of where my friends walked in the store, and realize a lot of the shit is really theirs (make up, etc.) & not stolen, the total amount would have to be lowered.

If the amount goes below $300 so it's not a felony anymore, would the case be dropped as "false charge" ?, or at least be lowered to a misdemeanor?

A LP friend of another walmart has explained that they lose cases, and get sued a lot for trying to charge people with stealing, when the items are in fact not stolen.