How can you get in trouble if you drop everything after being approached

Submitted by chris2c in axolotl

So i went to HD today...actually went to two...first one was a quick, smart and lucky scenario....the second i think I got two greedy and was noticed....as soon as I walked out the door a man yelled hey you can take that...one glance it was an LP....i let go of the cart and kept walking...i heard him say i already i already called the cops...then yells hey...and heard him say on the radio "yeah he is walking into the parking lot" as soon as I got in the car two cops sped real quick through the parking lot....(he either didn't see what i got into or he cops didn't look for me every well..) they turn thier lights on by this time i almost at street ....i turn and the ramp to the highway is decently close ....as soon as I get on the highway one cop turns....anyways i made it home.....

So my question is what can they charge me with if i didn't take anything....is attempted theft a thing? If they pull me over and i have an empty car what can they put on me....i mean they could say i tried to steal things but i never actually took anything... Anyone stayed before? I mean i was mere mins from the cops being there as i walked out i think

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dbcooperwya wrote

I know from experience, if you pass the point of sale with the merch, weather you ditched it or not they will charge you with theft of those items. I know because I am currently paying restitution on a cart full of shit I left in the parking lot when I had to run. but if they didn't catch you then and there it sounds like you are okay. hopefully you parked far enough away that you're plates weren't caught by the outdoor cameras.

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chris2c OP wrote

It's werid that different LPs have different procedures....in one store they made very apparent like a warning and another store already had the cops on the line...i wonder if it was because the dollar amount....one that sucks is you can never know what actually tipped them off so you know not to do it again

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GoodOldWorkingClass wrote (edited )

If they called the cops, they would've done that before you passed all points of sale. Otherwise, there's not enough time for the cops to get there before you get in your car. As per most corporate rules, they're not supposed to call the cops before you've passed all cash registers, because until then there's no proof of intent to steal.

So if they're doing that, it only means one thing: they've made you from your previous lifts at that location. This is where the not getting too greedy for your own good comes in. You can remain under their radar if you only lift a few items per trip, but walking out with a cart full of stuff will draw their attention (too much stuff gone missing at once). I've never walked out with cart packed full of stuff. Only done small lifts every trip (few items in a bag or on me, mixed with a couple of paid for items to avoid suspicion). This keeps me under the radar. Going on four years of lifting now, and still haven't so much as drawn one bit of attention

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chris2c OP wrote

I am pretty sure they called before i passed the point of sale...or they had cops on standby...

It was my first time at this location....but i usually always have atleast a half a basket full or more...been doing it for alittle over 2 years like that in only a hand full of stores somtimes multiple times a week....not bragging but i am either really good at having eyes taken off me when i first enter or they don't notice i am walking out till i do or maybe thier LP is really low staffed i don't know...i have walked right past a few employees standing by a pickup fixing to load something...i am still amazed everytime i get in my car and drive away...i know people talk about case building but if HD was building a case on me they have plenty reasons to stop me a long time ago....knock on wood hope i ain't jinxing myself

In 2 years i have been approached or noticed LP following me 3 or 4 times this is the first time cops showed up in the parking lot....

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GoodOldWorkingClass wrote (edited )

In that case, they may have just been lucky to have a cop nearby, but for some other reason, not for you. Like I said, I can't see how there'd be enough time for the cop to get there for you if they call them after you pass last point of sale.

And if this is your first time at this store, then they clearly broke operational rules if they called the cops before you passed last register. Not suprising or unheard of but rare because even in those cases cop response times are too long to do any good. We're not talking 911 calls or armed robbery.

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