Can you be charged with shoplifting if you are only seen on camera but don't get caught in the act?

If you are only hiding something you will be asked to remove it but you cannot be charged with shoplifting until you walk out past the cashiers. You can always say you were carrying it around or whatever. Only when you leave the store can they charge you with shoplifting that will hold up in court. Until that moment you haven't done anything wrong yet. It's premature. You can refuse to remove an item they saw you stash away but then all they have to do is wait till you walk out. If they wait for you to walk and then get you, they will have the taped evidence, too:-)

yes,,

Yes,it the footage could be used against you in a court of law in most states,but this will depend on many other factors regarding offence,eg cost of replacement items,footage clarity...ect.

Yep. You betcha. Don't do it. Stores will take you to court now, even if it costs them more than what you took. Shoplifting costs stores billions a year and makes everything cost more for the rest of us. They are also stealing wages and raises from employees. I would even turn you in myself if I saw you. Sorry.

If they don't see you doing anything foul on the camera, they can't use that as basis, though I think most places reserve the right to inquire about potential theft, if they suspect you for some reason or another, but as said before, this will not occur until you step out of the store-unless of course, they did see you clearly taking something with the camera.

well I paid cash so I don't know how they could catch me but I feel so bad now. It was my first time trying it and of course got caught. She asked "did you change these price tags" and I said no of course and agreed to buy two of the products and paid the right price for them. They swiped my card once and he hit the wrong key so I just ended up paying cash so they never fully got my card info. but I am sure my pciture is on the video but I don't think they would know how to contact me? Do you think they could watch the video later since she suspected something and someone contact me??

That is being caught. So yes.

Yes.

They have caught you in the act if you are caught on camera then they will search you.

Yes. My girlfriends got caught this way and they were screwed. They had to return everything or risk being charged with grand theft. Kids!

Rawr

This is sad but im going to give you the correct answer, You will not get in any trouble, it is not worth their time, and they will not use you to make an example of shop lifters unless you rly piss ppl off. You are fine, stealing is a competitive art, being caught is hardly the end :)

Ok so what happens if you change merchandise tags, they catch you at the register and you simply pay the right price for some of the merchandise and decide not to buy the other products. If they see you on camera, but never keep you to charge you, can they contact you later and try to charge you?

If you have been caught before by a store and was arrested can the store look back to see if you have stole off them before or do they just copy over the cttv tapes.

I believe what she is asking is if you steal, and no one catches you, can it come back to you at a later time.

I may be wrong.

But if you do steal something and you get out without anyone catching you, can you steal get charged?

well obviously all his is false.Tonght my daughter whom has never been n any trouble was held and obtained in Claires for shoplifting.She never left the store.She had the sunglasses hanging on the side of her paper shopping bag and was looking at a necklace for her younger sister.They signed Juevenile warrants against her and her friend although she had a bag full of items with receipts for all of them.She was never given a chnace to pay 4 this $8 item. The funny thing is she was picking out exactly what I had told her to and that I had given her money for.She had to bring me receipts for everythings so that I could keep up with the ammount spent on each child. She had o intentions of stealing but obviously the manager at Claires is aiming for a bonus and thought..two young girls must be up to no good!Now my 12 yr old is looking at going to court and being put on probation.This is a straight A National Honors society Beta club member 7th grade.She isnt perfect but the circumstances around this, I know she was telling the truth but what can I do?