Author Topic: Bad experience with probable shoplifter  (Read 3609 times)

Offline soyjim

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Bad experience with probable shoplifter
« on: July 15, 2012, 01:51:55 AM »
While cutting my grass I had a guy ask me if I had any yard work he could do. I had some bushes that needed cut back and told him to come back the next day.  We worked 3 hours. He did not work all that time. Had to go to a near by store. I paid him our agreed upon rate.  8 bucks an hour - $24. we had beers afterward. shortly thereafter he came by said he got a job and I gave him a beer to celebrate. He has been begging me for rides since. 4 times now. twice I said no and once so he could see someone to get his bus pass for the new job I took him. He has some claimed interesting life experiences but I am not sure they are true. Claims to have been an army major maybe well educated ROTC around 1990. Injured in highway accident. claims high succes with women.

Today he again came begging for a ride to walmart. I said no  but he kept begging and said he would give me 8 bucks to take him. I needed to go to a store near there so I took him. He bad mouths the store I am going to cause they sell such cheap stuff. I drop him off at walmart. Then he comes over to the store I am in says he is ready to go.

Then I see him pick up some frozen fish then go to back of store  and go out of the store without paying. He does not think I or anybody saw him probably shoplift. Ok what should I have done? I did not have my cell phone with me and I was not sure there was anything in the box he carried out.

We did have a little confrontation (vocal). He did have the fish, unique store brand. What would be a good ending? The guy only lives a few blocks from my house. The police are involved. Store may not prosecute and he took $10 of my groceries when he fled while I took one bag of fish that he had back into the store. Store has theft on surveillance tape. Manager said it looked like a guy that they had a flyyer from another branch for something.

Another Bad thing is I am pretty sure I locked my truck and he was in it when I came out of store.

Offline cmoore

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Re: Bad experience with probable shoplifter
« Reply #1 on: July 15, 2012, 04:08:20 AM »
I think you already know what you need to do.
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Offline Conrad

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Re: Bad experience with probable shoplifter
« Reply #2 on: July 15, 2012, 06:17:35 AM »
That's tough! You try to be a good guy and help someone out and look at this mess. Do you think that he has a key to your truck now? I hope that he wasn't in your house!
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Offline CigarSki®

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Re: Bad experience with probable shoplifter
« Reply #3 on: July 15, 2012, 07:30:36 AM »
Watch that you don't get charged with aiding and abetting in the commision of the crime, or, accessory after the fact. When they catch him, he may try to lay some of it off on you.
Wayne Sikorski aka CigarSki
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Offline T Cro ®

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Re: Bad experience with probable shoplifter
« Reply #4 on: July 15, 2012, 08:00:49 AM »
From what I've read it sounds to me like he will likely not be coming around anymore and if he foolish enough to do so tell him that you no longer wish any contact with him and why..... The manager of the store already knows that you wanted nothing to do with the theft of goods and since he was on camera you do not need to be part of the store pressing charges if they so wish.
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Offline Outback_Jon

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Re: Bad experience with probable shoplifter
« Reply #5 on: July 15, 2012, 09:28:20 AM »
Try to help a guy out and he turns out to be a jerk.  That sucks.  If he is stupid enough to stop by and ask for a ride again, make it clear that he is to stay off your property and away from you.  If he is stupid enough not to listen, be sure to get the police involved.  If nothing else, it will establish a paper trail if there is a problem in the future.

Not to make light of the situation, but I did find this funny:
Today he again came begging for a ride to walmart. I said no  but he kept begging and said he would give me 8 bucks to take him. I needed to go to a store near there so I took him. He bad mouths the store I am going to cause they sell such cheap stuff. I drop him off at walmart.
Damn!  Where do you shop?   :rotflmao:  Do you drive past Dollar Tree and the 99¢ Store to shop at the 96¢ Store?   :rotflmao:
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Offline soyjim

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Re: Bad experience with probable shoplifter
« Reply #6 on: July 15, 2012, 09:39:00 AM »
From what I've read it sounds to me like he will likely not be coming around anymore and if he foolish enough to do so tell him that you no longer wish any contact with him and why..... The manager of the store already knows that you wanted nothing to do with the theft of goods and since he was on camera you do not need to be part of the store pressing charges if they so wish.

This is pretty much the advise the police gave me. The store employees did not seem to concerned about the theft until I called the cops.

Watch that you don't get charged with aiding and abetting in the commision of the crime, or, accessory after the fact. When they catch him, he may try to lay some of it off on you.

That is pretty much why I got the cops involved. Who knows what he could do next. He was in the house. I have all my keys but my truck can be easily broken into with the right tool.

The guy lives in my neiborhood. He is smart and apparently brazen. He is new in the area but he has family in nearby towns. He really bad mouths the local grocery store so maybe he will move. The few times I have called the cops I am amazed at how much they know about who is involved. even me.

Not exactly sure when I thought the guy was bad news. Under hostile questioning I could look like an idiot or an accomplice. The police said to report him for tresspasing if he comes around again. 

Offline soyjim

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Re: Bad experience with probable shoplifter
« Reply #7 on: July 15, 2012, 09:54:34 AM »
outback - I thought this was weird too. I shop at ALDIS. he gets a free discount there. A 96 cent store is a good line. Humor is a good thing.

Thanks all.

Offline Conrad

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Re: Bad experience with probable shoplifter
« Reply #8 on: July 16, 2012, 04:38:56 AM »
Nothing wrong with Aldi.    :thumbs:
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Offline Miss Silvera

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Re: Bad experience with probable shoplifter
« Reply #9 on: July 16, 2012, 08:17:51 AM »
Soyjim...you did the RIGHT thing by reporting it......also if you are given the chance...take his photo for the future in case you need to identify him...you will find out that folks don't like their photo taken...

Check you locks and spare keys...change if necessary...

My "spare" key for my Jeep that is hidden it unlocks the doors... and it will crank the engine, but if you put it in gear it turns off.  At least they can't steal the jeep.

I hate this is happening to you, but I suppose we all learn a lesson here.  As you are probably already doing...NO is the answer from now on I would think....

Hope it all works out, stay vigilent and on guard....people like him will esculate in their doings if not corrected.
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Offline Pokey

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Re: Bad experience with probable shoplifter
« Reply #10 on: July 16, 2012, 09:05:55 AM »
That's tough! You try to be a good guy and help someone out and look at this mess. Do you think that he has a key to your truck now? I hope that he wasn't in your house!

Big reason why I tell somebody like him to pound salt.
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Offline soyjim

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Re: Bad experience with probable shoplifter
« Reply #11 on: July 17, 2012, 08:07:12 PM »
Wheels of justice move slowly. My investigating officer in the neighboring town is off till wednesday. Today I asked the store manager to look at the parking lot tapes of my truck. He will be back on thursday. Yesterday I told a friend who is on the city council. He put me in touch with the chief of police of my town. He said he would look into this and talk to the investgating officer in the neighboring town.

My investigating officer talked to the suspect sunday evening. He may well have not been home until then. The suspect said he had been in St louis all day saturday which his girl friend confirmed. He also denied knowing a Jimmy. Investigating officer was somewhat offended with his statement as he had seen the tapes and also seen the guy waiting at the bus stop with the green bag he took from me.

I have reason to believe that the suspect took several items from walmart because the bank at walmart where I was taking him to cash his pay check was closed. One of the items I know he had was carton of Bud sometype beer. I seem to think it was a twelve pack. I hope the police will ask walmart to check there tapes. It would be interesting to learn if he paid for that.

I don't think I am in danger as I am pretty much unnecessary to prosecute the guy as every thing is on tape if Aldis decides to prosecute. But some times it is scarry in light of the tales I heard about his life from him. I hope the police chief can determine if he really had been an army major. Might be interesting to learn if he really did get a job. The investigating officer saw his ID so we have his name. I hope SSN also. All I will say more about him is he probably is from about 600 miles from here. I hope he gets his life staightened but I won't have anything to do with the guy. It is a small town.

Offline Walker18

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Re: Bad experience with probable shoplifter
« Reply #12 on: July 17, 2012, 10:19:43 PM »
This guy is on skid row. I doubt that you have to worry about any retaliation from him. Apparently he is broke, hungry, and can't see past tomorrow.
Since he doesn't own a car, work outside of a reasonable walking distance or public transportation isn't likely to pan out. Sure, he's obviously worn out
his welcome with you, but this fella needs help, or his desperate ways won't change, and he will just **** everyone off to the point of jail time.
If in fact he is a vet, help is available, but he has to be willing to accept that he needs help, and willing to listen to them. The reward will be a better life for himself.
If you do see him again, just jot this number down (1-877-424-3838) and hand it to him with .50 cents to make the call. That's it. They will take it from there.
For your information, here's the website.
http://www.va.gov/HOMELESS/index.asp
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Re: Bad experience with probable shoplifter
« Reply #13 on: July 17, 2012, 11:39:27 PM »
Karma is a two way street.  You're headed the right way, he on the other hand?  Don't let one bad apple spoil your spirit of well being.  Chalk it up as another lifes learning experience and be at peace that you did what you felt was best.  On the other hand?  Be more cautious next time, but never lose that warm fuzzy you get when you offer a hand up, just avoid them handouts.