I got busted for shoplifting...need advice..pls..?
916283
i know you are scared just last year i was picked up for shoplifting i pleaded guilty because i really had no other choice  they caught me with the items i had over $200dollars worth of things i got off with 2 days of community service and a $90dollar fine. so i hope it all goes well or you.
540342
Find out why they stole whatever they stole.  Then, either call the police, or just lop off their hand.  Either way, I'd find a new friend.
855782
I empathise with you.\n\nJust tell yourself that to err is human. You saw something and the evil, hidden inside you in the form of greed took over you and a moment of weakness made you steal something.\n\nThank God that you got caught. Otherwise the 'success' would have emboldened you to carry out bigger (mis)adventures and who knows, you might actually have landed behind bars / got shot.\n\nMake a resolve. That henceforth in life, your hard earned money is what you will strive to aim for. Once you are clear in your heart, you will be free of all guilt and shame and emerge a confident and deserving human being.\n\nAll the best. May God Bless You.
73912
Prove it was an illegal search and seizure and the evidence is thrown out - no evidence, no case ! \nI had to get a lawyer to do it. You should too !
675173
You need to contact the police department in your area and ask them, my advice, is put everything in the report that is directly corelated to the fraud, when it happened, how it happened, about the criminal, you need to be very specific!  Good luck, sorry it happened to you!
557986
Gotta sort some things out:\n\nYou said you were arrested because the bouncers said you were drunk, uncooperative, and didn't want to pay your tab.  So what, exactly did you get arrested for, and how do you know what it was?  You should have something available to you that lists the charges you were booked on.\n\nLater in your question, you do say you were arrested for drunk in public, but you also mention the warrant.  I'm asking about this drunk in public arrest, because either you were really a jerk to the cops, or they chose to do more work than they needed to...if a guy is so drunk that he's a problem, AND he has a warrant, everybody I know just arrests for the warrant and disregards the drunk in public charge.  An arrest report for a warrant is much simpler than an arrest report for being drunk in public, and it accomplishes the same thing.\n\nBut...I'll assume you have the facts in order, and you were arrested both for the warrant and the drunk in public charge.  So now you want to know what punishment you'll get, what you should do, and if it's worth "fighting."\n\nWhat should you do, and is it worth fighting:\n\nIt sounds like you aren't disputing any of these things.  If you're a guy who just wants to apologize to the Court for screwing up and take your lumps, then that's what you should do.  If you're a guy who isn't especially interested in being held accountable for what you have and have not done, then fight it tooth and nail and hire a really expensive attorney.  You might be able to beat the drunk in public charge...you never know.  Seems like it's going to be a little difficult to beat the warrant, though.\n\nNobody here is going to know what punishment you're going to get, for a host of reasons.  Drunk in public is a misdemeanor, and you can do up to a year in jail and pay a $1,000 fine for it.  That, however, would take an act of God, assuming you even get prosecuted for it (a lot of District Attorney's offices aren't interested in prosecuting a guy for a first offense drunk in public charge, except...)\n\n...if you are still on probation and being arrested for drunk in public (or for consuming alcohol) is a violation of your probation.  Since you had your DUI reduced to a wet reckless (note spelling), it would surprise me a little if you didn't have some kind of alcohol-related terms.  Plus, as one of the other posters has mentioned, summary probation typically includes an "obey all laws" clause and it would seem you failed to do that...maybe.  Violating probation can result in jail time, and you're kind of at the mercy of the court on that one...there is no truth to the rumor that you will do whatever time your original sentence would have been, had you not accepted probation.   You might do more, you might do less.  DUI is punishable by 48 hours in jail, but I have seen PLENTY of people violate DUI probation and get five, ten, fifteen, or thirty days in jail because of it.\n\nThere's probably quite a bit more we could talk about, but it would take forever, there are lots of variables, and I'd need more information than you've posted, anyway.\n\nI'm a big believer in owning up to what you've done, but I'm also a big believer in safeguarding your rights.  You would probably do well to at least consult with an attorney and see what you think after that.
959402
As a police officer, I would appreciate you going the extra mile and giving me the phone numbers the thief has been calling.  I would then try to track down the bad guy.  (I've actually dealt with a situation exactly like yours... except it was the first time stolen. I recovered the phone and charged the bad guy with theft... and recovered a stolen car from his driveway).  The problem with your situation is if you get a cop that is lazy (and there are many of those!) he/she is just going to take a report and either toss the numbers you gave him or throw them into evidence... and most likely it will never be followed up on.  My advise is to still call the police and file a report, give the cop the info you acquired and ask the officer if he/she is able to call a few of those numbers and try to track down the bad guy.  Then, I would either buy a used phone and save your insurance... or use your insurance even though they are going to cut you off - and then be VERY vigilant about keeping an eye on your new phone.
881460
A friend of mine was arrested at 27 for shoplifting. She was put on probation and fined the amount of the lose that the store took. She is a career shoplifter, which is why I will not hang out with her anymore.\n\nYou or the person that was caught can look forward to a long legal road. Yes you need a lawyer and yes you will be made very uncomfortable in court. \n\nI hope this helps!
763024
Prove in court  that you did commit the crime.  Look for a free assistance legal group and seek free service to protect your rights.
101095
anytime you take something that isn't yours or take something that you didn't pay for well then thats stealing no matter what the unusual circumstances are.  just because someone else broke the glass and started the robbery, you are still a accomplice cause you jumped in and took part.  it's called an accessory .....charged with possession of stolen property or maybe recieving stolen property.  any way you look at it...it would be smarter for you not to get involved with things of this nature.  try making better choices,  your future depends on it.  GOOD LUCK!
534161
Call your bank, and have them check any checking accounts, or credit cards you have.  They should have a record that you can see any transactions you did not make.  The faster you go to the bank the faster this can be determined.  After that they should be able to give you more professional advice on what to do about the situation if you find it to be true.  \n\nAlso notify the police, and put a fraud alert on your credit report (again the bank can help with that) .
889873
File a police report.  It's unlikely to be resolved, as you have no proof that it was even stolen and not misplaced.  I completely believe you, but there is certainly the shadow of a doubt.
195522
well first dont go over board and get the huge scores tht will get you caught stay with what you can handle. try  not to be a violent thief cause youll get caught quicker. and never steall from the poor people do jelwery stores and stuff
49742
depends on how much he stole...no no...I'm joking...of course you have to go to the police...otherwise you'll be an accessory to the crime...I know tough break.
179531
if I'm not mistaken, petty theft/misdemeanor retail theft (a.k.a. shoplifting) is a class "C" misdemeanor, in which case the "suspect" be fined as much as $1500; in this case it would provably be less than that because of the low value of the item. In more serious offences a 30 day jail sentence may also be given in addition to the fine. How tough the sentence is rests largely on how favorable the judge that tries the case is. If it's their first offence, the judge is most likely to grant probation.
776155
What happened to you was an arrest.  An arrest is like Herpes, not everyone knows it's there, but sooner or later someone is bound to find out.  Your arrest record from PA will stay with you whether Misdemeanor or Felony.  There is no way for anyone to know if this was a felony or misdemeanor arrest.  Most theft classifications are dependent on the dollar amount of the merchandise taken.  Just beceause you were released doesn't mean it wasn't a felony. Most jails wont waste the money to house you if you aren't a serious risk for flight, or a danger to society. Keep something else in mind, a lot of states have laws that say if you are "convicted" of a theft, meaning you have been sentanced for a theft and you commit another one, it is an automatic felony.
939269
Well, kiddo you should have taken care of the fine right away but, since you did not you will have to suffer whatever the law states in your particular circumstance.\nTurn yourself in, if you have the opportunity to go before a judge that would be the best option. If you have a clean record other than that you may get by with probation & a fine.\nGood luck.