I was shopping around the mall that day and I spent over 800$ from stores, at last I went to the bay store I had 3 children with me and I bought some things from the 3 floor and I was heading down the elevator downstaires I stopped at cosmetics looking around I am not even out off the store yet . All I see is a lady running to me and saying you have some items you haven't paid for, so I told her mayby I do but I am still shopping around I did not exit the store yet? She didn't listen to me and asked me to follow her so I did, I was questioned like is this your first time I said no because 5 years ago I got caught at walmart for changing price tags , and ever since I never ever did that again so it was a good thing I got caught, anyway she asked to take a look at my merchandise and checked all my receipt she comfirned that everithing was paid for in my cart, but there is 2 items left from the bay woth 30$ that I haven't paid for yet and I waenst going to pay because it was something that my kids put in the cart for mr to look at to buy them, anyway I tryied explaining to her but she was like I don't want to hear anything you saying just don't talk, she called the police and I got charged for theft under 5000$ I tried expplaining to the officer they just told me you can defend yourself in court , I asked her to go to the washroom after calling my friend asking her to pick up my kids and she said yes you can go to the washroom but I am going to come with you and you have to keep the bathroom stool door open I mean does she have the right to do that? And she accused me for teft when I am still in the store? And she seen that I spend over 700$ st the mall that day I mean it doesn't make sense to steal something 30$ and if I wanted to steal I would at least tried in all the other stores. My question is what should I do please if anyone know what well hapend in court I apreciate to know and thanks for reading my long story .:)

Where do you live? HOW did they catch you? Did they see it happen on the sales floor or via camera? Each state has it own laws and loopholes. I'm familiar with Oregon's but not many else, so I hope I can be of help. I just need more information first. What was the charge? Did you sign anything?

Life can at times be cruel! Just tell the exact truth in court art you have done here. At least most courts listen to both sides of a story.

If you put ( or your kids put) an item in a pocket or in a bag of items already paid for, and you head for a exit ( not get to it) in many places that is theft.

So where in your "cart" was these items, just in the open, not in another bag, but in the cat laying with other things to pay for

And the "truth" may be a issue, is the evidence says something else.
An attorney is often better than the truth.

No it was on the sales floor and it was something I did not even want, I knew it was there the whole time but I was still in store that's why it was still in my cart once I am leaving the store I was goina put in outside my cart

It was in a cart that u rent at the mall it has a basket on the bottom and no it was in no bags or pokets

I am in windsor ontario and I am 3o years old

It seems like there is part of the story missing. Could you answer my questions please so that we may know more about the situation?

The charge was theft under 5000$ and I was banned from the store for 1 year, I had to sigh a paper saying that I am no longer allowed in any hbc department store

I well be more than happy to do so just what part of the story is missing? And what more would you like to know and again thanks for your support I apreciate that