Ask Me Help Desk - Shoplifting at 16?

I'm asking on behalf of my cousin,2 weeks she was caught shoplifting at the bodyshop.She only 16 and has no records at all.how ever,I have heard her whispering on the phone to her friends about shoplifting,and I do suspect that she has done it several times now

Of course she is trumatised and she hasn't been eating well.she's no longer on probation,but investigations are still being carried out,the police said it might take up to 3 weeks to 3 months.She is also having her N levels this year.her results are fairly good,she does not keep late nights,and has fairly good atendence in school.even I dun understand why she does things like this.

Frankly,I'm not worried for her,personally I feel that she deserves it.I have warned her several times but she refused to heel my advise.What I'm most concern about is that would she be linked up to her past shoplifting crimes?What if she was caught on tape?Would the store report it?Would the police have her picture and identify her,creating a even heavier sentences?

My main concern is that she lied to the police saying it was her first time,she confined in me afterward,when I asked her why,she said she did not want a heavier sentence to disapoint her parents.Her mum,(my aunt)has heart problems,and she fainted when the police called her,I dun know how much more her heart can take,and I dun want to lose her.I bailed her out,because her dad was out of town.

Now I'm asking for advise on what will be her sentence and will the police find out about her past crimes.Also will it affect her future?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mina_Dina90

I'm asking on behalf of my cousin,2 weeks she was caught shoplifting at the bodyshop.She only 16 and has no records at all.how ever,i have heard her whispering on the phone to her friends about shoplifting,and i do suspect that she has done it several times now

Of course she is trumatised and she hasn't been eating well.she's no longer on probation,but investigations are still being carried out,the police said it might take up to 3 weeks to 3 months.She is also having her N levels this year.her results are fairly good,she does not keep late nights,and has fairly good atendence in school.even I dun understand why she does things like this.

Frankly,i'm not worried for her,personally i feel that she deserves it.I have warned her several times but she refused to heel my advise.What i'm most concern about is that would she be linked up to her past shoplifting crimes?What if she was caught on tape?Would the store report it?Would the police have her picture and identify her,creating a even heavier sentences?

My main concern is that she lied to the police saying it was her first time,she confined in me afterward,when i asked her why,she said she did not want a heavier sentence to disapoint her parents.Her mum,(my aunt)has heart problems,and she fainted when the police called her,I dun know how much more her heart can take,and i dun want to lose her.I bailed her out,because her dad was out of town.

Now i'm asking for advise on what will be her sentence and will the police find out about her past crimes.Also will it affect her future?

Here are my concerns - you say she has no record BUT she is no longer on probation. That's impossible - probation is part of a sentence for committing a crime. If she's on probation, she has a criminal record.

You say you've heard her whispering on the phone about shoplifting and suspected she's shoplifted "several times" before. Then you say she confided to you that she lied because she didn't want a heavier sentence. Either you know she's shoplifted before or you don't.

If her previous shoplifting was at another store it is very unlikely that the two stores will realize they both have experience with her. If she shoplifted at the same store it is possible the store has video or other records of her.

Only the Court knows what her sentence will be and that varies by Country and/or State.

She needs an Attorney and she needs counselling to find out why she steals.

If this is about you and not your cousin, then you need to be more honest. As I said, your question contains conflicting information.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JudyKayTee

Here are my concerns - you say she has no record BUT she is no longer on probation. That's impossible - probation is part of a sentence for committing a crime. If she's on probation, she has a criminal record.

You say you've heard her whispering on the phone about shoplifting and suspected she's shoplifted "several times" before. Then you say she confided to you that she lied because she didn't want a heavier sentence. Either you know she's shoplifted before or you don't.

If her previous shoplifting was at another store it is very unlikely that the two stores will realize they both have experience with her. If she shoplifted at the same store it is possible the store has video or other records of her.

Only the Court knows what her sentence will be and that varies by Country and/or State.

She needs an Attorney and she needs counselling to find out why she steals.

If this is about you and not your cousin, then you need to be more honest. As I said, your question contains conflicting information.

I'm not sure,as I have never encounter this problem before.I'm just quoteing what the police officer told me.He told me that she was no longer on probation and didn't have to return to the station weekly.and what I meant was that she has not police record up till now.

She confessed to me only after I bailed her out,when I question her before,she would always dodge my questions.however,I had a talk with her and She told me has shoplifted before,but I dun know when or where.

I have no idea what the Police Officer was talking about - she was either charged with shoplifting or she was not. She wouldn't be put on probation by the Police - the Court does that.

Where are you?

I'm in Singapore.We have someone called an IO(Ivestigation Officer)but he wasn't there that day,so someone else attended to us.Those were his exact words.Frankly,I dun even know what is a probation,I've never had these experiences before.

Probation means - and I'm in the US, not Singapore, so things could be different - that a person is under the supervision of the Court to make certain they do not break the law again. This can mean, for example, they have to be home by a certain hour, have to get good marks in school, have to pay a fine, things along those lines.

The Court - in the US - sets the rules, not the Police. The Police are sort of one arm of the "system" and the Courts are another.

Did I explain it so you could understand?

I see.. guess its different there.Others are usually handled by the police unless it's a huge case

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mina_Dina90

i see..guess its different there.Others are usually handled by the police unless it's a huge case

If you find out how it works in Singapore, please post and let me know - I'd love to learn how your system operates!