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mistakemade111 · Mar 11, 2011, 01:32 PM

Hi, I got caught shoplifting recently at the Bay. The merchandise I stole added up to $250. They recovered everything, and said it was resellable, in excellent condition. The police officer charged me and I now have a court date in 3 days.. The Bay also sued me for $600 and I paid the whole sum already. I'm 23, a student, never been in trouble with the police, married for almost a year, she is also a student. We are pretty much low income, also work part time.
But here's the QUESTION: when I stole, the police questioned me, and I told the officer that a friend told me that he stole from the Bay and advised me to steal from there. But really, I didn't come to the Bay to steal, but I stole because it just felt exciting for me at that moment, and I don't really have much nice clothes, and I wanted to impress my wife with the nice clothes I would get.. So I made up a friend, because I was under shock when police questioned me, and I just said the first thing that came to my mind.
Can you please advise me, do you think the police officer wrote that down, cause I didn't notice if he was writing or not, and should I stick with the "friend told me" story, or just tell the whole thing that I was under shock and I wasn't thinking at the moment?
Thanks!

Fr_Chuck · Mar 11, 2011, 01:38 PM

They don't care why you stole, just that you admitted stealing.

And so what if he wrote it down, if you are going to plead guilty in court, the police will never even testify.

JudyKayTee · Mar 11, 2011, 01:42 PM

You stole clothes for you to impress your wife? I'd simply say you were sorry, it will never happen again - and leave out the stories.

sandra1616 · Mar 11, 2011, 04:23 PM

You, they are not concerned about why you stole. They are just concerned what you stole and they need to question in order to realize that you did not do it again.

AK lawyer · Mar 11, 2011, 04:40 PM

Worst case scenario: the officer testifies that you told him the "friend story"; and the judge asks you "who was this friend?". At that point, when asked, you should admit that you made that part up. Otherwise, if you are not asked about it there will be no need to explain.