[coltonjared]

My 3 friends and I went to a mall in Evansville IN, while we were there, we were in a store called Spencers and one of my friends took 4 key chains and a lanyard without the rest of us knowing. Well when we walked out one of the worker stopped us and said one of us stole something and made us empty our pockets and bags, (no alarm went off) me and my 2 friends came up clean but the one who stole they made stay in the store and they told us we were all banned from the store for life because we were with the girl who stole and made use leave her or we be arrested to. My question is can they ban us if we didn't do anything wrong, also they would not let here pay for the stuff she took instead they called the cops and she in jail until Wednesday and won't release here to her parents (she only 15). I need to know what to do because were are all worried for her.

[N0help4u]

Yep that is the way it works. You are lucky they didn't get you for accessory or something just because you were with her.
She most likely will have to go to some classes on shop lifting and pay a fine which I think would be around at least a couple hundred dollars maybe more.

There really isn't anything you can do. Be careful who you go to store with.

[twinkiedooter]

Stores are really getting tough on shoplifters lately due to the cost. The store can ban you and whoever they wish. You've hopefully learned your lesson first hand in not to shoplift seeing your friend get hers. Most people shoplift items even if they have the money in their pocket to pay for the items.

Look at former Miss America Bess Meyerson. That old lady took a bunch of stuff from a pricey store and got caught. Look at Winona Ryder. She did the same thing. They had lots of money but chose to steal instead. Just offering to pay for the stolen items is not enough. If the stores did that, why not just send a bill in the mail to their home so that they can conviently pay for the items later? Doesn't work that way unless you have a charge account.

[oneguyinohio]

Yep, stores can ban anybody they choose. Now the life part seems a bit dramatic, because in a few years you won't look the same. Of course in a few years, you might not want to shop there anyway.

[Fr_Chuck]

The answer is of course they can, and actually in some states you would have been charged with them , so you are really lucky.

[N0help4u]

Look at Winona Ryder.

Read too fast :D


***edit I didn't even notice the spelling... Just skipped over her name completely

[coltonjared]

My friend seen the Judge today after being locked up about 4 days at YCC (Youth Care Center) and the Judge told her to go home so she back in town now.

[fde]

Count your blessings. Someone has a horse shoe up there...

[peggyhill]

Well, unfortunately the store can ban you. As a business, that is their right. Do be very careful who you shop with. Sometimes they can try to say that you are an accessory.

That happen to me once. They thought that I was the lookout for a girl I was with who was stealing, but I didn't know about it. Of course this was ages ago back when I was in high school. I was lucky that one of the ladies working at the store knew me and told the manager that there was no way I was doing anything like that. ( I knew her from church). I was very lucky that they believed me, but still embarrassed because people from my school saw me standing there talking to the managers and all. So be careful who you are with.

I know it isn't fair, but so many people steal, and the store employees don't know you, so they are just trying to protect their business. I work in retail, and honestly, I would probably do the same thing if the situation happened where I work. Better safe than sorry I guess.