1)I was in Walmart today. I was looking at a laptop that had a ton of wires on the outside the box, a computer genius couldn't have undone the wires. It was on a shelf with many others. They were all wired together so you could not take them off the shelf. I got a pair of scissors that I would have paid for to cut off the wire to get one of the computers but no one was in the department. I wanted to (hopefully) open the box, take a look at the computer, see the instructions and so forth. But the scissors which cost all of $1.97 wouldn't cut the wire. Not knowing what to do, I just left the scissors there and moved on. If they wouldn't cut the wire so I could get the merchandise to possibly purchase, I wasn't about to buy them! A security guard said he had been watching me on camera and the police came and issued me a summons to appear in court for a misemeanor for "attempted petty theft". I told them I had no intentions to steal anything but wanted to see the merchandise before I bought it and since no one was in the department, how else was I going to get into the box. As for why I didn't pay for the scissors, I offered to right there on the spot but was honest and said they didn't work for the job I was buying them for which was to get into the box to look at the computer! How can this be "attempted theft"? The box never left the shelf and was not opened and in no way damaged. Nor was the wire.
2) I did not bring my wallet with me into the store because I have been known to leave it laying around and lose it so I left it in my trunk. I had just a few items in my cart to purchase like some sheets and a top for my bed. I started to leave the store to go into the vestibule to leave the cart where I could keep an eye on it as I ran to my car to get my wallet. I didn't want to leave the cart inside the store and come back and find the stuff gone, having been put away by someone. As I started to walk into the vestibule the security guy says I was trying to walk out without paying. I said I was leaving the cart in the vestibule to watch while I ran to my car to get my wallet and even the police escorted me out and it was true, my wallet was in the trunk. Still, the store security guy insisted upon filing petty theft charges against me!
I go to this Walmart all the time, for 10 years now, have NO criminal record and am liked by everyone in the store. I have no idea who this security guy is. He said he was watching me by camera.
a) did I attempt to steal anything?
b) did I actually commit petty theft by entering the vestibule?
Will I get a criminal record is my question? I have no criminal convictions on my record. When I was sitting in the back of the sheriff's car she pulled up my record and said "wow, there is literally nothing on you. Literally nothing. There is nothing here".
Will I get a criminal record now? I live in NY. Thank you. All this may sound like garbage but it is true.
2) I did not bring my wallet with me into the store because I have been known to leave it laying around and lose it so I left it in my trunk. I had just a few items in my cart to purchase like some sheets and a top for my bed. I started to leave the store to go into the vestibule to leave the cart where I could keep an eye on it as I ran to my car to get my wallet. I didn't want to leave the cart inside the store and come back and find the stuff gone, having been put away by someone. As I started to walk into the vestibule the security guy says I was trying to walk out without paying. I said I was leaving the cart in the vestibule to watch while I ran to my car to get my wallet and even the police escorted me out and it was true, my wallet was in the trunk. Still, the store security guy insisted upon filing petty theft charges against me!
I go to this Walmart all the time, for 10 years now, have NO criminal record and am liked by everyone in the store. I have no idea who this security guy is. He said he was watching me by camera.
a) did I attempt to steal anything?
b) did I actually commit petty theft by entering the vestibule?
Will I get a criminal record is my question? I have no criminal convictions on my record. When I was sitting in the back of the sheriff's car she pulled up my record and said "wow, there is literally nothing on you. Literally nothing. There is nothing here".
Will I get a criminal record now? I live in NY. Thank you. All this may sound like garbage but it is true.
