Q: I was accused of theft in NJ. Mall security banned me from the mall. 3 months later the town PD is wanting to charge me
Det in rockaway township wants me to come in the give a statement. What they said I stole- the clerks at the store said I could have as a gift- honest truth. three months later township PD comes to my job to speak to me but doesn't arrest me bc they didn't want to embarrass me or put Job in jeopardy.
I don't want to be charged with theft. The item I recieved (stole ) haven't been touched in the 3 - 4
Months that I've had it. I've always wanted to give it back. I can't go back to that mall bc I was banned. Local PD came on the day of the incident which was 3 months ago and said "the matter was between me and the mall security" but then it changed early august I get contacted and I believed I called the courts to make sure there were no charges. And they were none. So I stirred the pot unintentionally. I want to just give the product back in its original condition as I don't want to go thrru a legal battle. Is it a good idea to mail the item to the detective who is investigating this?
A: The strategy you are employing is called "admission" which would enable them to charge you with a crime. Any attorney will tell you not to speak to the police. If the police are contacting you, you should retain counsel t handle that. Otherwise you are going to end up with a criminal charge.
A: First Do not talk to the police except to give your personal identification information without a lawyer as you must give them this information including your ID. Second, if they had good information on you they would have probably just charged you, Third immediately hire a good shoplifting lawyer, these cases can be complicated and you want to make sure the lawyer you hire is familiar with these cases. The Judge in Rockaway has no tolerance for shoplifters so this is a harder town then most, but it sounds like you may have a defense so be smart and get a good shoplifting/criminal lawyer ASAP.
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