Should I return items that I have stolen from Walmart?
4 attorney answers
Sadly your guilt and desire to remedy the situation will not help you. Our justice system can be rather unforgiving for those whose conscience gets the better of them. If you try to return the items, it is likely you will wind up getting charged with a crime, which will not really help anyone.
If you have not been charged, I suggest you simply avoid the Walmart(s) from which you allegedly stole, refrain from breaking the law, and avoid discussing this except in private. Perhaps you should confess to a priest or minister.
Answers provided by attorney Matt Williams to questions on Avvo DO NOT form an attorney client relationship. Mr. Williams is available to represent persons charged with crimes in Ohio for a fee. Only after Mr. Williams is retained, or agrees to discuss a matter privately, shall Mr. Williams be deemed your attorney. Mr. Williams answers questions on Avvo only to provide general advice based upon the limited information in the question.
Won't speak to previous mistakes. But you should avoid stealing in the future. As stated, returning the items, or even mailing them a check/payment for the lost property has a very high likelihood of ending in one or more criminal charges for you.
Can I mail cash without a return adress?
Sponsored Listings
If you return the items there is a possibility, probably a very good one, Walmart will still report you to the police and you will be charged with retail theft. If this happened on more than one occasion you could possibly be charged for multiple offenses and it could get very bad for you. That is the legal reality of what your facing. On the other hand, what you did was morally wrong and the owner of the property deserves to be reimbursed.
I want to reimburse them but I can't think of a way doing the right thing won't bite me back later.
Normally people are advised NOT to send money through the mail, but in your case it is a means of correcting your prior activity. Print a very brief apology from a computer, DO NOT include your name, etc. Address it to the manager of the Walmart (his/her picture is probably posted around the front of the store, or you can call and ask who it is) and send the reimbursement to the store. This will clear your conscience. Since there will be no return address or name anywhere on the envelope, they won't know who sent it in. Even if the money gets lost in the mail, you have done everything you can to correct the wrong. Good Luck, and congratulations for accepting responsibility for your prior actions.
Sponsored Listings
Can’t find what you’re looking for?
Post a free question on our public forum.
Ask a Question- or -
Search for lawyers by reviews and ratings.
Find a Lawyer