Shoplifting at Costco

Law Office of Hieu Vu

This video explains what happens when someone is caught shoplifting at Costco. It covers the procedures taken by security, including being taken to the backroom, and how the police are eventually called. The video also details the citation process, emphasizing that receiving a citation is not an admission of guilt but a promise to appear in court. Additionally, it outlines the court process for a Costco shoplifting case, from arraignment, where you admit or deny the charges, to the pretrial stage, which is an opportunity to negotiate your case. The video also discusses important factors such as your criminal record and whether this is a first-time offense, as these can influence whether your case may be dismissed, even if you were caught red-handed.   For more information:  https://vulawoffice.com/theft/caught-shoplifting-at-costco/   Website: Orange County Criminal Defense Attorney | Law Office Of Hieu Vu  Linked in: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hieuvulaw/  Twitter: Hieu Vu (@Hieuvulaw) on X  Facebook: Law Office of Hieu Vu | Tustin CA  Instagram: Instagram (@hieuvuesq)  Yelp: Law Office of Hieu Vu - Tustin, CA Appointments: https://live.vcita.com/site/criminallawyer Phone or Text - 714-589-3063  Law Office of Hieu Vu  18002 Irvine Blvd #108  Tustin CA 92780   "Music: www.bensound.com"

Transcript

00:00Hi everyone. Today we're going to be exploring a pressing issue,

00:05being caught shoplifting at Costco,

00:08navigating the consequences and legal defenses.

00:12I'm Hugh Vu and in this video we're diving deep into Costco's loss prevention

00:16strategies, the legal repercussions of shoplifting and your options.

00:20Let's get started. First,

00:23let's look at the three key points.

00:25Costco stands out with its advanced loss prevention techniques,

00:30resulting in fewer shoplifting instances compared to other retailers.

00:34This is partly due to their unique membership format and controlled access to

00:39their stores.

00:41But what if you're caught shoplifting at Costco?

00:45The consequences are immediate and severe.

00:47You could be facing serious legal repercussions ranging from a misdemeanor to a

00:52felony, depending on the severity of the theft.

00:56Out here in California,

00:57if you're stealing and the amount is over $950,

01:02then that is a felony and the consequences don't end there.

01:09Being convicted of shoplifting at Costco can lead to jail time,

01:14civil penalties,

01:15and significant impact on your reputation and employment opportunities.

01:20However, it's important to know that there are legal defenses available.

01:24Costco's approach to preventing shop lifting is truly groundbreaking.

01:29With retail theft on the rise,

01:31Costco's extensive measures from controlling store access to closely monitoring

01:35their inventory are more crucial than ever.

01:38Let's delve into what they do to catch shoplifters.

01:41Costco strictly controls entrances and exits and uses its membership format to

01:47minimize losses, often referred to as shrinkage in the retail industry.

01:52Interestingly,

01:53Costco pays higher wages than competitors like Walmart and Target,

01:57which also helps reduce theft by employers.

02:01Now let's talk about what happens when you get caught shoplifting at Costco.

02:04The experience can be quite intimidating.

02:07You'll be escorted to the back of the store by security who will then call the

02:11police.

02:12The wait for the police can be lengthy and during this time you'll face the

02:16scrutiny of loss prevention officers.

02:20During this time you can expect all that good customer service to go out the

02:25window. There won't be any of that.

02:30If you're charged with shoplifting at Costco, the stakes are high.

02:33Apart from facing jail time and fines,

02:35there's the embarrassment and the longterm impact on your criminal record,

02:39which can greatly affect future employment opportunities.

02:44And on top of that,

02:45they're going to cancel your membership and prevent you from coming back with a

02:49trespass order.

02:52But what should you do if you find yourself in this situation?

02:58First and foremost,

02:59consider hiring a criminal defense attorney like myself experienced in

03:03shoplifting cases.

03:04It's crucial that your lawyer knows every detail of your case to present your

03:09side effectively. A critical point to remember is the civil demand letter.

03:14Don't rush to pay it.

03:16Paying the civil letter does not necessarily resolve your legal issues with

03:20the court. And many times I've seen people who thought they were slick.

03:25They paid off the civil demand letter and didn't think anything of the court

03:30hearing. When that court hearing came,

03:32they ended up missing the court hearing because they thought that they paid off

03:36the civil demand letter. So there's nothing else.

03:39They did not show up to court and then they got a bench warrant for the arrest.

03:43Don't be that person.

03:45Each step in this process from the beginning,

03:48you're caught to dealing with the legal proceedings is multi-layered and

03:53complex.

03:54Costco's loss prevention strategy is notably different from other

03:58retailers due to its membership based approach and through monitoring

04:02techniques. In Costco's world,

04:05loss prevention officers play a key role.

04:08They're trained to detect signs of theft and handle these situations with a

04:11specific protocol from being escorted to the back of the store,

04:15to the eventual legal outcomes. Each step is critical.

04:18So what can we take away from all this shoplifting at Costco,

04:23any store for that matter, what has serious repercussions.

04:26It's not just a legal issue that affects your entire life,

04:30but with the right legal strategy and understanding of the process,

04:33there's a path to redemption. Remember one mistake. Thank you for watching.

04:38If you found this information helpful,

04:40please like share and subscribe for more insightful content.

04:45Stay informed, stay safe, and see you in the next video.

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