Pocono News Section

The High Price of Shoplifting

The High Price of Shoplifting - Tuesday, June 3, 2008 at 4:14PM EST

Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Tuesday, Jun 3, 2008 @ 04:14pm EST
MOUNT POCONO - Just last week police in the Poconos reported shoplifting crimes are on the rise. They also reminded people shoplifting has big consequences and can earn you a criminal record.

Brenda Dean has to pay for her child's mistakes with cash. Her sixteen year old daughter got caught shoplifting.

"I don't think what she did was fair to any body's business, to anybody," she said.

In December Brenda's daughter walked into the K-Mart in Mount Pocono and took a box of hair dye. It was worth about $26.

Security caught her before she left the store, took her to the police station, and charged her with stealing.

A judge later withdrew the charges because it was her first offense and she's otherwise a good kid.

Dean said, "Hopefully her friends will see this and understand she got lucky. If she does it again, she's not gonna get lucky."

Her daughter took a shoplifting prevention class and the family thought the whole situation was over, but they were wrong. They get a letter from K-mart saying thy were being sued.

K-Mart demanded nearly $500 to pay for store security and legal fees.

"It's extortion 'cause truthfully Kmart's only gonna receive $150. The rest of is goes to a lawyer," Dean complained.

A Kmart spokesperson told WBRE News they've had the shoplifting policy for at least four years and they believe it sends a message to thieves. But Brenda believes it just punishes people who've already paid for their mistakes.

"I think they should let it go at this point because she did pay her dues, " she said.

The family plans to fight the suit in court.