Shoplifting netherlands

[b.Ami]

Hello.

I am an international student. and I wanted to see what it is to shoplift from a supermarket. But i am horrible at it. i was so nervous that the cashier asked me to check my bag. and i got caught with two small bottles of spices. initially i got scared and i denied stealing them from their store and said its from a different store. but the cashier called the store manager who took me into the office. and then called the police. The police came and checked my id and took a receipt of what i had stolen. it was only 4.95 euros. I told them i am sorry and i will pay for it. But they said it is too late because i was stealing it. They did some paperwork in dutch. They told me i will be sent a letter inviting me to the police station and i will also have to pay a fine of 181 euros.

I am freaking out right now. Will they deport me back to my home country? will i not be able to complete my studies because of this?
will they put me in jail? i already accepted i did it. I also kept saying sorry and that i will pay a fine.

How long does it take to get the letter? what should i do? do i need to contact a lawyer?
should i go to the police station myself or wait for them to send me the letter?

[taxikemperman]

The police make a notice in their records
The shop gives you a fine for € 181,00
If it was the first time, you only have a notice. They do not deport you home

[Pim]

But probably you have been geven a notation that you have been banned from the shop also

[B.Ami]

Yes I have been given a letter by the shop that I have been banned from their shop.

When will I be called by the police? Yes it was my first time getting caught. I have never done something like this before. Does this shoplifting notice also become a criminal record on my resident permit?

[maestro]

The shop will aks you to pay 181 Euro's as damages and might ban you from their stores. The police have indicated they will invite you for interrogation at the police station. Based on the interragation you will probably get a fine of about 300 euro's. In Amsterdam the police might let it by a warning, if you pay the 181 euro damges to the shop.

As a foreigner you can be expelled from the country. But it also depends on if you are a EU-citizen. For other foreigners there are two factors that will be considered: how long you are already staying in the Netherlands and what the punishment is for the crime you commited. The longer you have been in the Netherlands the more serious the punishment has to be.
It concerns a verdict by a judge but also a "strafbeschikking" from the prosecutor in case of a communtity service sentence. In your case it might lead to a strafbeschikking from the prosecutor, but a community service sentence is not likely for the first time. It will be only a fine.
Be sure not to do it again, you might not be so lucky next time.

[b.Ami]

thank you sir for the information.

Will the 300 euros be in addition to the 181 euros? Or 181 euros is the only fine I pay?

Will this case be settled once I pay the fine? Or after the interrogation I will be taken to court?

As you said about the foreign national being expelled, will I be expelled in my case? Because I did not steal for money. I just wanted to know what it is like to steal.

I am really ashamed of my actions.

[thijeleo]

The 181 euro are the damagecosts for the shopowner. Therefor this is not a penalty. The penalty is 300 euro. So, ad them up.

[maestro]

As thijeleo stated, the 181 euro is damages awarded to the shopowner and next tot that the public prosecutor will give you a fine of 300 euro, thus it will cost you 481 euro.

As it is your first time the prosecutor will give you a fine of 300,- Euro and than the case is closed. If you disagree with the decision of the prosecutor you can apeal the case to the court. This you must do within 14 days after the decision of the prosecutor. It will than be brought for a judge, who can be more lenient or give you a more severe punishment.

[taxikemperman]

I just wanted to know what it is like to steal.

This is the stupidest reason I ever heard. Sorry that I say so.
Well now you know and you know also what happens when they caught you.

[b.Ami]

Thank you so much for all the help. I will now wait for the letter to come. I hope it does come soon.
And I can pay the fine as soon as possible and never do something like this again.

[b.Ami]

I just wanted to know what it is like to steal.

This is the stupidest reason I ever heard. Sorry that I say so.
Well now you know and you know also what happens when they caught you.

Well, what can I say, this is also the stupidest thing I have ever done. This is the dumbest way to going about destroying you're
career in a foreign land for an international student.

I only hope this is over soon and remember this hard lesson.

[Pim]

The 181 Euro are due to civil laws/agreement by houserules. Somewhere near the front door or main entrance the houserules are stated.

The 181 Euro is a fixed ammount.
It is mainly for time loss of the owner for the fact that he has to spend time with you (as a shoplifter), the police (for making a report) etc.

The police penalty / fine which may or mag not come to you depends on different facts:
- being a first offender
- simple shoplifting or aggrevated / raid or with violence
- the ammount of stolen goods

[b.Ami]

I am a first time offender. This is the first time something like this has happened to me.

I don’t know what is defined by simple shoplifting but I stole only 2 spice bottles. And the cost of it together was only 4.95 euro.

The trauma I have gone through all of last night of not being able to complete my studies is not worth any money. I am ready to pay whatever the police asks me as long as I am allowed to finish my degree. But a 181 only would be a breath of relief.

[Pim]

I am a first time offender. This is the first time something like this has happened to me.

Just wait die the invitation from the police .
Maybe you only get an official warning.
Maybe a fine. That will be between €200-300 I think.

I don’t know what is defined by simple shoplifting but I stole only 2 spice bottles. And the cost of it together was only 4.95 euro.

Your case will be in the range of a simple shoplifting.
.

IThe trauma I have gone through all of last night of not being able to complete my studies is not worth any money. I am ready to pay whatever the police asks me as long as I am allowed to finish my degree. But a 181 only would be a breath of relief.

Just wait and see.
The 'trauma' is for free and was your choise and doesn't count.