Sure, what usually will happen in a case like this (a class B misdemeanor), assuming the employee quits, the case will be turned over to a financial or misdemeanor detective. He will review the evidence and then attempt to contact the suspect. If she doesn't come in and talk to him he will get a warrant issued and either go get her if he knows where she is, or wait until she gets pulled over or has some other police contact. (Trust me, if she is a thief, she'll run into the police sometime in the near future). If she is taken in on a warrant she will either sit in jail until her arraignment or make bail with a bond company. Most likely she'll plead guilty and pay a fine, restitution and if it's her first offense (or more likely the first time she has been caught) she'll get probation. Your parents will not have to go to court. Even if she wants a jury trial, wal-mart will be the victim not your dad (they could call him as a witness, but it is unlikely because it will be on video tape).
I will tell you this though, most of these people are repeat offenders. I had one who stole $50 cash out of the register and then walked out of the store. I charged her with theft of the cash, her wal-mart smock, name badge and her employee discount card for a total of $80. She was arrested 2 weeks later shoplifting at JC Penney. She had 4 prior theft charges and fought with the JC Penney LP's when they tried to apprehend her. She plead guilty to the judge and was sentenced to 5 years. She decided to withdraw her plea and demanded a jury trial. The jury gave her 6 months for the wal-mart theft and found her guilty of robbery for the JC Penney theft and gave her 15 years. She will have to do 5 1/2 before she can get out for good behavior. She would have only had to do 18 months if she had excepted the judges sentence.
I just love a story with a happy ending!
But people please---DONT BUY WAL-MART GIFT CARDS!!! I know that it seems like a good idea, but the risk is too great. I would suggest those new Visa or American Express cards you can buy, they are safer and easier to get your money back if they are lost, stolen or used fraudulently. Tell you dad to use cash or write a check at Sam's.
I don't mean this to be a dig at Wal-Mart, I have plenty of other reasons to bash Wal-Mart for things they are responsible for, but Wal-Mart does try to protect themselves from dis-honest employees but a lot slip past them especially when they are hiring temp help for Christmas. I hope everyone reads my prior post (#119) before deciding to buy gift cards.
Awesome info. Thanks, txroadkill!