# We fucked up the contract..so we call the cops and say you stole it.... **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 4, 2012, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-fucked-up-the-contract-so-we-call-the-cops-and-say-you-stole-it/636644 "2012-10-04T00:40:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-fucked-up-the-contract-so-we-call-the-cops-and-say-you-stole-it/636644/101 "2012-10-16T23:45:35Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > Ah, missed that. Trespassing? On a business property where the public is invited? When what he was doing is legal? Seems odd. Here in TN a store is private property. You can refuse service and ask a customer to leave. If they refuse they are trespassing. We had a customer refuse to leave because she couldn’t get a cash refund on an item well past the cash refund date. When the police arrived they explained to her that they couldn’t force us to give her a refund but they would arrest her for trespassing if she didn’t leave. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-fucked-up-the-contract-so-we-call-the-cops-and-say-you-stole-it/636644/102 "2012-10-17T00:11:54Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > I wonder if it would depend on whether the guy had known they made a mistake. If he did, then he really did cheat the dealership. > > Same thing as if I go to the store and hand the clerk a 10 dollar bill for a 9 dollar object. If she gives me back change for a 20, I’m not entitled to keep it and think I just got a good deal. Employees make mistakes. > > Also, I can’t see the guy getting arrested, given that any purchased vehicle comes with some degree of paperwork showing your ownership interest. Certainly the police would have looked at that before arresting the guy. IT doesn’t make sense. Not a reasonable comparison. I’m sure he knew they made a mistake but not pointing it out is not the same as intending to cheat them. It’s not his responsibility to make sure they don’t make a mistake. The completely honest thing to do would be to say something, but in a situation where negotiating is SOP it’s not the same as some cashier giving you back too much change. ---
**Author:** ![Simple\_Linctus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Simple\_Linctus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simple_Linctus)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-fucked-up-the-contract-so-we-call-the-cops-and-say-you-stole-it/636644/103 "2012-10-17T00:53:26Z")
> [@Mosier](#): > > Holy shit… Exactly. I don’t know if Monty is out of his mind, a billionaire, or both. Especially weird when I think he was in the US armed forces and must have suffered much worse indignities during training. But to a normal person 1 million dollars, especially tax free (correct me if these payments arent) is a LOT of money. The inconvenience of a few hours in a police cell and some theoretical job problems in the future, which by the way can be explained to a decent employer, is really not all that much. I would totally “suffer” everything this buyer went through for £150k, no problem. That’s more than I earn in a year! ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-fucked-up-the-contract-so-we-call-the-cops-and-say-you-stole-it/636644/104 "2012-10-17T04:27:16Z")
> [@Simple\_Linctus](#): > > Exactly. > > I don’t know if Monty is out of his mind, a billionaire, or both. Neither. > [@](#): > > Especially weird when I think he was in the US armed forces and must have suffered much worse indignities during training. Let’s see…how many times did I get arrested while in Basic Training when someone intentionally swore out a false complaint? Oh, yes. The answer is zero. About five years into my time in service, one person swore out a false complaint against me. The upshot for that stunt of his was his dismissal from the service. I’m sure his commanding officer had a few other charges against the lying bastard, but the false complaint against me was one of the charges that got that bastard into civvies earlier than the bastard anticipated. > [@](#): > > But to a normal person 1 million dollars, especially tax free (correct me if these payments arent) is a LOT of money. I don’t care if it’s a lot of money, a little bit of money, tax-free, or subject to the highest tax rate in the history of civilization. What I care about is that the people at the dealership in question intentionally swore out a false complaint and now we have a victim of that crime. > [@](#): > > The inconvenience of a few hours in a police cell and some theoretical job problems in the future, which by the way can be explained to a decent employer, is really not all that much. Have you never heard of a background check? This is no longer “the inconvenience of a few hours in a police cell.” So long as that arrest appears on the background check, regardless of its disposition, there will be a stigma attached to the dealership’s victim. And the mere appearance of the arrest, again regardless of disposition, on the background check very well may mean the dealership’s victim never gets to the point of explaining the situation. Oh, another thing is that there may have been witnesses to the man’s arrest. Are you seriously telling me that having people see you get arrested in pulic is just an inconvenience? If you are, then you are out of your mind. Do you not see in that post of mine upthread where I said less? That’s known in the English-speaking world as a lower amount. I also said more if the dealership has more. What I’m getting at, and I’ve already stated this, is that the dealership needs to go out of business, the jackasses who intentionally swore out a false complaint should be prosecuted. That’s not out of my mind. That’s a wish for justice in this case. And it’s normal, by the way. > [@](#): > > I would totally “suffer” everything this buyer went through for £150k, no problem. That’s more than I earn in a year! Well, that’s you and your hypothetical that hasn’t happened to you. Then there’s the guy who actually got arrested when he didn’t do a fucking thing wrong, and certainly nothing illegal. But, tell you what, when you do get arrested for something you didn’t do, be sure to come back and tell us how thrilled you are at the experience. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-fucked-up-the-contract-so-we-call-the-cops-and-say-you-stole-it/636644/105 "2012-10-17T04:39:31Z")
Missed the edit window. To clarify the post just above: I was not arrested, not even charged with anything. The stupid bastard had the misfortune (for him) of having an intelligent First Sergeant and Commanding Officer. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-fucked-up-the-contract-so-we-call-the-cops-and-say-you-stole-it/636644.md?page=5)