It's so the stupid makeup. I show off my makeup. I'm going to jail. I [music] tried to steal something from Target cuz I'm not a bad person. >> I don't think you are a bad person. >> Please. You don't understand. [music] You don't understand. >> What happens when a shopping trip turns into a theft arrest and the suspect suddenly realizes the store has cameras everywhere. Officers responded to a target after Sarah Conwell was accused of stealing more than $1,500 worth of merchandise. But instead of simply accepting what was happening, she started arguing, begging, and trying to explain why she shouldn't be arrested. And the more she talked, the harder it became to ignore what was allegedly found in her possession. Let's see how this shopping trip went so wrong. >> What's up? >> How we doing? >> I can't go down. >> No, I can't. >> Okay, take a deep breath. I have I'm in your name, >> Sarah. >> All right, Sarah, look. Hey, >> take a deep breath. >> I'll never be back. >> Okay, take a deep breath. All right. >> Have you ever been in trouble with us before? No. Not in our system. >> No. >> He has one more item. You want to redo it or just one? >> Okay. >> What's up? >> He has one more item. I think want to redo it. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Let's put it all under. I'll be right back. >> Where did all the property go? >> So, most of it most of it went into her bag. >> Okay. >> Other half of it went inside that box. >> She just took everything out of the box and put everything inside. >> Yeah. All that all that's paper. That's her stuff. >> That's her stuff. >> So, she So, most of it went in her purse. >> The rest went inside there. Covered it up. Only paid for the box. >> Okay. Um, does that make sense? >> Yeah. >> So, she paid for that. >> Yeah. She paid for all that. >> That was again half of was in the box. Half of it was in her purse. >> Purse. Okay. Where's the purse? In that purse there? >> Yeah, that's her purse. Yeah, that's her purse. Yeah. >> Okay. >> All right. >> She's been cooperative. She's been helpful. Stuff like that. Um, she's on a repeat that we know about. >> Okay. >> Do you live close by? >> Do I? >> Do you live close by? >> I live in >> Okay. >> But I I have to go home. My husband's on shift. I have to go. >> I Whatever I need to do, [clears throat] whatever I have to pay, wherever I have to go. Turn off what you want. Can you show me switching 92? Literally, my kids are waiting for me at home. Who >> Who's at home with the kids? >> She's got to go. >> Okay. >> Okay. So, Sarah was sitting there trying to explain herself, right? [music] And somehow half the stuff was in the box while the other half was taking a little vacation inside her purse. That was definitely a creative way to organize a shopping trip. But needing to leave didn't magically erase whatever happened inside the store. >> Still a target. >> Am I not getting out? [snorts] >> I should never come here. >> I promise this is not who I am. I don't do this. I should. It was a horrible decision. >> All I want to do is just go home. >> What's up? >> Can you get my computer and do this? >> No. No. Either me or uh a man just coming. >> Oh, okay. I need to do me a favor. You just sign a paper. So, in this space here, you're going to write you're going to write what happened today. You hear me? You're going to write what happened. So, this is you admitting to what happened today and then you're going to sign on that first line. So, take your time, gather yourself, but I need you to write that for me. So, everything you took, makeup, kids clothes, all that. Amanda, >> what else you want? >> Well, what what else you took? So, you took makeup, you took clothes, that everything you took, >> birthday supply, and the candles, the I mean the um scent wax. >> Okay. So that if that's everything, then you're just going to sign on that first signature signing date. >> What was the total? >> Like so far like 900. >> I should have never literally my cousin got arrested for stealing. So you know better then >> I know before >> that's why no one thinks that what they're trying to >> literally the other half of it is is for my daughter's birthday like [ __ ] But I I I know she literally was like I don't know if the laws changed, but it was over >> like $300 for her and it was like a an a issue like felony or change of charge or something. [snorts] >> Ma'am, that wasn't just one random item accidentally ending up in your purse. That was basically an entire shopping list. The value of the items allegedly taken can affect [music] how a theft charge is classified, but the exact charge and dollar amount can vary depending on the state and the specific situation. >> Please, I'll I'll go to whatever I need to do. I have to go. >> Can you do me a favor and have a seat, >> please? >> You're worrying me with the shopping cart. Thank you. >> With the shopping? >> Just have a seat. Yeah, just have a seat. Just relax. >> That's very hard to do. Ow. >> I know, but can you do it, please? Thank you. >> Okay. >> Wait. Did they verify? >> No. So onesies. >> So this receipt is everything that's in here, right? Nothing to do with anything that's in that shopping cart. >> Okay. >> When you said before that your husband's on shift, >> what did you mean by that? >> Okay. >> Oh, yeah. >> He can't come home from >> He's working now. >> Yes. >> Okay. [clears throat] >> Come home to my two babies. You You don't understand. >> Okay. Whatever I need to do, please. >> The thing is, I'm being completely honest with you right now. You are going to have to go down to the county jail. >> No, I can't. I can't. Please. Please. I can't. I can't. >> Sarah. Sarah, you have to stay calm. >> Okay. I know it's I know it's difficult >> and everything like that. I'm being honest with you and telling everything. >> Okay. You can get bonded out tonight. >> I can't I can't. Oh my god. I can't. >> Sarah, just listen to him. >> Okay. You can get bonded out tonight. Okay. So it's not like he you know you have to stay there overnight but it is going to take some time. Okay. So right now we usually have to take everything away from you. Okay. But I will let you use the phone. I will let you make whatever phone calls you need to make to make sure that your kids are taken care of. >> I need to be able to be home tonight. >> Oh right. >> Okay. >> She's so damn annoying. The people shouldn't break the law if they can't handle the consequences. All that yelling and panicking wasn't going to make the situation disappear. If she really didn't steal anything, that could be dealt with through the proper process. At this point, panicking wasn't going to erase anything. The only thing she could control was how she handled the consequences. >> So, that's why though we want to get this process done quick enough so this way we can get you down to the county. >> You and then you can still get bonded out. >> There's nothing I can do. No, because I'm being honest with you. It's a felony amount. >> It's like I'll have you >> I >> Our hands are tied is the way he's telling me. We can't we can't we can't take you to jail on this. >> If it was like >> a pack of gum, we could let you go home, but it's not a pack of gum. It's a lot of stuff. >> So, our hands are tied. The state tells us how we have to handle this. Not we're not making that decision ourselves going, "Oh, we're just we're going to do this." No, the state is telling us what we have to do. Okay? It's out of our hands at this point. >> You said they're with your mother right now. >> My grandma, >> but she's got to go home. Like I don't They can't Oh my god. >> Where is Where is home? You live in. So it's not not this address. No, that's an old address. >> Okay. What's >> there's nothing that I can do. Please, I got to go. >> There's no There's nothing that we can do. >> Who Who's I don't even know who can come buy me out. Like, just take this stuff back. I literally will never come back in here. Please. I You don't understand the bindment. I Please, >> please. I can't I can't go. >> I can't go. Please. Okay. take. I know it. I know it's a lot. >> It is. >> Okay. >> I'm not a bad person. >> We're not We're not treating you like a bad person either. We're >> and I agree. What you said is that something good people make mistakes. And I agree with that. I use that line. You know, I say that all the time. >> Tell my my husband this my kids. Literally, there's no one to watch my kids. Oie. I don't know what. There's nothing nothing I can do. I know how I remember for my DUI. I remember when I got arrested, it was literally like it I was in there forever. Literally until like the next I can't that can't happen. >> DUIs are different. Okay. DUIs or whatever. There's also a state law is that when you're intoxicated, you can't be released. Okay. This is this is not a DUI. >> I don't think this was her first time stealing. like it might have just been the first time that she was getting caught. She really seemed to act like this was happening to her instead of accepting that her own choices had caused the situation. She didn't make a mistake. She made a choice and now she had to deal with the consequences. >> I I don't even know who to call. Please. I was literally I >> We will We will help you figure it out. You want me to call the grandmother for you? >> No. No. I can't tell them that. I'm >> Well, you don't want them freaking out knowing where you are either. >> No. How am I supposed to say, "Oh, I know. I just came to the store to grab a few things, but by the way, I'm going to jail, so you're you're going to have Oh my god." She literally is just texting me about getting them dinner in their basket. Like, how am I supposed to Please, please, there's got to be something. I I I know how the world works. I know there's rules, but there's got to be [music] something. Please, please. >> I'll literally go I'll go to court tomorrow. I'll I'll pay a fine. I'll get money. whatever I need to do. I can't >> we don't >> I can't >> you could use that all that just makes it a lot easier for that because you don't have to do it right >> [snorts] >> Um, all right, Sarah, we do have to work on >> Please, I can't. I can't. I just can't. >> Sarah, >> there's got to be something. Please, I can't. I'm I'm Please. Please. There's something. I will I'll I'll I'll pay I'll pay back whatever I I didn't walk out with. You could take this. I Please, I can't I'll go to court tomorrow morning. I I'll go to drive to the the the or Uber to the the sheriff's tomorrow. I can't I can't I got to go home. I got to go home to my kids. Please. The sense of entitlement was [music] just unbelievable. To actually argue that she didn't know the theft could become a felony because of the dollar amount. That was hard to listen to. Honestly, listening to her was just exhausting. [music] And under retail theft laws, arguing that you didn't know the exact dollar limit for a felony doesn't protect you in court at all. Under criminal theft statutes, individuals caught shoplifting merchandise valued over statutory grand theft limits, like the $1,500 recovered here often claim they had no intention of committing a felony and were unaware of specific dollar thresholds. But courts firmly rejected that defense. The legal doctrine is absolute. Ignorance of penalty tiers or specific monetary cutoffs is no defense in court. Taking physical possession of store property and concealing it establishes full criminal intent. And once the total value crosses statutory limits, the offense automatically escalates to felony grand theft regardless of what the suspect claims to know. >> I'm sorry. >> Wait, I I literally I'm like [ __ ] terrified right now. I can't. I Please, >> please. >> I'm not a bad person. >> I don't think I don't think that you're a bad person. >> I don't. >> There's got to be something. I can't call I can't call my mother-in-law right now. >> And tell her [music] look at my 22month-old and my 9month old and tell them that I can't I can't. >> All right. Sounds like >> I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. >> You got a 22month old and a 9month old. >> Yes. I I should have been here. You're going through a lot. >> Gosh, >> you go. I understand that it seems like you're going through a lot. >> Yeah, there's got to be something. >> I just everything stupid makeup. I know how much makeup is. Please. >> [laughter] [snorts] >> I'm not a bad person. >> I don't think you are. >> Seems like you're trying to make your kids happy. Trying to give them something fun. >> I should have >> to do some of the Disney stuff. >> It was her It's her birthday. I was dumb. I should have just >> I've never been a stay at home mom before. It's hard not having just my own money. I should have never. I should have never. I literally wasn't even thinking. Sarah, where were you born? Here. Florida. Sebastian. I know that the makeup makes it high. I should have never I can't. whatever you need to to to do to charge me what I can't not go home to my kids. >> So, but that's we're trying to get >> No, I mean I can't go to jail. I have nowhere to go. Please, you don't understand. You don't understand. >> When she was drinking and driving, she wasn't thinking about her kids or anyone else on the road. I mean, she also wasn't thinking about her kids when she went into the store and allegedly stole things. and she just wanted to talk badly about everyone else, but she didn't want to take any responsibility for her own actions. You know, at this point, she needed to face the consequences and deal with what she had done. >> Please, there's got to be something. I've seen people like bad people actually walk and get away with things and do things. I'm not a bad person. >> I don't think you are a bad person. >> There's got to be something. There's got to be something. Well, what we're trying to do is get you down there so that way you can be bonded out as quick as possible. >> I can't. >> Sarah, >> please. >> I'm sorry, but please, >> you have to. >> Please, please, please, please, please. I'm not I'm Please. If you if you're ever able to do anything for anybody, please please >> sir, what you're asking us cannot be done. >> I I I just [snorts] with all due respect, I know I've seen enough in this lifetime to know that things good things can happen to good people and that people have more power than they say. I I I literally will never ever ever do that. Like never. I would literally never leave my house. It's just going to be a waste of for everybody. Please. There's got to be other people out there doing like actually bad things and I that are not sorry and then have the means. I Please. I I just want I literally just want to go home and be a mom to my two babies and never ever do that. Please. [laughter] There's got to be something. I'm not saying just to go home. I I I I I understand that. Oh my god. There's got to be something. Please. I can't. You don't understand. I can't. I I need I got to go home to them. Whatever. I got to do >> number. >> What's up? >> Phone number. >> Phone number. Sarah, what's the phone number for you? >> Please. Please. How did she not realize that Target had cameras and people [music] watching? And I didn't have much sympathy for her. Like, if she really stole something, she had to face the consequences. And begging was just making this whole situation a whole lot more pathetic. Saying that other bad people were out there doing worse things that night wasn't exactly a strong defense, either. You know, >> I I swear on my children's life. I I'll turn myself in tomorrow. I got to go home. Please leave. I understand. >> I understand what you're saying. And I don't want to be dis disrespectful and and please, please, even like on targets and please something. I'm not bad. I Please, please. I understand the situation. But people always say that there's not something they can do and there always is. I know. I I >> I know. >> Sarah, listen. Every listen listen. Everybody in this room >> has been tasked with a job by somebody above them. You know what? You know what I mean? >> They have. >> We have. >> I understand that. >> So, at the end of the day, >> there's only so much we can do and still have to accomplish the task that we were given as our job. Okay. >> Like he said, he said that not all the time does everybody get arrested. You know, a lot of times you let it go. If it's like a couple hundred bucks, >> can we change that then please? >> But that's not the case here, Sarah. >> I know. I understand that. But it's not. It's a stupid makeup. >> Maybe whatever it is, it's it's the the total of all it. >> I understand. >> So >> please, please on target said please. >> There's nothing on the money I can do. >> I just please I can't I can't please I can turn myself in tomorrow morning. >> Deputy Martin was trying to explain. Listen. Listen. just try to take my advice on this. Okay, look, we told you what's got to happen. Now, what you need to do what you need to do to help yourself is accept what has to happen. Take some deep breaths and just look, you got to face it. All right? >> There's there's no way I'm going home tonight. >> No, you're not going home tonight. Not unless you bond out in a couple hours, but right now you're not going home. Not from Target. Okay? So, just get your mind set on that. get your mind right on it and figure out what the best course of action is. Whether it's the call >> I got to make a few calls then >> that's what we've been saying. >> I know, but there's got to >> I know it's going to be tough. I know it's not a call that's easy to make, but >> make some arrangements. Let everybody know what's going on. >> Oh my god. I don't even know who can call first. >> Do you want me to make the phone call for you? >> No. No. This is embarrassing. This is just They're literally probably going to think I'm lying. begging and negotiating like a child who wanted a new toy. Absolutely pathetic for a grown woman. She basically tried to say that she couldn't be arrested for theft if the amount was below a certain limit. But theft is still theft even though the exact charge can depend on the value and the local law. You know, at this point, she needed to grow up, stop arguing, and face the consequences. Can I step outside or Oh my god. Oh my god. No. I need you to take a minute and walk away from them. Oh my god. All right. No. Um, so please do not judge me, okay? I've never done this. And and yeah, so I have to call too Oh my god, this is [ __ ] crazy. No, I can't because you got to stay with my babies. I'm going to jail. I I tried to steal something from Target. I know. I know. I know. I don't know. I know. [laughter] You have no idea. You have no idea. You have no idea how I feel myself. I don't know. Call me right right now. I got to let him know. Is this No, I I need I need to know that you're going to be able to stay with them. I don't even know how I'm going to look my daughter in the face again. No. Oh, my boy. I've got to call. Someone's got to bond me out tonight. >> I don't know. I I I don't know what to do. What? >> Oh, she she take the stuff out that was in the box. >> Yeah, she >> I know. So we like we found it. I didn't realize that she took all of it off. >> It was [ __ ] stupid. >> I know. And it was like on the outside in your Oh my god. All right. Okay. All right. [snorts] >> We got to figure out all right Sarah. So I'm going to issue the stress pass notice. You cannot come to this target for one more year. Okay. So May 18th is put in the target. If you're here before that I am force upon them you're go to jail setting foot on the property. Okay. >> Can you sign this document please? [snorts] >> That's not that is not mine. What is that? This is not mine. This is not mine. >> All right. All right. >> Yeah. Don't. This is not mine. >> A trespass notice can stop someone from returning to private property for a certain period of time. If they knowingly come back while the notice is still active, they could face additional legal trouble depending on the state and local law. >> And I bought this and this >> I'm going to start getting really upset because that's this is literally not mine. I that's not mine. I did not take that. And those things I purchased. >> Here's your card. Okay. And that's your that's your original receipt. And then you refer. Can I see your original? >> Yes, there was four packs of of napkins. I purchased it. This was $20. And [snorts] I don't know what that is. That is not This is not I'm going This is going to frustrate me if things start getting added that we're not on there. And it's making me wonder now. It's not fully added on there. >> Yes, the makeup. Yes, the the clothes. Oh, no. This is not your original receipt. >> This? >> Yeah. >> Literally the lady saw me scan it. >> But this is not on your original seat. >> And where is it? Where are these? >> So that will be on their stationary. >> No, we won't scan. >> These were There was three other ones. I would have Yeah. Right here. Four right there. Not that [ __ ] 99 cents makes a difference at this point, but I have some sense of dignity that I don't. This was on there. Four. It says right there. [snorts] I would I wouldn't have taken one pack and the other three. >> Well, in the video it appears that you grab it and you >> this item. >> Yeah. And you >> I never had I never had this. I'm so sorry. >> I'm not saying that. I'm saying this right here. >> Some people scream, shout, [music] and verbally attack. Others beg. Either way, it was incredibly irritating. But did you really think that none of the other shoplifterss had children or families? Like the audacity was just unbelievable. Yes, Sarah, you're definitely not different from everyone else just because you have a family. The rules still applied to you. >> Could have been a mistake, but it doesn't look like you actually reached up there and scanned it. You were going to scan it. You got sidetracked by a coat hanger or something and then you didn't scan it. >> I don't know about the other item. I haven't seen the whole video. >> I wasn't trying to scale. Obviously, my method wasn't that. Like I don't know how I know it sounds [ __ ] stupid, but I'm not I'm not trying to take that right in front of her. >> Can they be in front? Is this a >> They got to go. They got to go inside. >> I feel like you guys can control that. [snorts] Well, technically our policy is you have to get in handcuffs if you're in our custody. So, we really can't control >> and the jail gets very mad if they're not in the back. >> Correct. >> It should have been in the back. >> I'm just going to check you real quick before we go outside. >> I put it in the car already. >> Oh, okay. I don't understand how people thought that they could get away from stealing from Target or Walmart. You know, those stores have strong security systems and plenty of cameras. You're probably going to get caught. It's It's not 1989 anymore. The officers, however, they just stayed focused on procedure, right? including securing her in handcuffs before moving her. Well, Sarah Conwell was accused of stealing merchandise worth $1,560 and was charged with grand theft. Well, the value of allegedly stolen property can affect whether a theft charge is treated as a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the state and local law. A trespass notice can also prevent someone from returning to a store or other private property for a specific period of time. Panic can cause people to become defensive, emotional, or focused on finding excuses instead of thinking clearly about the situation. While staying calm and understanding the consequences is usually a better way to handle a stressful encounter. What do you think about Sarah's behavior? Do you think she made the situation worse by arguing and begging, or do you think the officer should have handled it differently? Well, share your answer in the comment section below. Also, click on the shocking body cam videos on your screen to watch more unbelievable moments like this. And don't forget to like and subscribe to our channel so you never miss any of our upcoming body cam