I witnessed a brazen theft, but got charged with shoplifting myself!

I was at a grocery store buying some groceries for dinner. At the checkout line, I was just standing there staring off into a daydream, waiting for my turn. When the person in front of me had finished, I continued daydreaming. Then when I noticed that I was next, I started pulling out my wallet to pay.<br><br>At this point, a woman jumped in and started unloading her food at the checkout line in front of me. I thought this was odd, but I didn't think much of it. I assumed she was just a rude customer who didn't want to wait in a line.<br><br>Then another woman, who appeared to be this woman's daughter, started bringing out shopping carts full of food and began loading it into their minivan in the parking lot. The woman at the checkout continued to unload her food, and the cashier started ringing it up.<br><br>One of the store employees approached the woman and started talking to her. I couldn't hear what they were saying until the woman started yelling at the employee and saying, "I'm going to pay for all of this food! So you can't stop me!"<br><br>I was shocked at this, but continued to wait patiently for the woman to finish. The employee left and went into the back of the store to get her manager. Then a few minutes later, the woman started loading her food into her minivan.<br><br>The manager came out and approached the woman again. The woman yelled at the manager and started to leave the store. The manager yelled back, "You're not paying for any of that food!" The woman got into her minivan and drove away.<br><br>I noticed a few employees following the woman and writing down her license plate number. Then the manager approached me and said, "Sir, did you see any of that happen?" I said yes and started to explain what had happened.<br><br>The manager cut me off and said, "Sir, I need you to come down to the security office while I call the police to file a report." I was confused and asked, "Why do I need to do that?" The manager replied, "You have stolen merchandise in your hands!"<br><br>I looked at my hands in confusion and realized I was still holding the groceries I was going to purchase. I said, "I didn't steal this food. I haven't even paid for it yet!" The manager replied, "Sir, I need you to come down to the security office while I call the police to file a report."<br><br>At this point, the police arrived and arrested me for shoplifting. I was shocked and confused, and I couldn't understand why I was being arrested. I explained to the police that I hadn't stolen anything, but they just laughed and said, "Save it for the judge."<br><br>When we arrived at the police station, I was booked and thrown in a cell. I waited for several hours before I was finally able to see a judge. The judge asked me what had happened, and I explained the whole situation.<br><br>The judge listened patiently and then said, "I believe you. But the store is pressing charges, so I have to set bail." I was shocked and asked, "Why are they pressing charges? I didn't steal anything!"<br><br>The judge replied, "The store is saying that you were in on the theft with the woman. They claim that you were acting as a decoy to distract the employees while she loaded the food into her minivan."<br><br>I was outraged and asked, "How can they say that? I didn't even know the woman!" The judge replied, "I know, but the store is adamant that you were involved. So I have to set bail."<br><br>I was furious, but I didn't have a choice. I paid the bail and was released from jail. I couldn't believe what had just happened. I had witnessed a brazen theft, but I was the one who got charged with shoplifting!<br><br>As I was leaving the courthouse, I saw the woman who had stolen the food. She was standing outside, smoking a cigarette. I approached her and said, "You're the one who got me in trouble. Why did you do that?"<br><br>She looked at me and said, "I didn't do anything to you. You were just a bystander." I replied, "But I got charged with shoplifting because of you!" She just laughed and said, "That's not my problem."<br><br>I was angry, but I didn't want to escalate the situation. So I just walked away. As I was walking, I heard the woman yelling behind me. I turned around and saw her middle finger waving in the air.<br><br>I couldn't believe what had just happened. I had witnessed a brazen theft, but I was the one who got charged with shoplifting! It just didn't seem fair.