Funadvice Logo

accused of stealing

Home More advice Shopping

our son was accused of stealing goggles recently. Initially, I believed him to be guilty. Being 13, I thought perhaps- an impluse? But, we had discussed buying these goggles, and I had told him to pick out a pair, and I would come and see them since we had a 20% coupon. Well, he was in the shop had them on his lap, was with a friend, and they are guilty of poo judgement. They had met the clerk 10 days prior, and both went behind the counter, and took them out of the case. While waiting to talk to her, a person in the shop told the clerk he was trying to steal them. A manager came in, aske dhim if he was going to pay for those ( he could not) told him to hand them over, and then the humiliation and belittlement began. He tried to expalin, was called a liar, etc and it continues to get worse. He is devastated. I have punished him, he maintains his innocence and I do now believe him because after 2 weeks, he cried hystericaly stating he cannot believe this has happened to him. HIs friend admits they were waiting for the clerk, that they went behind the counter, and also swears he was not stealing. The friend's comment is valid- I why we were we still there, waiting? Why did he have them on his lap in plain view?

What advise can you give me?