State laws regarding theft. (Denver: house, to buy, live)

[dontdatetayswift]

Yesterday I volunteered to work at some type of local festival going on here in Denver. I was specifically volunteering to work at a bakery stand that sold donuts, cupcakes, and sweet pastry items and such. When it looked like things were wrapping up for the day, I decided to make a go for this Boston Cream filled cupcake that I had been eyeing all day.

I took the cupcake, took a bite out of it, and the guy running the bakery stand called me out. He said that I can't be eating any of the products. I argued that I'm working there as an employee and that I should be allowed free food. He argued back that I was just volunteering and that I still needed to pay for it. We got into this giant argument about whether or not I should be allowed free food, but it ultimately ended with him kicking me out and sending me home.

While he wasn't looking, I swiped the cupcake back and made my way towards my car. He followed me and was seriously yelling at me about just one simple cupcake. He kept yelling at me to give it back, but I told him that I had already taken a bite out of it and that it wasn't going to sell. He said that it was "property of the bakery stand" and I responded by just throwing it as far away as possible. I ran off and he yelled that I was a thief and that he was pressing charges.

He can't seriously press charges over one little cupcake? Especially since I was working at the stand in the first place? I was working there and deserved a treat for a hard day's work. And it's not like he knows where I live or anything, so how can he press charges? Should I actually be worried about this? What's the worst case scenario for me right now?

[hikernut]

Oh, you're not going to get the handcuffs for a cupcake. Not a good call on your part, however.

Was this a fundraiser for charity? If not, I fail to understand why you found the cause of this baker's profits a worthwhile use of your time?

[COcheesehead]

Without a clear understanding beforehand that you were allowed free food, technically I would call it stealing. I work at a winery and there is a clear no free wine policy.

[dontdatetayswift]

Originally Posted by hikernut

Oh, you're not going to get the handcuffs for a cupcake. Not a good call on your part, however.

Was this a fundraiser for charity? If not, I fail to understand why you found the cause of this baker's profits a worthwhile use of your time?

I honestly don't even know the purpose of the festival or where the profits are going.

[interloper1138]

I think you should be less concerned about charges being filed against you and more concerned about your behavior in this situation. He warned you once before you decided to double down on your actions. The most realistic worst case scenario is you continue to put yourself in situations like this by having a lack of self-awareness and an inflated sense of entitlement.

[BOS2IAD]

Actually, OP, you should have paid for the cupcake. You should have told the owner that you were going to buy the cupcake, then put the money in the till.

Some owners in that situation may have said "It's on the house and thanks for volunteering." However, this particular owner didn't do that.

[Parnassia]

Originally Posted by BOS2IAD

Actually, OP, you should have paid for the cupcake. You should have told the owner that you were going to buy the cupcake, then put the money in the till.

Some owners in that situation may have said "It's on the house and thanks for volunteering." However, this particular owner didn't do that.

Agree. OP you made an assumption that was quite wrong. Doesn't matter whether the event was a fundraiser or for profit. You volunteered...that implies you didn't expect payment whether it was in cash or food. The right thing to do would be to offer to buy this coveted cupcake and give the owner the opportunity to give it to you for free as a thank you for your time. To assume you could simply take it was disrespectful. Then to go ahead and swipe it even after you knew it would be wrong was dishonest not to mention snotty! Your attitude is the problem, not the value of the thing you stole or the state you stole it in.

[Maddie104]

OP, you took something that didn't belong to you without asking permission. Furthermore, you weren't an employee; you were a volunteer. I assume nothing was promised you in exchange for your services.

That you would throw the cupcake is what a child would do.

While I doubt the owner will press charges, I hope you can understand how uncouth and childish your behavior was.

For what it's worth, I am been involved in employee theft cases, and in many of those cases they rationalize why they deserved what they took and it wasn't really stealing.

[pikabike]

Originally Posted by dontdatetayswift

Yesterday I volunteered to work at some type of local festival going on here in Denver. I was specifically volunteering to work at a bakery stand that sold donuts, cupcakes, and sweet pastry items and such. When it looked like things were wrapping up for the day, I decided to make a go for this Boston Cream filled cupcake that I had been eyeing all day.

I took the cupcake, took a bite out of it, and the guy running the bakery stand called me out. He said that I can't be eating any of the products. I argued that I'm working there as an employee and that I should be allowed free food. He argued back that I was just volunteering and that I still needed to pay for it. We got into this giant argument about whether or not I should be allowed free food, but it ultimately ended with him kicking me out and sending me home.

While he wasn't looking, I swiped the cupcake back and made my way towards my car. He followed me and was seriously yelling at me about just one simple cupcake. He kept yelling at me to give it back, but I told him that I had already taken a bite out of it and that it wasn't going to sell. He said that it was "property of the bakery stand" and I responded by just throwing it as far away as possible. I ran off and he yelled that I was a thief and that he was pressing charges.

He can't seriously press charges over one little cupcake? Especially since I was working at the stand in the first place? I was working there and deserved a treat for a hard day's work. And it's not like he knows where I live or anything, so how can he press charges? Should I actually be worried about this? What's the worst case scenario for me right now?

Entitlementality strikes yet again. Volunteering does not give you the right to take anything without paying for it.

Local festival on a Thursday? Any Denverites know which one?

[Ruth4Truth]

OP, who made up the "rule" that volunteers get free stuff from the people they're volunteering for? You? That was very presumptuous of you.Normal people ask if they can have a freebie. They don't just take what they want.