Calgary family slapped with $595 claim after son swipes chocolate bar

CALGARY – Tamara Kendell and her son are working through a bit of a rough patch – Jared was caught stealing a chocolate bar from Zellers at Chinook Centre in January.

Since it was his first time, the police officer recommended Jared for an alternative measures program.

“He felt that Jared was sorry and he didn’t think Jared would shoplift again so he’s putting him through this program to save him from having to be charged and go through the court system,” says Tamara.

Jared is paired with a mentor to help him build on his strengths and avoid a repeat offense.

“He said he’ll help me get a job in the future and stuff and he said like after we’re done with this I can still meet up with him if I want to talk to someone,” says Jared.

Jared says he has learned his lesson and doesn’t feel a trip to a courtroom is worth any sort of five-finger discount.

However, even though police gave him a second chance, Zellers still wants to recover civil damages for the incident.

Tamara has received a settlement claim for $595 or she’ll be sued in small claims court.

“I was pretty surprised because I wasn’t expecting anything like that you know,” says Tamara.

“Charging me almost $600 for Jared shoplifting a chocolate bar seems kind of ridiculous.”

An expert on youth conflict in the law says the civil claim defeats the purpose of alternative measures.

John Winterdyke says it’s supposed to involve compassion.

“It would seem to be a bit counter intuitive, counterproductive to penalize not only the youth but indirectly the family who may or may not have the resources to pay that,”

Global News asked Zellers to explain the civil claim but our calls were not returned.

The claim letter says the amount covers the cost of apprehension, documentation, inventory control, loss of sales opportunities and is lower than the actual recovery costs.

Jared has also been banned from Chinook Centre and any Zellers, Bay or Home Outfitters stores for six months.