Thank you. I understand why this is such a frustrating situation for you and, I assure you, that you are not the first parent who has had this happen to them.

Your son may be only 19 -- however, he is a legal adult and that made the transaction a legal one.

The gold shop does not have to return the jewelry if it doesn't want to. Indeed, what they told you is true: you'd have to press criminal charges against your son. Once charges are filed, the police will seize the jewelery as evidence and you could get it back at the end of the criminal case (and then the jewelery store would likely file an insurance claim to cover their loss).

I know that this is not what you wanted to hear but you deserve a candid answer. I wish very much that I could offer you an answer that was more favorable to your circumstances, but the law seems to be pretty clear. Had I been able to provide an Answer which might have given you a successful outcome, it would have been my pleasure to do so.

I hope you understand.

It has been my pleasure to assist you today with your information needs. It is my goal that you are satisfied. No expert can promise you an answer that is favorable to your circumstances. But I will do my very best to explain the legal principles that are related to the facts you’ve described so that you can better understand the “why” of things.

What are your options now?

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Thanks,
~~ J.B.