Legal Question in Real Estate Law in North Carolina

This sounds more like a criminal law question but it also sounds like you are concerned the store owner may sue or has sued in civil court. It sounds like your friend engaged in larceny. Larceny does not require that your friend leave the store with the merchandise. It only requires that he/she conceal the item(s) with the intent at the time to take them without paying...it doesn't require the act to be completed.

A criminal act has occured, even if the items were retruned before leaving. As for you: you cited a very archaic law that is very seldom used. The store owner could always argue that you attempted to assist your friend, in which case you could be liable. In any event a lawsuit is unlikley because the store owner got the items back and a lawsuit would be very expensive compared to any recovery he could get.