Re: caught shoplifting, no police, how much should i worry?

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On 6/11/08, john wrote:
> On 6/30/06, maricha wrote:
>> On 6/30/06, M'sta Mikey wrote:
>>> On 6/30/06, maricha wrote:
>>>> Hi everyone. I was caught shoplifting from Mervyn's in
>>>> California 3 weeks ago. In comparison, I guess my ordeal
>>>> was more pleasant than a lot of people's on here, but that
>>>> hasn't gotten me to stop worrying and shaking. I took a
>>>> necklace and stuffed the wrapper in a pants pocket. I
>>>> walked out of the store to the parking lot and got about
>>>> 10 ft when a guy ran up to me and tapped me on the
>>>> shoulder and say "Hey kid, which one did you take?" I
>>>> almost peed myself! I immediately started to cry and
>>>> reached in my pocket to give him the necklace but he held
>>>> my arm before I could take it out and told me to stop.
>>>> Then we walked back into the store where he escorted me up
>>>> the escalators and as we were going up he asked my age and
>>>> when I told him I was 17 he said "Shouldn't you be in
>>>> school right now?" and I said "No, we got out early today
>>>> for professional development." which was the truth. He
>>>> just nodded and smiled and said "Professional
>>>> development?" and I said "Yeah, its when the teachers and
>>>> students get extra time to work on the curriculum and
>>>> schoolwork" and he said "Cool" and smiled again. When got
>>>> to the 2nd floor we walked into this white room with a
>>>> bunch of cabinets and a desk and he asked if I had any
>>>> prior convictions and I said no, which is the truth also.
>>>> Then he said "Well kid, since this is your first time I'm
>>>> gonna go easy on you. Just tell the truth from this point
>>>> forward and I'll be easy" or something to that effect.
>>>> Then he asked me my info (name, address, phone #, parents
>>>> name, social security) and he asked if I had my California
>>>> ID and I said no, and he said he'd have to call the police
>>>> if I didn't have a form of ID, and he took my school ID
>>>> instead. He was writing out the story of what he saw in
>>>> the video, which made me nervous because I thought he was
>>>> writing a police report, but he said he wouldn't prosecute
>>>> me, so I guess he was writing it for his own files? He
>>>> tried to call my parents, but since my parents are both
>>>> busy workers neither picked up the phone. He sighed and
>>>> said he'd have to call the police, and when he did, a
>>>> police officer that was already in the mall came up to the
>>>> store where we were and said "Hey what's going on up here?
>>>> What're you in here for young lady?" and I
>>>> said "Stealing." and he said "Now what would make you do a
>>>> thing like that?" and I said "Peer pressure." then he went
>>>> on with a little anecdote that ended with "If your friends
>>>> jump off a bridge, let em, just don't jump off right
>>>> behind em." and then he told the security/LP guy and
>>>> said "Man, you don't need me here. Just 602 (I think
>>>> that's what he said) and let her leave with mall
>>>> security." and then he smiled at me and said "Keep outta
>>>> trouble, you hear? I don't wanna see your name in the
>>>> funny papers." I have no idea what that meant but I just
>>>> nodded and smiled through my tears, I was so scared. I
>>>> felt like I was in a movie. The police officer was so lax,
>>>> during the whole conversation he was eating a soft pretzel
>>>> and slurping soda like it was no big deal, but I guess he
>>>> handles theft often. What is 602, if that's even what he
>>>> said? Now I'm nervous because I'm not sure if I
>>>> technically plead guilty already (even though I am!).
>>>> Anyway, the officer left and mall security arrived and
>>>> walked me out of the mall. He walked me all the way
>>>> through the mall to the other side (unfortunately, I was
>>>> parked right outside of Mervyn's, which meant I had to
>>>> walk all the way around the mall to get back to my car...
>>>> it gave me time to regret and think about what I did,
>>>> although the mall security didn't know I drove.) But
>>>> before I was escorted out I had to sign a release paper
>>>> and some other paper but he never explained it and I was
>>>> so nervous that I didn't read it, I could barely sign it
>>>> legibly! And the mall security made me sign a trespass
>>>> note and even called my house to make sure my mother knew
>>>> about it! Fortunately, I went home right after the ordeal
>>>> and got the message before my parents.
>>>>
>>>> Anyway, I haven't told my parents, and I won't unless I
>>>> get a summons to court, which the security/LP guy said he
>>>> wouldn't do. I got a civil demand letter in the mail, and
>>>> since I just got enough money (graduation gift money) to
>>>> pay for it, I'm gonna get a money order and pay for it
>>>> ASAP. I'm so scared about this all (and I should be,
>>>> serves me right ). I haven't been able to sleep, eat, I'm
>>>> afraid to leave the house, and I'm more paranoid than
>>>> ever! And that doesn't help my nerves at all because I
>>>> already have ADHD. I'm just really nervous about what
>>>> could happen even if I pay the civil demand. They could
>>>> still prosecute me and that scares the daylights outta me!
>>>> At the end of the civil demand it even says something
>>>> along the lines of "Payment of civil demand does not
>>>> preclude prosecution." I'm just so sorry about what
>>>> happened. I'm sorry for being dishonest, pathetic,
>>>> selfish, and taking time outta those officer's lives. I've
>>>> never been more sorry and apologetic in my life. I
>>>> apologized to the security/LP guy repeatedly (not to get
>>>> out of trouble or anything, but because I was sincerely
>>>> sorry) and he said "It's ok, it's ok, you're not the worst
>>>> I've had. At least you cooperated." Does anyone know what
>>>> the likelihood of prosecution is? I know that your guess
>>>> is as good as mine, but some of you guys are more
>>>> experienced in this area than I am. And if you were in a
>>>> similar situation as me, please share your story! Maybe
>>>> it'll help me lighten up a bit.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks for reading, and sorry my story is so long, I just
>>>> wanted to provide details for better understanding.
>>>
>>> Pay the civil demand, stay out of the store and they won't
>>> prosecute. Don't, and all bets are off.
>>>
>>
>> Thank you, I'm a bit relieved now.

you were lucky to get off so easily with such a nice staff memeber.
just promise yourself that you will never steal again. dont worry,
you'll be just fine. i got caught shoplifting over 30 bucks worth of
merchandise at rite aid. they got my address, name, number, and
school. my grandmother had to come to sign a release form and i have
to tell my parents, but they didnt call the police and im just not
allowed to go back. i started crying too, and the people were real
bitches. dont worry, all of us do stupid things but just b/c its
normal doesnt mean its okay. dont worry about your permanent record.
since we are both minors (im 14), and the police werent really
involved, there will be no record. just dont go back and dont
shoplift again. its perfectly normal to be scared after that, i know
i was. hope i helped. good luck!