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

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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.