Posted by maricha on 6/30/06

More | Report Post

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.

Re: caught shoplifting, no police, how much should i worry?, 4/16/13, by LC.

Criminal Law Chatboard

LATEST POSTS | BY TOPICS | SUBMIT A POST