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

More | Report Post

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.