I got caught shoplifting today from a pretty popular make-up store in southern California. I'm still sort of in shock I suppose. I am stressing like crazy and can't seem to calm down. I just don't know what to expect from here. It was my first offense but I felt like I got detained for grand theft auto..
In the store, I had made sure I slipped the one item into my bag right where there were no cameras and no one saw me. I threw the packaging behind a rack where no one would spot it for hours. I walked out with my $18.50 make-up and thought I got away with it until one of the workers followed by a security guard chased me down. He held up the empty package I had discarded and told me I needed to return the item. I thought he was going to let me go because I gave it back immediately and didn't play dumb. But he told me I needed to go with him back to the office and he asked for all my information (name, address, phone number, social security, etc.). He told me that we were waiting for the sheriff and he needed to talk to his boss. After an hour of silence and paperwork, he told me that it was my lucky day: there was an emergency and so the sheriff couldn't make it for a few hours. So the store decided it wasn't worth the wait and I could go. I still had to sign a paper that said I ever returned to any of their stores again, I would be arrested for trespassing. The other was a civil demand notice. That is the one that scares me. I don't know how much it's going to be. Plus, I'm living with my parents for the summer break (the address on my license) and that's where it's going to be sent.
I need help figuring out around how much I'm going to have to pay. $100? $500? $1000?? It's an expensive make-up store, if that helps at all. Not a liquor store or market or anything. And I'm trying to figure out if there's any way I would be able to keep this secret from my parents. I know, "Don't do the crime if you don't want to do the time." But I'm totally ashamed and can honestly say I will never ever do it again. I think they would die if they found out. Since it's not on my record or anything, I just want to make sure people don't find out...
In the store, I had made sure I slipped the one item into my bag right where there were no cameras and no one saw me. I threw the packaging behind a rack where no one would spot it for hours. I walked out with my $18.50 make-up and thought I got away with it until one of the workers followed by a security guard chased me down. He held up the empty package I had discarded and told me I needed to return the item. I thought he was going to let me go because I gave it back immediately and didn't play dumb. But he told me I needed to go with him back to the office and he asked for all my information (name, address, phone number, social security, etc.). He told me that we were waiting for the sheriff and he needed to talk to his boss. After an hour of silence and paperwork, he told me that it was my lucky day: there was an emergency and so the sheriff couldn't make it for a few hours. So the store decided it wasn't worth the wait and I could go. I still had to sign a paper that said I ever returned to any of their stores again, I would be arrested for trespassing. The other was a civil demand notice. That is the one that scares me. I don't know how much it's going to be. Plus, I'm living with my parents for the summer break (the address on my license) and that's where it's going to be sent.
I need help figuring out around how much I'm going to have to pay. $100? $500? $1000?? It's an expensive make-up store, if that helps at all. Not a liquor store or market or anything. And I'm trying to figure out if there's any way I would be able to keep this secret from my parents. I know, "Don't do the crime if you don't want to do the time." But I'm totally ashamed and can honestly say I will never ever do it again. I think they would die if they found out. Since it's not on my record or anything, I just want to make sure people don't find out...
