Shoplifting, Larceny, Robbery, Theft Tricky & Complex Situation

[rtfworriedsick]

My question involves criminal law for the state of Mississippi

I know everyone says it - but I have no clue why I did this. I could afford what I took and took it anyways. No priors, no record, and desperately wanting to keep it that way because I am in school and this would kill my chances at a good job. I'm disgusted with myself right now, but I would really appreciate any good advise out there. I have already sought help for this incident on a personal level and am dealing with what may have cause this impulsive, out-of-character behavior.

Here is the run down:

• -Major department store retailer in a shopping mall
  -I am not a minor
  -Entered store and made a purchase on my mom's department store credit card (1 item)
  -Noticed an expensive item that is supposed to be electronically tagged that was not and also had no price tags
  -Left department store, shopped for an hour or so
  -Returned to the department store, picked up the expensive item and smaller item
  -Wandered around the store - various departments - and picked up some clothes to try on
  -Went to the dressing room and stashed two items on me (total value just under $150)
  -Exited the dressing room, returned some clothes to rack, paid for 2 items on my credit card
  -Put the tags for the small item ($20ish) in a pant pocket on the rack
  -Attempted to exit into the shopping mall and the alarm went off
  -I had to go find someone to check my bags - the piece of jewelry that I had paid for hadn't been deactivated
  -The cashier deactivated the jewelry and told me to have a nice day
  -Thanked her and left the store - Alarm did not sound
  -Although I was parked in the store's parking lot, I chose to leave through a different exit just in case

I know that the store cameras saw me handling the merchandise and probably saw me hiding the tag and getting in my car. No one followed me, asked me questions, seemed suspicious: nothing. I would have thought that if they saw me on camera they would have stopped me in the store.

I am worried sick. I don't even want what I have now - it grosses me out. I am terrified that someone will find the tags, look through surveillance footage, and link me to my credit card or, even worse, my mom's store card information. This could kill my reputation, career, everything. I really don't know what I was thinking.

After discussing it with some trusted sources, I know that I should not return the merchandise to the store or attempt to recover the hidden tags. I plan on mailing the items in anonymously with a letter of apology and a money order after a reasonable amount of time has passed and I know that I am not going to open up an investigation where the surveillance footage is easy found and traced.

• 1. Do you think that the store will try to find me because my crime was over $100?
  2. Does my mom's store card link make this even worse? She is going to be so disappointed in me. I would rather die than her find out I did something so horrible.
  3. Because the tags are hidden in a place that will not be immediately found; and because the item did not have a thief prevention device, I don't think they will realize it is missing until they do inventory - but what do I know?? Trying not to make assumptions - good or bad. What is your opinion on the likelihood that this incident will be pursed by the department store once they realize that a theft has taken place?

I know that anything is possible and the statue of limitations is huge, but I really would appreciate information and opinions based on your knowledge and/or previous experience. Thank you for any and all advice.

 

[shrinkmaster]

1. Do you think that the store will try to find me because my crime was over $100?
The dollar value will not play a big role in this. If they are aware of the theft they will likely use all available tool to discover the who, what, when, where and, how
2. Does my mom's store card link make this even worse? She is going to be so disappointed in me. I would rather die than her find out I did something so horrible.
As stated above the store will use whatever means available to ID you if they discover the theft
3. Because the tags are hidden in a place that will not be immediately found; and because the item did not have a thief prevention device, I don't think they will realize it is missing until they do inventory - but what do I know?? Trying not to make assumptions - good or bad. What is your opinion on the likelihood that this incident will be pursed by the department store once they realize that a theft has taken place?
Store security staff are very aware of where tags get hidden and it snot likely your location is original. When I ran security for major retailer I would spend my mornings (before openning) going through store looking for tags so I knew where they were being hid and took preventive measures to remove that hiding place. I also used that knowledge when investigating so I knew where to look for evidence