Shoplifting in California - Have Not Been Caught. What Now

[uva]

My question involves criminal law for the state of: California

Starting from a year ago, I have shoplifted a few times from Kohl's, Macy's, and once from JCPenny, and I have never been caught, nor have I been stopped by any store employees or LP officer. I am fully aware of the ethics and criminal consequences of my actions thanks to threads from this site; I know I was dishonest and cheating the companies of their merchandise and money and am a thief. I finally "woke up" a few months ago vowing never to shoplift again. (And no, I cannot explain my actions. It was wrong, I was aware it was wrong at the time, and out of plain stupidity, I did it anyway.)

My two questions are:

1. Because all of these stores have video surveillance, what are the chances that upon review of lost inventory and surveillance tapes, they identify me and charge me with shoplifting and/or ban me from the stores (police showing up at my door? being stopped at the entrance next time I go to the store and told I am not allowed on the premises?)? I am aware that in order to be stopped by store employees, there needs to be proof beyond probable cause (this I learned as a former Macy's employee - before the instances of shoplifting), but are the rules different when it comes to being caught after the fact? I do recall a time when I put an article of clothing under my shirt, and then bought another item with my credit card - thus, they technically have my name.

2. Is it advisable for me to send the stores a sum of money, anonymously or not, with a brief letter explaining that I have shoplifted and the money is to somehow pay them back? I think $1000 each to Kohl's and Macy's and $50 to JCPenny would more than doubly cover the amount I stole, but as I did not keep track of the items I stole, I cannot say for certain what the exact amount should be.

Thank you.

[cyjeff]

1. we cannot predict the future.
2. admitting to a crime is a poor tactic.

[uva]

1. we cannot predict the future.
2. admitting to a crime is a poor tactic.

Thank you for your response. I understand that no one possesses the ability to see the future. Let me emphasize and clarify my question:

What are the chances that I will be apprehended - as in, do you have any statistics regarding the circumstances whereupon this has happened, if at all?

Thanks again.

[Security Consultant]

When directing the operations of various LP Departments I received a lot of money in "conscious" mail from people who had pangs of guilt and wanted to pay back what they had stolen. If you chose to go this route, make sure you don't put a return address on the envelope. When I received mail with return addresses I never followed through with prosecution as I had no evidence. The money was just placed into the company general fund.

[LawResearcherMissy]

What are the chances that I will be apprehended -

The law doesn't operate on chances.

as in, do you have any statistics regarding the circumstances whereupon this has happened, if at all?

Such (nonexistent) statistics would require that everyone who has shoplifted and not been caught come forth and admit to their crimes, to be compared with those who've been caught.

I'm sure you can understand why they wouldn't.

Do yourself a solid. Stop shoplifting, and stay well away from the stores you have stolen from. They've got a year to prosecute from the time they catch you. If you've been making a habit of it, it's only a matter of time before the nice plainclothes fella drags you to the office by your ear.

[uva]

Thank you for the responses and the suggestions.

Am I to understand that there is no information or no statistics for individuals apprehended for shoplifting after they have already returned home?

Also, I just thought of another question. Are surveillance videos shared in a common database (or something of the sort) among different store locations of the same company? As in, if I were caught on camera at Kohl's in San Diego and am seen in a Sacramento Kohl's, would Sacramento LP be able to identify me as a person of interest? If that were the case, I should lay low from all store locations.

[Scott67]

Under the law, "guilt" does not relate to whether or not you committed the crime. It relates to whether you are found guilty or admitted guilt in a legal proceedings.

It is good that you have seen the error of your ways and have decided to never do it again. I commend you for that.

As far as making amends for what you have done, that depends upon your own moral compass. The sad fact is that, if you do it in a way that can be traced, stores will crucify the repentant instead of rewarding them for coming clean. It's a catch 22. If you are charged, you want to be able to prove what restitution you have done. If you do it in a provable way, you may incriminate yourself.

[PandorasBox]

First...I hope you won't shoplift again.

From having worked retail....in one of the stores you mentioned...if you are a big enough suspected shoplifter, your photo may be posted in the LP office and by the time clock so employees can be looking out for you. And that LP video may be in the database for the entire chain, not just the "in the area of..." stores.

[uva]

Thank you all for the information. I will certainly never shoplift again, and not just because I am concerned with the level of technology that makes it easier and easier to nab shoplifters, but because I finally took a good hard look at myself and realized that what I have been doing is terrible and costly and I do not want to engage in underhanded behavior anymore. I wish there was some way to undo what I had done in the past months, but short of turning myself in, I will just thank the heavens I have not yet been incarcerated. I apologize to everyone I have defrauded, and I am truly sorry.