Caught shoplifting jewelry

**wendi2122** · 05-26-2005, 07:43 AM

I did something really stupid. I picked up several pairs of earrings and a bracelet, removed the security tags, concealed them, and left the store. I shopped for another 20 minutes, and was probably recorded on several cameras. As I left, I was followed to the car by two security guards, who stood there and watched me drive off. They never said anything to me. I don't know if they took down my plate number. Have I been caught? Can I expect a summons in the mail? This is really humiliating, and i'm quite sure it has cured me of ever wanting to do this again, but i'm scared to death that this is going to catch up with me.

**aaron** · 05-26-2005, 08:14 AM

Normally, where store security guards believe that they have enough information to accuse somebody of shoplifting, they detain the person and call the police. As they did not, it is not an unreasonable inference that they believed you to be shoplifting, but didn't feel they had the requisite evidence. You can be pretty sure, though, that if you go back to that store, if they identify you they will be watching you like a hawk.

**wendi2122** · 05-26-2005, 09:13 PM

Thanks for the reply, but I am still worried that the security guard just took down my plate number and will find out who I am. Is this possible? Could an officer show up at my door some day? But if I drove off, how can they prove that I didn't just put the stuff down somewhere before I left the store?