Shoplifted on Accident

My question involves criminal law for the state of: California

The other day I was in Safeway with a friend shopping for Halloween supplies. The majority of the thing they didn't have (fishing wire, a sewing kit, etc..). The only thing they did have was glue and latex balloons. The balloons were behind the florist counter so I asked an employee for help. She said she'd page someone to help me. Never happened. The employee and several other employees saw me waiting, but no one offered help. I was waiting there was my friend who is going through transgender surgery so I'm used to being stared at when we are together. There was another man with us that appeared to be waiting for the florist, too. He even asked us how long we were waiting. Finally I got so frustrated with the stares and realized I was getting pressed for time (I had a paper mache project to start and they take a long time to complete) I walked out of the store forgetting I still had the glue in my hand. The man who appeared to be waiting was actually security and he stopped us when outside. I explained everything and although he was very sympathetic he still made me sign some paper work and made a copy of my ID. I guess his manager had heard us talking about our list of things and thought we had a shop lifting list. He also told me that I would be banned from Safeway for a year. I asked to talk to a manager about this because it was an honest mistake. I could've paid for the glue, I've never shoplifted, and I am at this location all the time. I do all my grocery shopping here! The security guard that stopped me told me that because I looked so young (I'm 25) and that their store has a high theft rate from high school kids the managers would probably not be so easy with me. The security manager told me that his security team wouldn't care if I came back. They basically told me they'd look the other way if they saw me. He also told me that the Safeway store manager wasn't so nice and that I shouldn't try to reason with him.

Will this go on my record? Will I need to go to court? Also, I feel like I was targeted. I know accident or not it was wrong. But the employees saw me waiting, including the security guard. I asked for help. Also, if I looked older would they have gone easier on me?

If they did not call the police, then it is not going to court. You might receive a civil demand in the mail for between $50 and $500. You can choose to pay the demand or not. If you do not pay, they might send the matter to collections or take you to small claims court - either one of which could cost you even more than the demand.

You can always try to explain things to management or their corporate folks, but in my experience most companies are not too interested in hearing excuses or explanations.

If I pay the fine will this go on my record?

Quote:

---

Quoting LenaPerris

---

If I pay the fine will this go on my record?

---

It is not a fine, it is a civil demand. There is no criminal record if the police are not involved.

In other words, they are asking that you pay the money to compensate them. The worst that might happen is that your name goes on a registry of shoplifters that retailers might have access to if they subscribe. But, your name would be there whether you pay or not.