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Caught Shoplifting, No Police Called, What Now

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  • 10-30-2011, 09:47 AM
    shamed33
    Caught Shoplifting, No Police Called, What Now
    My question involves criminal law for the state of: North Carolina

    I am 22 and I was in a NC Kohls when i made the choice to shoplift a pair of earrings i stuck in my pocket. I made it up to the register (with my mom who was paying for her things) and was almost out the door when a LP officer stopped me and pulled me into a room and asked about the earrings in my pocket. I immediately broke down and returned them. They said they saw me and had me on video. There were no cops involved at all, just the 2 LP personnel and I was cooperative and polite...they said they could tell how fast my heart was beating and how red I was turning. I signed a paper stating i could not enter Kohls stores again as well as another paper I cant remember as to what it was...i was so ashamed i just did what they asked.
    They said that what I did could be classified as a misdemeanor and possibly felony (because I removed a pair of earrings from the paper with a security tag, not the entire thing) resulting in hundreds of dollars in court/lawyer costs but that civil action would be taken....or something along those lines. They said I was lucky because any other store in the complex wouldve had the police involved, but no police were called. The LP personnel just took my info of my license and my SSN and had me sign papers saying I couldnt enter a Kohls store and some other paper I was just too nervous and jittery to read yet alone sign legibily. This was stupid and my first offense as I have no record of anything save for a seatbelt ticket when I was 18.They said it was a lesson learned and I would be receiving a letter in the mail and after that they escorted me out and I left. This just happened yesterday so I have nothing of the incident further as of now. I am 22 and in college and this was a stupid mistake I never want to repeat again. My mom was with me when it happened and I told her a lie and that it was a misunderstaing because i was just so ashamed and i knew it would hurt her so i really just want this to remain something private my family, and hopefully others wont know about. What will I be receiving in the mail and approximately when? What can I expect to happen to me? Criminal charges on my record? Will my info be given to police and a criminal charge filed? Will i have a "record" now? I know what I did was wrong and I just want this to be over with and a scary lesson fully learned.
  • 10-30-2011, 09:55 AM
    LawResearcherMissy
    Re: Caught Shoplifting, No Police Called, What Now
    Expect the letter in the mail to be a Civil Demand in the amount of around $300. Pay it. If you don't, the demand will increase, and eventually they will take you to court for it. If it comes to that, they may also exercise their right to have you criminally prosecuted.

    At the moment, you have no criminal record. That can change if you do not cooperate with the terms of the Civil Demand.
  • 10-30-2011, 10:05 AM
    shamed33
    Re: Caught Shoplifting, No Police Called, What Now
    I expect to pay the demand as soon as I receive it, whenever that may be. I understand that civil demand and criminal procedure are 2 seperate events? When I pay the civil demand, would criminal charges still follow or anything I have to go to court for and get legal help involved with? I have never been in anything like this before so I am scared to death and unsure. I am looking to just pay my civil demand and it be kept a private matter I can learn from and put behind me as a dark event I regret wholeheartedly.
  • 10-30-2011, 10:06 AM
    flyingron
    Re: Caught Shoplifting, No Police Called, What Now
    As stated civil and criminal are independent actions. Frankly, if you've not been reported to the police/prosecutor by now, you may have escaped that.
  • 10-30-2011, 10:11 AM
    shamed33
    Re: Caught Shoplifting, No Police Called, What Now
    The event just took place yesterday, and at the time of occurrence, no police or mention of them was involved.
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