What Happens if You Return to a Store After Shoplifting There

My question involves criminal law for the state of: North Carolina

A little over a week ago a friend and I had taken items from walmart and put them in our purse. My items amounted to less then $25 as did hers. As we were leaving the store the alarm went off and I we panicked (me more so than her) and backed up and dropped our items. So we did not take any items out of the store, but I do know that North Carolina has concealment laws so we did commit a crime. No one stopped us when the alarm went off and we hung back for about 3-4 minutes and then left, at this point the alarm didn't go off because we had dropped the items in a basket inside the building. The door we went out of was the back entrance.

My question is this: is there a big likelihood that if I go back to the store I will be stopped and identified from the video? Seeing as it's the only big store in town, there is really no way to avoid going back. Are they allowed to prosecute after leaving the store? I'm sure they are...just thought I would check to be sure. Another thing I ask is if anyone know the way the walmart security cameras work. Does the alarm going off mean they check the camera right away or the camera focus in on that door? Thank you for your help and believe me I have learned my lesson from this scare as I was lucky to get away without charges. It was the first and the last time.

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is there a big likelihood that if I go back to the store I will be stopped and identified from the video?

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No one here can answer that. It all depends on how bored LP is.

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Are they allowed to prosecute after leaving the store?

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Yep. They've got a year to do so.

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Does the alarm going off mean they check the camera right away or the camera focus in on that door?

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Again, depends on how bored LP is.

I should also mention that I HAVE been back to the store since. I went with the same friend that was with me and we were not stopped when we went back or questioned. But we also went back late at night and we did the shoplifting during the day. Im just worried if I go back alone and during the day they would be more likely to stop me.

It doesn't change anything I already said.

You're just going to have to wait it out.

I'd avoid that store, and all of it's locations within an hour radius. For atleast a year.
- A lot of stores have LP that travel to different stores so customers are less able to guess who is LP....
- You may find your photo not only posted in the LP office, but also next to employee time clocks with a note like "if you see these people, contact LP immediately"......

LOL, you just haven't gone when the LP associates that know you are a thief have seen you. Are you feeling lucky??? They can prosecute off the tape.