Giving an Incomplete Address to Loss Prevention After Getting Caught Stealing

My question involves criminal law for the state of: California

I'm currently a student at a university and I live in the dorms.
The other day I was caught shoplifting from a local Target, and there were no police involved.
It was just the undercover shopper and another employee that took my information down.
All they did was take my picture and write down my information for their personal records and they told me that I would possibly be getting a bill in the mail just to pay for the things that I stole which only came out to a total of about $27.

At my school, for you to receive your mail, you must also write down your hall and room number so the school knows who to distribute the mail to.
I only gave the Target employees the school address (on accident), meaning I didn't give them my hall or room number, meaning I don't think I'll be able to receive the bill that they said they may or may not be sending me.

What happens if you don't pay that bill? Will they fine me even more? Or will there be charges set against me for not paying that bill ever?

You could call them and advise them of your error so they can update their records.

But what if all they put down as they were taking my information was just my name and the school address I gave them?
Is there anyway that that bill can be traced back to me specifically or will it now just be lost in the mail and just something that will never be compensated for in Target's records?

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Quoting nizzle

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But what if all they put down as they were taking my information was just my name and the school address I gave them?
Is there anyway that that bill can be traced back to me specifically or will it now just be lost in the mail and just something that will never be compensated for in Target's records?

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This is making it sound like it wasn't a true accident.

Most likely, if you are the only person with your name at your school they will get the letter to you with a delay. If they can't then it will be returned to the sender. Target will get the letter back and do at least one of 3 things.

1.) Forget about it, and you get off with nothing (I would not think this is too likely)
2.) Find your real address and Sue you, putting a judgement on your credit report, and trashing your credit.
3.) Get fed up that you lied to them, turn the information over to the police, who will arrest you, and charges will be pressed.

Nothing is guaranteed in these cases but in general the best possible outcome after being caught shoplifting is that you recieve a civil demand in the mail, you pay it, and then the issue is resolved with no permanent damage to your credit, finances, or criminal record. That sounds like what Target is/was planning to do. Whether or not they stick with that plan is up to them. Typically we advise that shoplifters do not contact the store after being caught. However in this case I think it is significantly riskier for you not to. If you call, apologize for the oversight and give them your dorm info then you likely will only receive the civil demand. If you are a gambler then roll the dice, don't contact them, and you can end up with anything from getting off without a scratch to having a shoplifting conviction on your record and having a lot of trouble finding employment during and after college.

I go for option 3. The local police will contact university police, obtain your room and charges will be filed. Better call them quick.

Ah...guess what....if your college financial aid office finds out, you might have your financial aid is killed....

So yeah, call and "I didn't get the Civil Demand, did I give you my full address?" Or if you had to give your license to be copied.....well, if your home address is on it, your parents might wonder where the lawyer bill is coming from....

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Quoting free9man

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You could call them and advise them of your error so they can update their records.

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Quoting brownj12

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This is making it sound like it wasn't a true accident.

Most likely, if you are the only person with your name at your school they will get the letter to you with a delay. If they can't then it will be returned to the sender. Target will get the letter back and do at least one of 3 things.

1.) Forget about it, and you get off with nothing (I would not think this is too likely)
2.) Find your real address and Sue you, putting a judgement on your credit report, and trashing your credit.
3.) Get fed up that you lied to them, turn the information over to the police, who will arrest you, and charges will be pressed.

Nothing is guaranteed in these cases but in general the best possible outcome after being caught shoplifting is that you recieve a civil demand in the mail, you pay it, and then the issue is resolved with no permanent damage to your credit, finances, or criminal record. That sounds like what Target is/was planning to do. Whether or not they stick with that plan is up to them. Typically we advise that shoplifters do not contact the store after being caught. However in this case I think it is significantly riskier for you not to. If you call, apologize for the oversight and give them your dorm info then you likely will only receive the civil demand. If you are a gambler then roll the dice, don't contact them, and you can end up with anything from getting off without a scratch to having a shoplifting conviction on your record and having a lot of trouble finding employment during and after college.

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It actually was a true accident! I was just curious as to what would happen if they couldn't have traced the bill back to me.
But I did end up calling them and fixing the problem. Thanks, everyone, for your answers!

I think your bill will be far more than $27.00. The law in California allows them to bill you for an amount up to and including $500.00.

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Quoting Security Consultant

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I think your bill will be far more than $27.00. The law in California allows them to bill you for an amount up to and including $500.00.

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I called corporate and they told me they will bill me strictly just the amount that was taken.

If that's the case you are very luck and got a huge break.