What Should a Minor Do After Getting Caught Shoplifting

My question involves criminal law for the state of: California

Typical dumb teenager stuff, was caught stealing. Etc etc, they held me in a back room until my brother went to pick me up. They asked for my ID, called my brother, had me sign 2 papers. I think they were acknowledgements of what I did. I'm pretty sure they put some of my info into a system and snuck a picture of me into their system as well. No cops were involved, I'm pretty sure my parents don't even know. They just told me that I can't go into that particular target store. They also told me that I was going to get something in the mail saying that I had to pay for what I stole, and then some (the item wasn't damaged). They told me that it would ruin my credit and I could be arrested if I don't pay it, but as a minor I don't have credit and they didn't take my mother's information, so how could it ruin her credit?

So basically, my biggest questions are:

1) should I pay target?
2) can and will they sue/try to arrest me if I don't pay?
3) what would happen if I don't pay them?
4) how long am I banned from that particular store? How do they even enforce such a thing?

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Quoting beatles_maniac

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My question involves criminal law for the state of: California

Typical dumb teenager stuff, was caught stealing. Etc etc, they held me in a back room until my brother went to pick me up. They asked for my ID, called my brother, had me sign 2 papers. I think they were acknowledgements of what I did. I'm pretty sure they put some of my info into a system and snuck a picture of me into their system as well. No cops were involved, I'm pretty sure my parents don't even know. They just told me that I can't go into that particular target store. They also told me that I was going to get something in the mail saying that I had to pay for what I stole, and then some (the item wasn't damaged). They told me that it would ruin my credit and I could be arrested if I don't pay it, but as a minor I don't have credit and they didn't take my mother's information, so how could it ruin her credit?

So basically, my biggest questions are:

1) should I pay target?
2) can and will they sue/try to arrest me if I don't pay?
3) what would happen if I don't pay them?
4) how long am I banned from that particular store? How do they even enforce such a thing?

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1) Civil demands are authorized by law.
2) Target can sue and they can also report your crime to the police and prosecutor and you can be charged criminally.
3) If you don't pay them, expect to have a court record.
4) Banned for ever quite frankly. They can enforce it by if they catch you, you will be charged criminally for trespass. How many crimes do you want to commit, dumb kid?

Oh and typical teenagers are not thieves. So quit trying to say it is normal what you did. It isn't. It is a crime.

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Quoting beatles_maniac

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Typical dumb teenager stuff, was caught stealing.

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I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but being a thief is not typical of teenagers.

I actually paid for the stuff that I had and forgot to pay the other thing, which I didn't think mattered in adding to the details of this (because I paid at self checkout). What happened, happened. All I want to know is whether or not I should pay it, because I've heard it's a scam to scare people and they're very unlikely to sue over a small amount. I don't think they got law enforcement involved.

Please tell us the legal qualifications of the people who told you this is a scam and that Target is unlikely to sue you.

(And please note, the amount they're going to bill you will not be a small amount.)

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Quoting beatles_maniac

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I actually paid for the stuff that I had and forgot to pay the other thing, which I didn't think mattered in adding to the details of this (because I paid at self checkout). What happened, happened. All I want to know is whether or not I should pay it, because I've heard it's a scam to scare people and they're very unlikely to sue over a small amount. I don't think they got law enforcement involved.

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No it is not a scam. Oh you just happened to "forget" to pay for one thing? They hear that excuse a lot you know. A scam would be like this elderly lady in the news who had someone call her pretending to be a grandson in jail and then a "cop" got on and told her that she could bail him out with Target gift cards. She bought 20,000 in Target and 4000 in Best Buy cards. That's a scam.

No it isn't typical teenager stuff. Some teenagers steal yes. One of my older brothers got caught stealing from Shopko in high school. My dad had the cops take him to the police station. My brother was scared shitless when my dad picked him up and never stole again as far as I know. But that doesn't make it "typical." I think he was doing it because a friend was doing it and not getting caught.

You can choose not to pay the civil demand and then you will get in even more trouble. Or just pay what they demand you to pay. I hope someone tells your parents. Your brother better tell your parents or you because they should know. Then they can deal with you as well and maybe you won't do this again.