Can You be Charged if You Attempt to Shoplift but Leave Without Stealing

My question involves criminal law for the state of: South Carolina
I was in a make up store that I have stolen a few small things from before. I usually don't have any issues, but they were closing soon, so I guess they were watching me more than I thought. I picked up a couple items as I shopped along, and I slipped a couple items in my purse as I went. I walked over to another shelf and an employee asked if I wanted a basket (something I think they do if they're suspicious), so I agreed and put the remaining items in my hands in the basket. Another employee gestured to my basket and asked me how I liked a certain foundation from one of the brands that I had stolen, and I said "oh this isn't Maybeline* its Covergirl*" and she said "oh I thought you picked up the Maybeline*.." This was my first clue that she had seen me. She continued to stand near me while I shopped, and answered rudely when I asked about a certain product. Long story short, they were very much onto me, and I heard one woman (who seemed to be a manager) talking about calling security. She was saying it loud enough for me to hear, so I started casually slipping the items out of my bag and back onto the shelves. After I returned some of the Neutrogena* products, I walked over to another shelf, where an employee walked up to me and asked if I had any questions about Neutrogena*, to which I smiled and said no. At this point, I had put all of the items back, and they were about to close and I panicked so I picked up an item to buy and paid with my debit card. I walked out without a problem, but as I walked out, I passed a security guard who looked like he was headed for the store. Moral of the story is, I did not steal anything, but had clear intentions of stealing it, and used my debit card without thinking, so I'm worried they will track me down and press charges, even though I didn't end up stealing anything, but I have stolen from them before and not been caught, but may have been caught on camera. Long post, I'm sorry, but lots of details I had to include.

*= brand name was changed

In many states the theft was complete when you put the items in your handbag to conceal them from the store with the intent to steal them. If that is the case in SC the store employees could have busted you right when they first started cluing you in that they were on to you. While I think it is unlikely they’ll go to the effort to track you down now to have you prosecuted, they now know you are a likely shoplifter and you can expect that they’ll be looking closely at you should you ever go back there. If I were you, I would (1) stop shoplifting and (2) avoid going back to that store. If you keep stealing you will get caught. It is only a matter of time. As your experience here shows, you aren’t so good at this that you can be sure to evade detection. And if you get prosecuted and convicted for shoplifting, that theft crime will really hurt you for a number of years. Most employers do not want to hire thieves, so your chances to get any really good job would be significantly narrowed. If your current employer finds out, you might get fired. If you have plans to seek some kind of professional license, you may find that you might be denied that over a theft conviction since theft is a crime of dishonesty. If you are not a citizen, a conviction might result in your deportation back to your home country.

If that makeup store is part of a chain, you should stay out of all of locations because they will share information about you (including surveillance camera images). Figure out a legal way to supplement your income. If you keep this up, you will be caught, eventually.

Thank you for your response. After this experience, I am definitely not stealing again. Should I still avoid this store, even if I am not stealing anything?

I appreciate your response. I've been looking it up online, and it appears that concealing an item in a store (amongst many other ambiguous laws) result in a theft charge. Since this is the case, and since who I am assuming was the manager was so angry, I am still concerned they are going to track me down since it would be so easy because I literally gave them all of my information by paying with a credit card. I have also stolen from this store in the past without being caught or suspected, to my knowledge. After this experience, this will be the last time I shoplift, because I realize now how easy it is to get caught.

"In SC retail stores who are victims of shoplifting can chose two ways to go about their case: a civil case or a criminal case. The criminal part of the case is the ticket or warrant you received. The civil part of the case is the store “suing” you personally for the time spent investigating the crime, possible money that is owed to the store, etc. A criminal defense lawyer can explain how to handle this letter."

This was some of the information I gathered about the laws in SC. Do you think if anything, they will send me a charge in the mail? I am very concerned, just because I gave them my identity

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Quoting anonymouspanda

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Thank you for your response. After this experience, I am definitely not stealing again. Should I still avoid this store, even if I am not stealing anything?

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Yes, you should stay out of this store and all stores in the chain.

No crystal ball here. We have no way of knowing what might happen next. Since they know who you are, anything is possible. Why would you even consider going back there? Shop online.