Caught Stealing DVDs from a Store

My question involves criminal law for the state of: Pennsylvania.

Hello me and my sister got caught stealing 5 blu-Ray movies that worth $17-$29 a piece at Walmart . (By the way I’m 21 and my sister is 24) The Security guard took us the the back and they took my ID information, my street address, we didn’t sign anything I ask what are you going to do with us? He said “ well we are going to send you a letter to pay if you don’t respond we will send a warrant for your arrest and a court date too” they let us go and no cops were called. I know I’m guilty but we did it so we can have food on the table. Me and my sister gets SSI and I’m afraid if we do go to jail we will lose it for good. I tried getting a job for 1 year nobody would hire me and I didn’t have a criminal record.probably because of My deformed body that felt scared or something . But know I need advice about this matter. Please leave a comment
thanks

If you are charged, you will need an attorney to assist you. If you cannot afford one, request a public defender.

It was unprofessional and against the regs of every retailer I have worked with to do the "Pay up or we'll call the cops". That won't get you out of having to pay the civil demand when you get it, just an observation. Start saving now for when you have to pay that cause they can sue you if you don't.

I'm surprised they didn't have you sign a trespass warning and/or admission statement.

If you are going to be stealing to put food on the table, you should be stealing food and not blu-rays. You won't get much at all for them on the street. You shouldn't steal to feed yourselves anyway. There are probably food banks or pantries in your area that can assist you. If your SSI isn't covering rent and food, it might be time to find some where less expensive to live.

If you need assistance finding employment, seek it out. Check to see if your state's labor department offers any services. 21 is way too young to be giving up.

Legal services. You aren't likely going to jail, but you need to get this straightened up. If you're smart enough to get on here and post you know the "we were hungry" story is a load of garbage and won't fly with anyone. You don't steal Blu-Rays from hunger. If you are on SSI, you are getting food assistance, no doubt. Food pantries are always available too. If you are receiving SSI, the way it is worded you and your sister are both receiving it, then you have been determined to be too disabled in some way to easily find work. That means you aren't expected to go out and get a job and have been determined unlikely to get a job without some assistance from your state services such as Vocational Rehabilitation, and you are probably much in touch with these agencies.

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Quoting Imstupid22

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He said “ well we are going to send you a letter to pay if you don’t respond we will send a warrant for your arrest and a court date too”

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If a Walmart LP said that, they really dropped the ball when training him.

A store should never state that if you don't pay a civil demand they'll press charges. The two issues should be treated as separate, lest the store's employee create a situation in which the store can be sued for extortion.

That's not a defense to a shoplifting charge, but it is a really bad practice by the store.