Possible Prosecution After Long-Term Shoplifting From the Same Store

My question involves criminal law for the state of:

Hello, please hold all judgement till the end please. So I’ve been shop lifting from target for about 2 years now. Mainly just clothes and house items but as we know target is expensive so I’m not sure the exact amount of items I’ve taken but I would imagine somewhere around $4-5000 over the years. I went through a period od very low self-Esteam and had no money and after thinking I wasn’t getting caught I got carried away with my self and abused it completely. I recently went on vacation to Las Vegas where I was caught at a target shop lifting a bathing suit and was taken to the back where I gave false personal information and got my picture taken to and was told nothing would happen to me it’s just for there systems and I just couldn’t come back to that target. After I returned home all I could think about was the horrible selfish things I had been doing and packed up all the cloths from target and donated them to the Salvation Army and have been trying to volunteer in my community to help repay my karma debt. I lay awake not being able to sleep so tonight I finally researched and learned that target has one of the best teams that’s let you leave the store and build cases through cameras in the store and parking lot (which I would be caught on both committing the crime) and that they build cases until they reach felony and then pursue you from your license plates and card record history. I’m so scared my whole world could come crashing at any point. I’ve vowed already to never go to target again but is there a way I can figure out if I’m under investigation and should I go talk to a lawyer about my case Incase something happens to me. I can’t find Ohio’s exact laws and this kind of case and need some advice if someone can help me.

Nope, no way to find out until the police contact you. I find it odd that they only processed you in-store for the bathing suit. What was it's value? I imagine they will send a civil demand to the fake address and name, then they find out you lied.

While Target does take down big cases, I made a few while I was there, I doubt they are going to let a run of the mill shoplifter go in the hopes of doing so. I would have torn a new one for anyone on my team that did that without a heck of a good reason. That is reserved more for boosters and other high-dollar theft subjects.

There is no need to speak to an attorney until you need one so I'd hold off on that.

I was only taking a bathing suit at that time that costed $30 so they told me I would be in no trouble it was just going in there system, but idk if there forensic team is looking for me or if I’m already under investigation if my photo popping up in a different state would make things worse. I usually would fill baskets like laundry and other things with items and walk out of the store unnoticed at least I thought. I’m so scared I can’t sleep or think straight

You need to calm down then. Don't worry until there is a reason to worry.

At $30, again I'm surprised they did a catch & release but I guess it was better for you. They may file a Jane Doe case out in Vegas once they find out you lied. They likely won't have the suit to check for prints at that point so actually tying you to anything in Ohio is unlikely.

If you hit the same Target(s) repeatedly in OH and targeted similar merchandise every time, there could be an investigation open on you. No one could hazard a guess as to where it might be in the process if it is active.

Is there any way of finding out? What could happen to me if there is how do they contact me ? No one knows about this and I’m already so embarrassed I wouldn’t be able to look my significant other in the face if he found out.

You could ask Target but they aren't required to tell you. If they weren't before you asked, you can be darn sure they will be after. If they were able to connect the dots, they could seek to press charges. If you stay out of Target though, you will quickly be forgotten when they next idiot comes along.

So since I have never been caught in Ohio and I stay out of target you think they will just forget about me ?

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Quoting Stupidgirl25

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So since I have never been caught in Ohio and I stay out of target you think they will just forget about me ?

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They will probably keep any case file they may have open for you active for a little while just in case you slip up but if they haven't done anything in 2 years, I'd say you are probably safe. No guarantees but probably a good bet.

Thank you very much for your advice. It does help

And you really really need to seek counseling. The kind of risk taking behavior you are describing is sometimes addictive (it's a form of self harming) and you may find it harder than you expected to not do it anymore. There's no paying off the "karmic debt" by giving the stuff to the Salvation Army like Robin Hood or something, and even if you confess and beg to have charges pressed against you, you would still find it hard not to repeat the highly exciting stimulating behavior of taking the risk and then nursing the worries (will they? won't they? Did they see me?) Talk to someone about your behavior and why you are doing it and find other ways to relieve stress.

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Quoting Stupidgirl25

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My question involves criminal law for the state of:

Mainly just clothes and house items but as we know target is expensive

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One of the reasons Target is expensive is due to theft.

I wasn’t trying to act like Robin Hood by donating, I just can’t take back the wrong I’ve done but I can at least give to someone who does need these things and I’m helping out by volunteering because I feel really selfish and like ive come really far from who I am as a person that this is not me and I need to give back and help out with real struggle and build and grow off that not by taking things I think I need. But thank you for your opinion