Caught Shoplifting at a Kohl's

I live in New Jersey. Today, I went with an ex-girlfriend to Kohl's. She's very strapped for cash and desperately needed new clothes and decided to shoplift some. On our way out of the store, a guy stopped us and escorted us back into the store into the security room with all the cameras and what not. Even though I had no merchandise on me, he said I'd have to pay the same amount of money as her for being a "look out" or "accomplice."

He took down our information - name, age, address, phone number (we gave him our cell phone numbers), social security number, height, and weight. We were honest about all that. Since both her and I are 17, we needed a family member to come pick us up. Both terrified of our parents responses, we called two of my friends, one who said he was her brother and the other said he was my cousin, and the guy took a photocopy of their licenses to prove they were 18 and they had to sign two papers - one stating that we won't go into a Kohl's store again, and the other I forget what it was. The total of the items she tried stealing was $120.99. No police were called. He gave us a piece of paper stating that as a shoplifter Kohl's can opt to file charges or whatever against us. He told us that we'd be recieving in the next few weeks a letter in the mail from Kohl's stating how much we have to pay.

A few questions.

1) How much should we each expect to have to pay? We asked the guy but he said that he just deals with catching the people and has no idea how much it would be.

2) We're both going to make sure to get the letter before our parents see it. Once we get the letter, can we just send in cash or a money order and be done with it? Or, even better, is it possible to just GO somewhere and pay rather than having to send it in via mail?

3) Since no police were involved, this won't go on our records, and there won't be any court dates, or anything having to do with courts/lawyers involved, assuming we pay the fees, correct?

4) If one of us (or both of us) doesn't receive anything in the mail, we shouldn't call the store or something and mention it, correct? We should just go on with our lives and nothing will happen (again, assuming we never receive the letter)?

I can't seem to find the edit button anymore for some reason, but I had one additional question: When should I expect to get this letter in the mail, and, how long should I wait before it's pretty safe to assume that the letter isn't coming (if it doesnt show up)?

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1) How much should we each expect to have to pay? We asked the guy but he said that he just deals with catching the people and has no idea how much it would be.

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Expect to pay around $200.00 to $300.00 each. However since you ar eminors the letters will go to your parents!

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2) We're both going to make sure to get the letter before our parents see it. Once we get the letter, can we just send in cash or a money order and be done with it? Or, even better, is it possible to just GO somewhere and pay rather than having to send it in via mail?

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Instructions fo rpayment will be in the letter. However sending cash is not wise. Purchase a Money Order to pmake payments so you have a record

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3) Since no police were involved, this won't go on our records, and there won't be any court dates, or anything having to do with courts/lawyers involved, assuming we pay the fees, correct?

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You assume correct however if you reenter Kohl's and are caught or fail to pay Civil Demand Kohl's can choose to file those charges long as statute of limitations has not run out. You could also been in a database that retailers have access too. Its not a record but if you were to apply for a job at lets say Walmart and they had access to this database they would see you were caught shoplifitng

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4) If one of us (or both of us) doesn't receive anything in the mail, we shouldn't call the store or something and mention it, correct? We should just go on with our lives and nothing will happen (again, assuming we never receive the letter)?

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The letter could take days, weeks, even months.

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Quoting panther10758

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Expect to pay around $200.00 to $300.00 each. However since you ar eminors the letters will go to your parents!

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They didn't take either of our parents' names down.

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The letter could take days, weeks, even months.

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Wonderful...hopefully mine takes days to two/three weeks..not motnhs :-\

Then it will go to you at your address or say "To the parent or guardian of" (insert you name) Either way the obligation to pay is on your parents and the Law suit and/or credit report goes on them if not paid. finding out your parents name is not difficult but could delay mailing of Civil Demand while they validate the information

We're definitely going to pay this...we just have work up some extra money :-\

When the letter arrives contact them and make payment arrangments if you cannot pay in full now. Problem may be that as a minor you cannot engage in such an agreement so your parents could still find out

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Quoting panther10758

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When the letter arrives contact them and make payment arrangments if you cannot pay in full now. Problem may be that as a minor you cannot engage in such an agreement so your parents could still find out

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We'll see I guess....I just hope the letter comes within the next few weeks, as my hours at work were gonna switch from 1-5 to 10-2, and if that happens, I can't check the mail before my parents do...I can hold off on that for a few more weeks, but after that, I'd have to just switch the hours...

One other question, I'm turning 18 in about a month. Assuming I am unable to make payment arrangements as a minor, and I get the letter after or close to when I turn 18, would I still be treated as a minor since the offense was committed when I was one, or at that point would I be able to enter into a payment arrangement?

That I couldnt say. by the way when letter arrives they will give you a time frame in which to pay (30 days as example) or call to make arrangements. This could work in your favor. Start saving now so it will be easier when time comes. Civil Demand should be around $200.00 to $300.00.

Yeah, I planned to start saving right away.

Thanks for your help. :) Much appreciated.