Would This Show On A Background Check?
First off, I'm from Canada if that makes a difference.
8 years ago, (I was 20 years old) I was caught shoplifting in a major chain store. They were stupid back to school items like markers and pens. Probably about $10 total. I bought a bunch of other stuff for back to school as well, and went to lineup to pay. As I exited the store, a plain clothes officer stopped me and told me to go back inside. I am not sure who he was. He was just in plain clothes. No badge, no rights told to me, no handcuffs. I just followed and did everything he said since I was so scared.
He brought me to a back room, where a store employee of the same sex was required to witness everything. He questioned me about why I did it, etc. He asked me for id, and my personal information. He took pictures of the stolen items, and a picture of me. He also took my thumbprint. He called the station to check my background and see if I had any prior convictions probably. I turned up clean, and I heard him tell the person on the phone that he was going to let me go since this was my first time shoplifting. He told me I could not enter the store for one year, or I would be caught trepassing and if I ever shoplifted again, they would know. I was never given a citation, civil demand or court date or anything. I was given no paperwork, and when I asked, he said I would not get anything in the mail. After he let me go, I never heard from anyone or got anything in the mail.
So what does this all mean? Was I arrested? I was photographed, and had my fingerprint taken. How many fingerprints do they take when they book you? I thought it would be all 10, but it was only one. I think either my thumbprint of index finger. it's a bit blurry since it's been 8 years now, but I know it was not more than one finger. But then he let me go afterwards, and said I was done and free to go.
Do you think this will be in the police files? I know it is in the store files, but would he enter this into police records? Do they enter this and not charge me or take me to court? What do they do with my picture and fingerprint? I have to get my fingerprints for a background check done. Will they see this? And what is this classifed as?
thanks!!
Re: Would This Show On A Background Check?
If the police and courts were not involved, I doubt that there is any sort of public record of the incident. If your detention was solely by store security, this is not the type of "arrest" that matters for immigration purposes.
my shoplifting incident, confused about what will show on background check
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Quoting
Mr. Knowitall
If your detention was solely by store security, this is not the type of "arrest" that matters for immigration purposes.
Oh, this is not for immigration. I had to go for fingerprinting for a job with the federal government. On the application, they asked have I ever been convicted of a criminal offense. I said no, because by definition, I have never been convicted. Now I have to go for fingerprinting for background check screening, and am wondering if my incident at the store (where I was photographed and had one fingerprint taken) will show up?
Re: my shoplifting incident, confused about what will show on background check
If the police and courts were not involved, it is unlikely that there is any public record of the incident for them to discover.
Re: Would This Show On A Background Check?
Would the loss prevention officer still report this to the police and file it? And if the report does go the police, do they generally not do anything such as come after me?
Re: Would This Show On A Background Check?
Would the LP report this after 8 years? What would be the point?
If the police receive a report of a crime, they can be expected to investigate the report.
Re: Would This Show On A Background Check?
thanks, this is reassuring. I am very anxious about my fingerprintint. I don't mean that they might come after me 8 years later, but rather than the LP would report it to the police for filing after the incident. He made a comment to me that if I shoplifted again, they would know about it, and I wouldn't just be let go.
Re: Would This Show On A Background Check?
Don't worry about it - to ease your fears, just call the police dept. over the phone in the town or city where this took place - see if any charges were filed against you or if anything was documented about the incident (I'm guessing no) - if not, you are all set - they can tell you right over the phone. Further, you would only show up on a background check if you had actually appeared in court. Believe me, my situation was very similar to yours - I finally bit the bullet and called the police (which I should have done in the first place) and they confirmed that nothing had been documented about it. Good luck and don't worry.