Shoplifting at Kragen

I'm so very worried right now, my headlights burnt out and I didn't have enough money to pay for them when I got there. And for some dumb reason, I thought I could get away with putting them in my shirt and walking out of the store. I did so, but on the way out, I dropped one onto the floor in front of an employee. He came out to me and I gave him back the headlights and apologized and said it would never happen again. He let me go, I got into my car and tried to get out the back, but it was a dead end, so I shot around the other side of the store, and the employee that I gave the items back to ran to my car, went behind it, and memorized the license plate number.

I pleaded with him from my car and said I'm sorry, but he just shook his head and walked back in.

What can happen to me? The car is registered to my mother and not me. But I live at home and all my insurance and address records go there. Will she get a call? Will they have my picture in the store? Will the police be called and will they come find me today? Will I be sent to jail? I'm scared out of my mind and make me regret everything I've done today. I'm not even going to go eat like I planned.

I made it to school and have to study for the rest of the day. Does anyone have any clue what is going to happen to me? Total costs of the item is $49.95 and this is in CA. I just turned 18, no priors on anything, I don't know why I did it, but I'm scared that my life will be ruined.

The police may well attempt to contact your mother, or come by your house, to investigate a shoplifting report. You would likely benefit from exercising your right to remain silent - that is, not telling the police anything. (You are under no obligation to even open the door for them unless they have a search warrant or arrest warrant, which they are very unlikely to have, and you are under no obligation whatsoever to talk to them.)

I commute out of town to another county and my mother is home all day, what happens if they talk to my mother about it and they inform her that someone that looks like me was found shoplifting at the store? If she says I'm in this town during the day, would that implicate me for this crime?

I honestly don't want to tell her about it. There is no way they could speak to me unless they come by on weekends, as I'm out of town (100 miles) from 6AM till Midnight. My mother could identify the car and me if they had a picture from the camera in the store.

Would the county police have to drive to my house out of town to speak to my mother? Or would they send someone from my county? Should I tell her about it and tell her if the police come, not to say anything at all? Would this all happen in the matter of a few hours from now? If so, should I call her now and tell her what happened and inform her not to say anything? If they call home and I'm not there, they'll probably ask to talk to my mother because her name is on the car and probably tell her some details, should I tell her to not say anything to them?

I am still very worried. I am a 3.5GPA student currently in college trying to major out in Biochemistry. I have NEVER EVER done anything close to this in my life. I don't want to go to jail or prison.

Would the police tell my mother to call me on my cell and talk to them? If that happens, should I just say "I won't talk to you" and finish the conversation? Would they convict my mother?

Sorry for all the questions Mr. Knowitall, I have no clue what is going on.

You're asking us to engage in a guessing game, which wouldn't be very useful. We don't know if or when the police would come a'knocking, or what they would ask your mother if you're not there.

Your mother can't be convicted of something merely because you refuse to talk to the police. (But given the circumstances you describe, it sounds like any police investigation will result in her figuring out that the police suspect you of shoplifting.)

I'm sorry Mr. Knowitall for doing that, I was just a little panicky this morning.

I called and told my mother what happened and if anyone calls just refuse to speak to them and hang up. Although a bit dissapointed, she's glad I told her.

I spoke to some friends who work in retail today, they told me that unless they caught me on video, since I was outside the store, they couldn't do anything, I could have just picked it up and left. Well, at least they couldn't do anything unless they saw the customer lifting or caught it on tape. I don't know the truth behind it all, but it seems to make some sense at least.

Don't know if you would know anything or could clarify that part.

I'm a little bit more calm since I've talked to some people. If we both refuse to talk, and there is no footage of my actually lifting, and all they have is the employee's witness account of the incident (me dropping a headlight), is there a likeliness that I'll be arrested?