My question involves criminal law for the state of: California
I'm here in regards to a very good friend of mine that has personally been there for me whenever I have had problems, and I wish to seek some help for him and give him the best advice as any good friend would. From the time that I have known him, he's always been a straightforward, honest, simple guy that I would never suspect for getting into trouble.
Last week (Thursday 7/31 to be accurate), my friend went inside a Pavilions supermarket only to get a sandwich and a meal deal (basic chips & soda) at the deli. He told me that there was a new clerk there, but there was also an experienced clerk right next to this new clerk that assisted him in making this sandwich. He further told me that he paid the $7.11 at the register in the deli from this new clerk and as he was about to leave the store, one of the store managers was just walking by and my friend greeted him to ask how his day was. From what I was told, the manager found nothing suspicious about him since he had the receipt in his right hand included with a soda and a sandwich plus chips on his other (left) hand.
When he got into his car, he knew he had a voicemail message to listen to, and he took 2-3 minutes to do so. In the process, he noticed that the same manager (the one he just greeted before leaving the store) was observed with a small notepad and pencil in his side mirror just a small distance from his car writing something in the direction of his car. And supposedly, once my friend was just done listening to his voicemail, the manager walked by his driver side of the car and just stood at the top left position of his car but looked rather upset.
My friend told me that at other times which he's been to this store, it was typical that he's seen managers writing things in the parking lot so he never took it as anything bad when he saw this manager doing this. But since he's thinking negative about this, is it possible that this manager wrote his license plate number to turn into the police for possible shoplifting? From what he claims, it may of been possible this manager went to the deli stand to make sure he paid for it, but he's thinking he asked the experienced clerk whether he paid or not, and obviously it wasn't the experienced clerk who he purchased this sandwich from. I would suspect that if he was caught on video surveillance, security would of gotten him although at times which I've personally been to Pavilions, I've never seen security. Plus, I find it odd that this manager didn't try to get his attention/knock on his window while he was in the car listening to his voicemail. Personally, if they think you shoplifted, they would confront you on this unless they don't want to run the risk of this person having any sort of weapon, at least that's how I feel. Also, had the manager confronted him, he could of always showed the receipt as proof of purchase but unfortunately my friend disposed of it.
So besides whether they can use his license plate number to submit it to the police, if the worst happens, what can possibly ensue and what consequences can he face? What is the most likely scenario that could happen? And what should he do in the meantime? It has been 4 days since this incident, and he has yet to hear from the police or any store representative. From what I've read on other threads, it could take days, weeks, or months for police to come to your house or call or send you a letter about this. He's really worried about this since he's currently seeking employment seeing he recently graduated from college, and the last thing he wants is a criminal record for being a clean person.
Any advice on this would be greatly helpful!