Caught Shoplifting

It was really stupid of me to do something like this. But yesterday I was caught shoplifting in a retail store. THe security guards stopped me and took me in the office. They took all my information and made me sign a form saying that I could not enter their store ever again. They also took my picture. The stuff was around $ 100-150. They called the cops. However, they said that the cops could not show up for another hour and that they really didnt feel like waiting for them for the next hour. So they asked me to leave and they told me that it was my lucky day. However, they said I would receive a letter from their lawyer for a penalty. I am really worried. I have never done anything like this ever before. I have a clean record. If there were no cops involved would there be any record on my file? You think they must have called the cops later? Will I have any kind of criminal record? Please help

If all you get is a civil demand - no police involvement, no charges filed - there will be a store record of the offense (and a record with whomever handles the issuance and collection of the civil demand), but there won't be a criminal record.

So there will be no record of this with anyone else except the store? Do they pass this information to any other stores? So nothing will ever come up in my back ground check right? If I am looking for a job do I need to mention about this anywhere on the application? Please help!!! I am freaking out. So this means I am not involved with any legal/criminal issues?

Sounds like you got real lucky the police were busy. Employment applications ask if you have ever been "arrested". You were not arrested. You do not have to disclose the incident on any application or in any job interview. You have a clean record. KEEP IT THAT WAY. No more shoplifting.

thank you so much for your response. I feel relieved. Defnitely no more stupid mistakes like this...