Honey, you got off easy with no police involvement.
In addition to the Civil Demand penalties for each incident....you would have also had:
- Court costs and fines
- Probation, Community Service, or anti-shoplifting class (these cost $300+)
- A record of a Felony Arrest, which would make your job options very limited.
- Mugshot and fingerprints on file.
- The expense of hiring a lawyer to represent you in court (since you could write those large checks, I don't think you would have qualified for a public defender...Add in another $1500+ for a lawyer)
By the way.....$505 shows you have shoplifted before, and had you gone in front of a judge, the judge would take notice of that.
Suggestion: Get some counseling or into Shoplifters Anonymous, or an anti-shoplifting class. You got off very lucky this time....don't think you will get off so easy the next time.
Also...stay out of that store, and all their other locations. You can be arrested for Criminal Trespass should you step foot in that store again.

