Will a Shoplifting Incident Will Show Up on My Record or Background Checks

[jk]

If you browse the posts here, you will find people that received a summons through the mail in situations similar to yours, such as pandora noted above. It seems to be the exception rather than the rule though.

So, is it over? No way to really know until the statute of limitations has expired that would allow a charge to be filed against you. The more time that passes, the less the likelihood there will be charges.

To any possible civil demand; again, it's a wait and see situation.

All you can do is wait, and respect the no trespass order. You would do best by not speaking to anybody about this. Anybody is a prospective witness against you should there be a prosecution.

[Shellybean]

Thanks jk and others. I have no intention of trespassing or discussing this with anyone unless it turns out I need a lawyer. I suppose the anguish of worrying about this for the next few months/years is the price I'm paying for being so foolish. My main concern is at what point certain information becomes a matter of public record and available to my current employer, who will most certainly terminate me if they get a whiff of any potential wrongdoing. If I pay a civil demand will that be public record, including the details of the demand notice? I am obligated to tell them about any criminal proceedings, but not civil cases. That said, I suspect they run continuous checks on current employees and I would love to know exactly what information might be made available to them and when.
Thanks everyone for your comments

[jk]

well, police records are generally "of public record". With no legal action, so far, it shouldn't be found on your criminal record. If the local newspaper does a police blotter, hard to say if they would use your name or not. Often times, since there is no criminal action as of now, many I have seen simply report something such as "police responded to a report of shoplifting at the local mom and pop market" type of listing.

The civil demand is an effectively private issue unless you would not pay and they took the action of suing you. Then, as with most all court records, it would be a matter of public record. Judgments often show up on your credit report.

So, what, if anything, they might find now is really a gamble. If any criminal action is filed, of course, that pretty much shoots keeping it quiet.

[Shellybean]

Thanks again, jk. I did think about the local police blotter, but I'll just hope that even if my name is in it, that type of one-time reporting in the newspaper won't be picked up on by my employer. Good to know that if I pay any civil demand (if they in fact send me one), I have a better chance of keeping the matter private. I guess the big question for me now is to wait and see if a criminal charge is filed at which point I will get an attorney to do the thinking for me.
Once again, thanks to all who have replied. For anyone reading this thread who is facing a similar plight, I wish you well and hope you've learned as I have that it just is NOT worth it to risk everything you hold dear in life just to get some stuff for free.