"Almost" Caught Shoplifting

[Bam1386]

My question involves criminal law for the state of: Nevada

I am an adult.

Today I entered a Large "Mart" store, where I took an item of roughly 19.99+ tax. I went into a location where a camera could not possibly see me, and pocketed the item. There were two items in total, one was the main item, which I slipped into my front pocket, and the other was documentation for the item, which I put in my waistband.

Apparently an employee saw me place the documentation into my wasteband, and pursued me around the outside of the store. I didn't know I was being followed. I heard two men approaching me from a distance, yelling "Hey you!" I Ignored them, thinking they were beggars for money. Then a few seconds later, they yelled again, "Hey you!" I turned around this time, and replied, "What?" They seemed to say something like "Stop and give us what you have." I thought they were going to mug me, until they said, "Give us the merchandise in your wasteband...you don't want to lose your job do you?" I thought I was going to be mugged, and said "I don't know who you are!" I preceded to walk, until I became frightened, and sprinted around an office complex, and into the private lounge door where I work at, located adjacent to the "Mart" store. One of the members pursued me into the property, and yelled at the employees..."Did a man just run through here?" I work at (Mart store), and were trying to catch a thief who entered this building." They did not see me after I entered. The man caused a big disturbance in the building, for it is a privately owned health occupational business, and he had trespassed into an area clearly marked "Private."...Im sure our businesses patients heard the ruckus. Apparently none of my coworkers recognized the description of me, and they said they were on the phone with the cops.

They exited the premises after being told they could not be in the treatment area, but hung around outside for about 30 minutes. When it was time to leave, I recognized one of my pursuants in a car, parked in the parking lot of the workplace. The cops never showed up...but they (at least one of the the employees) were apparently waiting for me to leave work. I drove home, without confrontation, but I am sure the person waiting in the car recognized me.

They never retrieved the item that was taken from the store, either. I am worried that they have enough evidence to prosecute me. All they need is my license plate number, and they can file it in the police report. I am wondering what the best course of action is to take now. Do I return the item to a different location with an apology letter? Can they prosecute? Will they?

[jk]

Can they prosecute?

no but they can report this to the police who will investigate the situation and turn it over to the DA who can prosecute you.

Will they?

Only they know.

and from the sound of it, if the security guys can ID you, there is plenty of evidence to support a conviction.

[Bam1386]

Is there anything that I can do to possibly help me if they intend to file a police report? What If I anonymously return the items with a reflection letter? I suppose that is more a morality question than a legal question, but would it help my chances?

Also, would my employer have the right or good grounds to sue the Mart store for trespassing?

In this case is it worth it for the Mart store to pursue legal matters, or is there a higher probability of receiving a letter in the mail from the Mart store charging me for costs?

If I am identified, can I expect the police to show up at my home and detain me, or will they issue me a ticket?

[jk]

[Bam1386;501560]Is there anything that I can do to possibly help me if they intend to file a police report?

I have no idea what it might take to cause them to ignore the possibility. I can't think of much that would

What If I anonymously return the items with a reflection letter?

it doens't undo the crime.

I suppose that is more a morality question than a legal question, but would it help my chances?

anonymously? How would they know it was you and it was this particular situation?

Also, would my employer have the right or good grounds to sue the Mart store for trespassing?

sue? not really. They could have called the police and reported the criminal action but other than that, not much to do.

In this case is it worth it for the Mart store to pursue legal matters, or is there a higher probability of receiving a letter in the mail from the Mart store charging me for costs?

If it was me, I would push to prosecute.

If I am identified, can I expect the police to show up at my home and detain me, or will they issue me a ticket?[

No way to tell. They might show up at your job and arrest you. That would make the most sense to me. That way they could go next door and have the LP guys identify you.

[Bam1386]

So basically my only action is to take no action. Sit, wait, and probably get caught?

Wow I just feel so horrible about this, ever since I walked away from the store. I'm so freaking ahamed of myself for making such horrible decisions. Wow...

I appreciate your insight. Thank you much.

[PandorasBox]

You weren't ashamed until you were pursued.

[Bam1386]

Not true. I have never done anything like this, and never even considered it. I try and uphold my smalltown values here in Reno, but greed got the best of me in this situation, and I used poor judgement. There is no justification for the situation. Had I not been pursued, I know in my heart I would still be ashamed. Please refrain from telling me how I feel or felt, because you do not know. I do not mean to be so blunt, but it is the truth.

[souperdave]

I, for one, have no qualm with being "blunt"! I'm not a gambler, but I would have no problem wagering a large sum on the fact that had you not been pursued, you would not be ashamed, nor posting here.

"Poor judgement" has little to do with your action(s). The fact that you were very nearly caught has quite a bit to do with your action(s).

And the trespassing thing! Really! Store security pursues a shoplifter into a building, admittedly now your place of employment, and you wanna make that sort of ridiculous claim. Nice! Real nice. Sorry 'bout your luck, but it don't work that way. Elemental to trespassing is entering and/or remaining unlawfully.

Pursuit of a thief is not congruous to either.

[PandorasBox]

If you get caught....do you realize your employer is gonna be pissed that YOU are the cause of the disturbance? Not to mention acting unprofessional, and drawing negative attention to your workplace. Guess what - if the police come to work and arrest you....you're gonna be facing more than the legal issues from shoplifting. Your employer would have every right to fire you, and you would NOT be able to collect Unemployment either.