Quote Quoting flyingron
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Note that the civil demand is 100% independent of your criminal charges. While geek is right that most of the respondents here (I'd be reticent to call them experts) recommend paying it, that is far from a universal view held by attorneys representing shoplifters. Of course if you ever intend to try to request lifting the trespass ban, making restitution might help.

You didn't say where this happened, but in most cases if the police were not informed immediately, they probably aren't going to be. It's possible that the complaint will be handled later (up to a year typically). The amount you stole largely is irrelevant. In some states you may find a complaint in the mail and an order to go down to the police department for fingerprints and mug shots prior to the trial. If you have ANY contact with the police or prosecutors office, decline to speak with them until you have an attorney representing you. Looking up one now wouldn't be a bad idea.

As pointed out, you can be guaranteed that Walmart will be less friendly the second time around. Just setting foot in the store is criminal. While they may not be running facial recognition on you, running afoul of anything (particularly being even suspected of shoftlifting), may result in you being held for the arrest on trespassing
I wouldn't be; SecurityConsultant has some 30+ years at the highest levels of management in the loss prevention industry and has appeared as an expert witness in numerous civil and criminal trials. I have 10+ years experience working in loss prevention for several national companies, I have 11 years experience in law enforcement, have been through two law enforcement academies, and have personally arrested or been involved in the arrest of thousands of shoplifters. And that's just the two of us; I know that others who post here also have many years experience at the management level of loss prevention.

Lawyers give stupid advice sometimes. Don't want to pay your civil demand? What are you going to do if and when the store sues you and the price automatically doubles due to court costs and fees? Will your lawyer pay it for you? No, he or she will just say something like "wow, I mean, I knew they COULD do that, but, um, I've never, ah, HEARD of it happening, at least, uh, as far as my past clients have told me - but - I guess I just represent them in criminal court, so I don't really follow up on what happens with the civil demand part of it anyway."

To the OP: PAY the civil demand.

I'm confused about how you do not know whether you will be prosecuted. Surely they TOLD you that? Were you not paying attention? If you want to know whether charges will be filed, call the store and ask. I'd guess they will not be, but in some areas the police aren't part of the equation in shoplifting cases and loss prevention files directly with the prosecutor. They are the only ones who can answer this.