Can You be Charged for Past Shoplifting Offenses

[diegoxeric]

My question involves criminal law for the state of: Illinois

So a few months ago I would shoplift, I had no money and would take food from the grocery store while paying for the majority of my groceries that I had the money for, and to my knowledge, never been caught, always weary of cameras, ect. Yes I know this is horribly wrong and I would 100 percent never do this again.

Since I've gotten a job and can pay for my items I have been. Today I was buying groceries, didn't take anything, and then a worker "helped" me to my car. I noticed he was looking at my car and definitely the plate all while carrying on "casual" conversation and was totally talking my ear off. My personal bag was itty bitty and actually open, so it was obvious I hadn't concealed anything. I finally drove away and now I'm worried they're going to hand my info over to the police. ALSO! When he had handed me my bags, the receipt blew out of the bag and way far off into the parking lot! I don't know if this was an accident or if he did it on purpose, but because of this, I don't have the receipt for my transaction!!

Can they retroactively press charges for this?
How soon would I hear from police?
and is it likely that they have evidence from the past,
or were they probably suspecting I had taken something since they recognized me and hoping to catch me there?

Thank you

[Mr. Knowitall]

You can be charged with a crime you commit through the time that the statute of limitations expires. The passage of time makes it less likely that you'll be charged but nobody here can promise you that you're in the clear. All you can do is wait and see what happens.

[Who'sThatGuy]

Can they retroactively press charges for this?

Yes.

In Illinois if the property taken was more then $100,000 the statute of limitations is 7 years from the date of offense. More likely it was way less then that, so the SOL would be 3 years from the date of offence.

How soon would I hear from police?

It can take anywhere from a day or two to several months.

and is it likely that they have evidence from the past, or were they probably suspecting I had taken something since they recognized me and hoping to catch me there?

You said

never been caught, always weary of cameras, ect.

so if you are correct, then they would need an eye witness to point the finger at you.

Today I was buying groceries, didn't take anything, and then a worker "helped" me to my car. I noticed he was looking at my car and definitely the plate all while carrying on "casual" conversation and was totally talking my ear off. My personal bag was itty bitty and actually open, so it was obvious I hadn't concealed anything. I finally drove away and now I'm worried they're going to hand my info over to the police.

Usually the store would not approach you, they would lay-low and write your license plate number down so they could forward it to the police.

ALSO! When he had handed me my bags, the receipt blew out of the bag and way far off into the parking lot! I don't know if this was an accident or if he did it on purpose, but because of this, I don't have the receipt for my transaction!!

Not to worry, the store would have a receipt as it would be on file.