My question involves criminal law for the state of: New York.
My friend shoplifted from a supermarket. I'm not sure of the amount, but based on what he told me, I'd estimate about $20-30 worth of food.
Although he wasn't caught, he regrets it and doesn't plan to shoplift again.
In the meantime, he's afraid of potential "action" that might be be taken against him.
Question #1: can and do stores often send camera footage to law enforcement? Can law enforcement then find and apprehend the individual based solely on the footage?
Question #2: could the store send the raw footage to, say, a shoplifters database, which then might release this info in background checks? Or can that not happen without my friend signing something?
I've told my friend that he should go back to Whole Foods and just give everything back, but he thinks this might make a sticky situation even stickier.
Thanks for your help.

