I live in Alaska and I have been doing the following for about 3 months:
-Shoplifted 15-20 times from 4 different store locations (usually the same 2) of 2 different large chains: Carr's (Safeway owned) and Fred Meyer (Kroger owned), which I have learned is shoplifter suicide...
-I usually take a hand basket full of items (grocery and misc valued at $20-$30 a time), but have taken larger higher ticket items like sleeping bags, large Lego sets, and some clothing also.
-My method is/was to just walk in very casually, dressed neatly, had a list shopped for what I needed, then will talk on my cell phone and act like I forget to pay as I just leasurely walk out like I know what I'm doing know where I'm going, NEVER running or looking around.
-I am very aware of the employees (especially the managers) with my peripheral on the inside and completely ignore/walk past the cart pushers on the outside.
-I have NEVER been approached or followed in the parking lot and I make sure to never look back until I am in my car. Everyone including the cart pushers seem to just ignore me ven though I have a basket with un-bagged goods.
-The excuse I have ready in my head (if/when I might get caught) is to completely apologize and be shocked then offer to go immediately and pay and be very embarrassed.
-I have never concealed anything.
Paranoya is now setting in because my last 2 times I did this (from Fred Meyer, last night and a few days earlier) as I was driving down the main road that leads away from the store, I noticed a police car behind me. I would drive in the same direction for a bit then casually switch lanes and continue home. The first time, the cop passed me then turned at the next left, the last time, he turned out while still behind me. Each time the cop car was behind for about 1 1/2 minutes at most. This happened 1 earlier time, as I was leaving the Carr's store, but it appeared to be a taxi (not sure).
Knowing all this I have the following questions:
1. Would a store allow a suspected shoplifter to just leave the property and only get their license plate for later legal action? Or do they want to detain immediately upon leaving the store? I would assume that if someone was suspected of repeatedly shoplifting, they would be detained for the sake of stopping me from doing it again and prosecution.
2. Will a cop follow a suspected shoplifter just to get a tag number and vehicle description for the store or to "build a case"? Or would he pull me over and ask to inspect my car and then arrest me?
3. If a shoplifter is NOT detained at the time of the suspected theft and a license plate and car description IS recorded instead (maybe multiple times), what happens next? Would a warrant be issued for my arrest? Would I have to go through a civil process first? I am very unsure of this aspect.
For a background as to how this all got started, I am married with a child and have am in a lot of debt. I am working, but just can't get caught up with bills, so I have reluctantly been stealing food, clothes, and some small luxuries for my family without their knowledge for the last few months in order to try and get a bit of a better foot hold financially. I hate doing this, but I can't find another way since I don't qualify for food stamps or any other assistance and have no one to ask for a loan.
I would GREATLY appreciate any and as much information or clarification as possible for the questions I posed or the particulars of my shoplifting methods. Thank you very much.

