Shoplifting Case in Costco

[helpme7]

My question involves criminal law for the state of: Washington

If caught for $20 shoplifting in Costco, there was no police called in. they took a picture, got a 'criminal trespass notice' signed for 2 years to be away from all costco premises and cancelled membership. also gave an SPD #, looks like a case number. Will there be only civil demand or does this mean a court case has already been opened? what are the options to only pay a fine and not have any record in your name forever?

[travelplus]

From what I have heard your membership can be revoked for such instances like this. You are part of a club which offers discounts. When you signed up for the card you signed the application and somewhere in the fine print it says that Costco can revoke your membership at anytime. So you might be placed on their list of customers who are banned. Also they may put you on the Retail Shoplifiting list as well.

[helpme7]

what about any court case, will there be any?

[panther10758]

If no criminal charges were filed then there is no court case. Only Civil Demand which does not require court appearence unless sued

[helpme7]

they gave a case number, does that mean a criminal charge has been filed? If this means it has already been filed, can it help to talk with the loss prevention manager?

[M'sta Mikey]

The "case number" may be their own internal tracking number. As Pather stated, you'd only receive a case number if criminal charges were filed, and that number would appear on a court summons.

Per you other question; If criminal charges have been filed (doubtful), then talking to LP manager would have absolutely no bearing on your case as it would then be in the hands of the prosecuting attorney.

[helpme7]

They wrote an 8 digit number at the top on the criminal trespass notice. they said to find for this number in court system or prosecuting attorney, it can take upto 1 month. if it was a case number for court summons, would they have given that paper as well and/or got it signed? There was no paper other than criminal trespass notice given.

[helpme7]

anyone has any suggestions? just based on a 2 minute phone call, are the retailers able to give a police case number without explaining the case to them? or is it possible that this may be their internal tracking number, and told me its a police case number to scare me?

[panther10758]

We have no way of knowing that