applestoapples
New Member
I'm 19 years old. I was caught shoplifting ~ $13 of merchandise from a large drugstore chain. I had shoplifted from the same location a day before, but other than that I have never done this before. This is my first offense.
As I was walking out of the store, a man with a badge (it seemed like he was a security guard, because he didn't have a police uniform or anything like that, but I am not sure) said he had seen me shoplifting the items and asked me to come to the back of the store with him for questioning. I did. I didn't have my driver's license on me, because I had walked, and I only had my college ID, so I gave him that. Otherwise, I gave him my real name, address, phone numbers, date of birth, and he also got my social security number down. He then took a picture of me, the merchandise, and my college ID. I didn't have to sign anything. He told me I would probably receive something in the mail and I would have to pay a fine. When I asked him if I would go to court he said I wouldn't, if I paid the fine. I also asked him if my school would hear about it and he said "probably not." He also said it wouldn't come up on my record, but didn't specify if it would come up in a background check, if I were to apply for a job. He told me I could no longer shop at this specific store, but I could still shop in other stores of the same chain. He even informed me of where there was a store close to my home that I could go to. He then escorted me out of the store and let me go home.
I completely regret this, and will never do it again, because this simply is not who I am. However, I do still have some questions.
1. Is everything he told me true? Will my school hear about it? Will I have to go to court? Will this show up on my (otherwise clear, not even a parking ticket) record?
2. Is it true that I can still go into any other W***eens location, just not that specific one?
3. Can I have this expunged from my record? My boyfriend thinks I should call the store and try to settle it with them, but I'm not sure if it's too late?
4. How long will it take for the fine to come in the mail? I'm going out of town in 3 weeks, and I will be gone for one month; I don't want to receive the fine in the mail, and not be able to pay it immediately because I am not home.
5. Could I be taken to court over this, even if the security guard said I wouldn't be if I pay the fine?
I cannot believe I did this, I've never done anything like this. I don't even know why I tried it. I am a good person, this is not like me whatsoever. Any advice is greatly appreciated.
As I was walking out of the store, a man with a badge (it seemed like he was a security guard, because he didn't have a police uniform or anything like that, but I am not sure) said he had seen me shoplifting the items and asked me to come to the back of the store with him for questioning. I did. I didn't have my driver's license on me, because I had walked, and I only had my college ID, so I gave him that. Otherwise, I gave him my real name, address, phone numbers, date of birth, and he also got my social security number down. He then took a picture of me, the merchandise, and my college ID. I didn't have to sign anything. He told me I would probably receive something in the mail and I would have to pay a fine. When I asked him if I would go to court he said I wouldn't, if I paid the fine. I also asked him if my school would hear about it and he said "probably not." He also said it wouldn't come up on my record, but didn't specify if it would come up in a background check, if I were to apply for a job. He told me I could no longer shop at this specific store, but I could still shop in other stores of the same chain. He even informed me of where there was a store close to my home that I could go to. He then escorted me out of the store and let me go home.
I completely regret this, and will never do it again, because this simply is not who I am. However, I do still have some questions.
1. Is everything he told me true? Will my school hear about it? Will I have to go to court? Will this show up on my (otherwise clear, not even a parking ticket) record?
2. Is it true that I can still go into any other W***eens location, just not that specific one?
3. Can I have this expunged from my record? My boyfriend thinks I should call the store and try to settle it with them, but I'm not sure if it's too late?
4. How long will it take for the fine to come in the mail? I'm going out of town in 3 weeks, and I will be gone for one month; I don't want to receive the fine in the mail, and not be able to pay it immediately because I am not home.
5. Could I be taken to court over this, even if the security guard said I wouldn't be if I pay the fine?
I cannot believe I did this, I've never done anything like this. I don't even know why I tried it. I am a good person, this is not like me whatsoever. Any advice is greatly appreciated.
