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Stealing..help!!
I went to the mall with a friend. I tried taking a small item in a store, but was caught. The worker just said, "Can you return the item to its place?" I handed it to him. He said nothing else. My friend and I looked in the store for a few minutes, then left.
After we left I looked back and saw him dialing a phone #. I'm paranoid that he was calling mall security/the police. Is this possible? He didn't ask me ANY information, no name/address/ss #/id.
After that we left the mall to my car. No one followed us, and I really didn't notice anyone taking my license plate #, but this is the part I feel most paranoid about. Is it possible he could have been calling security & they can review tapes and see my license plate # when I'm leaving? Like I said, NO one was watching as we left, in fact when we were leaving police were outside dealing with some handcuffed person and didn't even glance at us. Also, even if my license plate # was captured, how can they be sure it wasn't my friends car? Also, not sure if this matters, but my car was in a parking lot far away from the original store.
I'm just really paranoid, this happened 2 days ago, and I'm scared about getting that letter in the mail, but I'm just wondering if this is possible because they have none of my information. But, I do know the store had one camera, I'm unsure whether cameras were in the parking lot. Also, this is my first time trying to shoplift. Thanks.
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Have you ever saw a news station play footage of, say, a supermarket getting robbed?
You know, nobody asks those people for their name, phone number, or social security number. It would be pretty stupid to think a robber would leave his personal information with someone so that he could be arrested later. Be realistic here.
I worked at a grocery store. Someone's car was hit. The driver drove off quickly before anyone could even get outside to see what was going on. The security footage didn't catch their face but you can be damned sure the news station aired some of the footage, the numbers on the license plate that could be gotten from it, and the description of the vehicle. They were eventually caught and arrested.
Those people eventually get arrested from people who just recognize them from the tapes or various footage the store has to offer.
He could have very well called the authorities and submitted the tape for evidence if you had stolen any more merchandise. The mall I frequented where I use to live actually posted photos from security cameras of people who usual steal so that the stores would keep an eye out for them.
The cops may not arrest you now because you returned the item but he could still file a report on the occurrence and have submitted security tape footage to them with your face on it. He also has the right to post photos from the footage on his store area so that other stores know to look out for you when you enter. The manager can also print out photos of you from the tapes and give it to his employees so that they are on the lookout for you as well.
Although you probably aren't going to be arrested from this one time problem, you need to seriously reconsider shoplifting. The stores lose money when you take the items, even if you cannot understand how they would lose from you stealing. They can spread your face around if they do catch you shoplifting and choose to not prosecute right now.
On another note, a letter wouldn't just come in the mail, most likely. The cops would show up at your door. Nobody ever gets a letter in the mail from the police station saying, "Hi there! I hope you're having a good day. We have footage of you shoplifting. Please come down to the station so we can arrest you. Thanks!" Again, please be realistic.
Also, just because it was your first time shoplifting doesn't mean you get a pass or a get-out-of-jail-free card. A crime is a crime. A robber is a robber. Stealing is stealing. You, obviously, know better than to steal from a store. The cops aren't going to say, "Oh! It's your first time getting caught? Sorry about that. Call us the next time you commit a crime. Have a good day now!" It doesn't matter if this is the first time for the 50th time. An arrest for a crime committed is an arrest for a crime committed. You might not serve very long in jail for a first-time offense but you would definitely not just get off scott-free. Use your head.
It's not worth it, trust me. If you steal, somebody will find out eventually. Nobody benefits from committing a crime.
P.S. Just because you don't actually SEE the security cameras doesn't mean they're not there.
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i've been in this position before, except i got slapped with a citation. you don't need to worry about anything. if they were going to get the cops involved, they would have kept you in the store and held you until the cops showed up. when you take a small item, they don't write down your license plate. if anything, the guy would have asked you to leave immediately and not come back. since he only asked for the item and didnt ask for your name, number, address, etc, nothing is going to happen. you're fine. they're not going to throw you in jail for taking a small item.
chill.
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