Legal Question in Criminal Law in California
Kind of got caught stealing from CVS?
First I want to say that I will never, ever ever steal again in my whole life. Scariest experience of my life.I've stolen small things before, like gum or candy, and never gotten caught. But today I went on the bus and went to CVS by myself. When I walked in, I wore a black jacket and my hair pulled back.I am 16. I had a kind of large backpack and binder, and I had money. I was going to buy a stick of concealer make-up because my parents won't let me buy it. But I saw so many brands of the concealers I wanted, and saw anti-puff rollers and anti-dark circle rollers and got sooo carried away. I placed my bag down. I unopened packages of these products and stuffed them into the sleeves of my black jacket.I was then going to buy one concealer. But then this blond shopper was kind of looking at me because she walked in and heard me open something, so I went to another aisle. I was calm because she looked relaxed, but then I saw her looking at the make-up carton I opened and telling another shopper I shoplifted or something, who was in disbelief. I ran out of the store, stupidly forgetting my bag. I waited for about 20 minutes until the blond girl left. Then I took off my jacket and let down my hair, and went inside. I saw the store manager/security taking my bag away, and when they saw me they asked if it was mine. I said "YES!" and pretended to be relieved. They told me to come to a corner. They asked me where my black jacket was. I said "what jacket?" They repeated the question. I said I had no idea what was going on and had no jacket. I pretended to be angry.I said I forgot my bag in the store as my mom called me and I left CVS. I told them how I was so forgetful, quite convincingly and citing specific examples.The security told me that someone saw a girl in a black jacket stuffing something in her pockets. I said I had no idea what this was about, that I own no black jacket. The security asked the lady at the counter who waved to me before to identify me, and she said that I looked different but she wasn't exactly sure. I started crying. He said, before I give your bag to you, I need to verify this is your property. Show me your ID. I did not have any photo ID in my bag. He refused to give the bag to me. I told him I would do anything to get my stuff back. He was about to call the cops. The other lady stopped him and said "isn't there another way." Another shopper got involved and said "c'mon, the lady at the counter already said this wasn't the girl" The security guy said "okay, call your mom, I will speak to her" I was dailing the number but I stopped and said, "please, she's going to be so mad at me" he said, why would she be mad if you didn't do anything wrong. I said, because she hates how I forget stuff and a security guy is calling her. Then, his partner asked him to check the security tapes. Interestingly, the security guy did not respond. Instead, the security guy said I'm going to call the cops. He picked up my binder and asked "is this yours?" I said yes, open the first page of the binder. He looked at it and I read aloud everything on the first page from memory. It was my english binder and I correctly identified the AP English class, my teacher's name, what was in the pockets, and what high school I went to. My transcript was in there and I'm sure he saw my straight-A's and 4.8 GPA. He then let me go. I was weeping by that time. His partner led me out, and I said "I guess I can't buy anything anymore" and she said"no ofcourse you can!" and kind of smiled. As I left, the security guy asked the lady on the counter AGAIN if I didn't match up with the person she saw earlier. I did n't hear the response. I ran all the way home.
Basically, the blonde girl reported a girl with black jacket shoplifting or acting suspiciously. The store found a backpack next to the reported site. When I went into the store to retrieve this backpack 20 minutes later, I changed my appearance by removing the jacket and changing my hair. The thing is, if there were security tapes, and I did not see any cameras and again I stole discreetly at first until I became overconfident, will I be arrested or fined? The security guy might remember my name and knows which high school I go to. If there are security tapes, and again he was hesitant about viewing them in the first place for a strange reason but was ready to call the cops (hinting that there might be none, but then again his partner brought them up), these tapes will undoubtedly show the truth. I don't know what to do. Will I get Caught? I hate myself and do not know what possessed me to do such an act. I have been suffering and been bullied and ridiculed because of my dark cirlces, and that's why I went crazy when I saw products claiming to fix them. I am an immoral person and hate myself.
1 Answer from Attorneys
You are not an immoral person and if you've learned something there is no reason to hate yourself. But be careful do not talk about this with anyone except your parents, a lawyer, a counselor or a religious adviser, . You should not discuss this on line. If you have no one else to talk to you may call me at 415-336.7534.
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