Today I got caught shoplifting from a store in Canada. I just turned 18 9 days ago. This is my first offense. I know it was completely stupid and not worth it at all, but it happened. I have a question about being charged and the procedure for it, because I've been looking over this site and have not been able to find a case similar to mine.

I took a $5 stick of deodorant and walked out of the store and an undercover security guard grabbed me. He told me what had happened and took me to the back room. He told me he was arresting me for theft under 5000 and all of that. He asked for my ID and I cooperated and he took down the information. He made some calls then came back and told me the cops weren't going to come. He then handed me a government form and he began filling stuff out. He checked off a box which stated i was arrested for theft under 5000, and I had to mark my initials in a couple boxes. I wish i could remember exactly what I had initialed, but it was kind of a tense time so my memory is a little blurry. I don't remember reading anything that seemed unusual or incriminating. One question did ask if I wanted a lawyer, but since there wasn't even a cop there I didn't think it was too important so I checked no. I signed at the bottom and he made his signature. When I asked what the form was he said it was a "pre-charge" form or something. He told me that likely a letter would come in the mail asking for a 50$ administration fee for processing the paper, and possibly community service hours along with it.

My question is, was I even charged? Can I be charged without a cop even being there? Does anyone know anything about this "pre-charge" sheet and if it's a form of diversion? I was never given a notice to appear or anything. Another security guard came and wrote up a notice saying i wasn't to return to the premises. And then I was let go.

I'm mostly worried about a criminal record now that I'm 18 and want to go into teaching eventually.

Anyways, any help would be awesome