I accidentally shoplifted from a Super Store in BC Canada back in February 2008. It's now 8 months past. I was with my son and I had some batteries and a small block of cheddar ontop of my stroller. The bottom of the buggy was already quite full with a jug of milk and some other stuff so I just put them up there. My son had a really runny nose that day and I was pulling back the hood on the stroller to get to him to wipe his nose every now and then but I would always put the hood back to open except for the last time. Apparently I didn't and I forgot there were 2 things in there by the time I went to the checkout. A secret shopper confronted me when I left the store and brought us to the back room where they told me about the 2 items. I said I forgot they were there and the reasoning behind it. They were actually really nice to me.
Anyway, my son and I went upstairs with the lady and one other employee proceeded to check my entire stroller which she found nothing. Upstairs she got my drivers license number and wrote down a bunch of stuff. I had to sign a paper called a BAR (I think its called that) saying I wouldn't shop there for 6 months. At one point she said she had to leave the room and if there was anything in my diaper bag that shouldn't be there I should take it out. So she left the room and I didn't even bother opening my bag because I knew there wasn't anything in there. I think she was watching on camera to see what I would do. Anyway she came back and I showed her my whole bag (diapers, wipes, accessories) everything was cleared. Anyway, the cops were called down there and we were let go after signing that paper. I shouldve asked for a copy of it. She said I would have a red flag on my drivers license and next time the cops would come and that it was theft under $1000.

My questions are: Do I have a record? Is the red flag just on my license for at the store in there records or can the police bring that up? Can I go into the US? Its been 8 months since the incedent can I shop there now (it was a 6 month ban) or stay away? I volunteer at my daughters school, will it show up on my criminal record when they do it?

Thank you in advance

I accidentally shoplifted from a Super Store in BC Canada back in February 2008. It's now 8 months past. I was with my son and I had some batteries and a small block of cheddar ontop of my stroller. The bottom of the buggy was already quite full with a jug of milk and some other stuff so I just put them up there. My son had a really runny nose that day and I was pulling back the hood on the stroller to get to him to wipe his nose every now and then but I would always put the hood back to open except for the last time. Apparently I didnt and I forgot there were 2 things in there by the time I went to the checkout. A secret shopper confronted me when I left the store and brought us to the back room where they told me about the 2 items. I said I forgot they were there and the reasoning behind it. They were actually really nice to me.
Anyways, my son and I went upstairs with the lady and one other employee proceeded to check my entire stroller which she found nothing. Upstairs she got my drivers license number and wrote down a bunch of stuff. I had to sign a paper called a BAR (i think its called that) saying I wouldnt shop there for 6 months. At one point she said she had to leave the room and if there was anything in my diaper bag that shouldnt be there I should take it out. So she left the room and I didnt even bother opening my bag because I knew there wasnt anything in there. I think she was watching on camera to see what I would do. Anyways she came back and I showed her my whole bag (diapers, wipes, accessories) everything was cleared. Anyways, the cops were called down there and we were let go after signing that paper. I shouldve asked for a copy of it. She said I would have a red flag on my drivers license and next time the cops would come and that it was theft under $1000.

My questions are: Do I have a record? Is the red flag just on my license for at the store in there records or can the police bring that up? Can I go into the US? Its been 8 months since the incedent can I shop there now (it was a 6 month ban) or stay away? I volunteer at my daughters school, will it show up on my criminal record when they do it?

Thank you in advance



Accidentally shoplifting while shopping with a child in a stroller appears to be a Canadian national sport - with apologies to my friends in Canada.

It would appear you were not arrested so you don't have a criminal record. There is no such thing as "red flagging" your driver's license for shoplifting.

I don't see any problem crossing the US border.

Do you think she said that just to scare me. I know I will never let it happen again. I never heard anything back from the store or any police or received any paperwork in the past 8 months. I assure you mine was not intentional. My husband doesn't even know about it and we wanted to go down to the states this weekend. It would really ruin the trip if we were turned around because of me. I would really like to shop at Superstore again. Do you think it would be OK? The 6 month store probation ended August 22 or should I wait for a full year to be safe?

Quote: Anyway, the cops were called down there and we were let go after signing that paper. I shouldve asked for a copy of it. She said I would have a red flag on my drivers license and next time the cops would come and that it was theft under $1000.


I meant to say that the cops were never called down in the first post if that changes anything.

Do you think she said that just to scare me. I know I will never let it happen again. I never heard anything back from the store or any police or recieved any paperwork in the past 8 months. I assure you mine was not intentional. My husband doesnt even know about it and we wanted to go down to the states this weekend. It would really ruin the trip if we were turned around because of me. I would really like to shop at Superstore again. Do you think it would be ok? The 6 month store probation ended August 22 or should I wait for a full year to be safe?


I personally would NEVER go back there - I'm sure others will disagree with me. Will they remember you? Will they not? Do you want them to stop you and ask you if the time frame to return has passed? Again, I would stay away.

As far as the US - it would appear you have no record. You weren't arrested. Of course, if your husband doesn't know and this is how he finds out it could be pretty unpleasant.

Do you think I could go to a Superstore in the next town over without the fear of being stopped?

Do you think everything is done and over with and I shouldn't have to worry about fingerprinting and being charged?

You would have to have that done before anything is put on my license right?

Do you think I could go to a Superstore in the next town over without the fear of being stopped?



You could probably go to the one in your town without being stopped - I'm sure lots of people experience what happened to you and there's no way of remembering you unless you were particularly outrageous.

I'm just not sure you want to take the chance of being embarrassed.

But I think it's a slim chance you'll be stopped.

I really appreciate you answering all my questions. Its been bothering me for quite sometime. So you don't think I should go and get a record check just to make sure?
But I think if no police were invloved there wouldn't be anything on there unless they mailed the info to them.

Do they really confront old shoplifters?
They must have to remember the face and be quite sure of it before they do that? I would think. That would suck...

On a scale of 1-10 what do you think my chances of being questioned at the border would be?

Between 0 and 1.

Just wondering if you have any updates on this. It sounds like you were let go by the store after signing some paper agreeing to your guilt and no police was called. Just wondering if you have any updates? I am in a similar situation and it has been almost 8 months since my incident took place.

Nothing happened. At the end of the month it will have been 1 year since the incident. I haven't been back to the store though. I thought about going to the one in the next town but still have not yet. Ive been told I have no criminal record and can cross the border. If the police were not involved there is no way it couldve gotten on my record.

Did you ever get a civil demand from the store? I paid $400 a few months ago and have not heard anything since. I am hoping that the store would not charge me for the most stupid thing I have and will ever do...