Yesterday, I was picked up by grocery store security for theft. I'd been shopping, and stopped to eat, fully intending to pay for my meal on my way out, but got distracted by personal matters, and without thought, left with all of my groceries for the next month and some sundries and christmas gifts without paying (about $450 worht of stuff). The store is set up in such a way that you don't have to go through checkout to leave from the 'cafe' area, and I just wasn't thinking about what I was doing.

The investigators called me on my way out and escorted me to the security room. The moment they showed up I realized what had happened. 'Oh, crap, you're right!' I said and followed them back in - thinking I was just going back in to pay.

Instead, I got to hang out in the security room for three hours while they scanned and photographed my items and was then finally charged with theft when the police arrived.

While I was waiting, one of the investigators said they'd been watching me beacause I "showed the characteristics of someone who steals."

At any rate - now I've got a fingerprinting date and a first appearance date and the grocery store is suing me and I'm terrified. I don't want a criminal record (which sounds ridiculous to read - who DOES want one).

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While I was waiting, one of the investigators said they'd been watching me beacause I "showed the characteristics of someone who steals."
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It's not going to be easy, because they seemingly have a very strong case against you. You should consider retaining an attorney to explore, among other things, what these supposed characteristics were that they supposedly observed. It might be possible that their witnesses will be unable to sufficiently explain these characteristics on cross exaimination and, therefore, enough doubt can be raised to get you acquitted.

But it will probably be costly.

I wasn't thinking that THAT would be the lynchpin, but it was definitely a factor in keeping me up all night. What kind of person am I that makes an LP think I'm the kind of person to shoplift? I brought my green bin and bags; I worked my way through my shopping list geographically from one end of the store to the other; I didn't feel particularly malicious or otherwise, I don't know - sketchy, I guess. Just tired and hungry.

I've been researching this kind of case on the internets, and I'm leaning towards having a lawyer help me plead guilty and beg for a diversion. Ultimately, I DID walk out with all of that stuff, and the LP can prove it, whether I'd intended to or not. I'm guessing absent-minded theft is still theft in the eyes of the law. I can't even say with conviction that I'd have gone back if I hadn't realized what I'd done before I left.

Thanks you for your advice AK. I WILL bring it up when I contact a lawyer.