fireign
Mar 24, 2013, 12:17 PM
A couple days ago I was caught shoplifting. I took a pair of $25 shades at the Bay. I'm in Manitoba. I am very ashamed and will never do this type of thing again. Anyway I was outside waiting at a bus stop when a man in plain clothes grabbed me by the arm. Being in downtown (where most crimes occur) I thought the man was trying to rob me. When I told him to let go another man in plain clothes grabbed me on the other side. They said the faster I cooperate the quicker they'll let me go. Eventually they said that I would need to come with them for a bag search and that they have me on camera. At that point I realized they were security officers or LP officers for the Bay. I was taken down to the basement and into the LP security room. They had me empty my backpack and pockets. Of course the only stolen item I had was the sunglasses. I admitted to taking the shades and returned them because of the guilt feeling I had and lying to them probably would make things worse. It was a stupid decision on my part. I don't know what I was thinking. I have a job as well. I thought taking the item would be a piece of a cake but I obviously underestimated their surveillance system. Anyway after I admitted to taking just the shades, one of the LP officers cited me for theft under $5000 and asked if I wanted to contact a lawyer.. I said no. After that I guess it was the head of security who asked, he asked the LP officer dealing with me if he patted me down. The officer said yes even thought he didn't. Which I thought was odd. He then put me in a small wooden cell and locked me in. I have no idea why they had to lock me up (I was polite the whole time and cooperative. The officers were also pretty nice) a few minutes after being in the cell, the LP officer opened it and took down my information. I answered each question with no hesitation. He took down my name, address, date of birth, phone number, height, weight, where I work, and if I had any tattoos or scars. After that he said that they just had to put it through. I'm assuming he meant they would check for any previous records? In which case there would be none. I'm 19 years of age and have a clean record. This was my first offence. I was locked in the wooden cell for another 10 minutes or so. Eventually the LP officer took me out and made me sign 2 documents. One was an understanding of them sending an amount I have to pay for any damages, time consumed, etc. And that I could be taken to civil court if I don't pay the fine (I believe a civil demand is what they'll send me).The 2nd document was a ban notice of 2 years from all Hudson Bay Company properties. After signing the documents I was given copies and then they let me go. The one LP officer who mostly dealt with me escorted me out. Before I exited the store, I shook the mans hand and apologized about the whole situation. It was definitely not a great experience and I absolutely learned my lesson. I'm really disappointed in myself.. anyway what I'm wondering now, is if the LP officer cited me for theft under $5000.. does that mean I'll be going to court? Or did he do that to scare me? There were no police present, at least not that I know of because I was locked in the wooden cell and couldn't see anything that they were doing. And I have no idea if they called the police because they didn't tell me. Also while I was in the cell, they looked through my wallet and took out my photo ID. Did they have the right to do that? I know this because before I was put into the cell nothing was taken out of my wallet. When I came out, my photo ID was sitting on the table beside my wallet. Can anyone tell me what will most likely happen to me now? And would they have reported me to the police for this? The only people I actually dealt with and spoke to were the LP security officers.