Petty theft help???

Question

6 days ago I stole something from my local grocery store...it was under $3...but I know it was still wrong...I live in a small town in Michigan and we don't have security officers just camera's...well my question is how likely am I to get caught and if I do what will happen. I'm 20 and it would be my first offense EVER. I've been in the store since then and if I was gonna get caught wouldn't I have already been. I'm really scared...I haven't been able to stop thinking about it and I can't sleep or eat...am I over reacting....I know i'll NEVER do it again. If you want to know why I did it it was because I didnt' have enough money for that one thing and it's so embarrassing not having enough money. I paid for everything else but that one thing. I know stealing is stealing...plz. help

Answer 1

It seems to me that you have a conscience. So, tell them you stold it, give them the $3.00 and move on, and tell them you'll never be seen in their store again.

Answer 2

You are going to be caught and arrested.

Answer 3

Its a misdemeanor. Not a serious crime, as long as you are only a first time offender. You should only get a slap on the wrist (community service, restitution, a fine, and maybe some probation). I am learning a lot about this right now from a similar situation. Hire either a public defender or if you can a lawyer with your own money, public defenders are ok; but pro-bono government lawyers usually aren't too great at fighting. They want to settle. If you are served or they try to arrest you, don't say anything without a lawyer.

Answer 4

If your conscious if bothering you so much then what you can do beside turning yourself in or admitting that you stole something is to maybe do something for the store that would equal the amount you stole or better. I don't think you would be a career thief since you seem to have a conscious about it. So try not to do things that would get your conscious bothering you so you can sleep in peace at night.......

Answer 5

The theft was not enough of a monetary loss for the store to review the old footage.  Those cameras are there more for a visual deterrent and to catch serious crime.

With the price of all the video equipment that goes along with a surveillance system, the cameras may be fake anyway.

If you were to get caught, the store would have to charge you with the theft through the local police.  Small stores usually eat the cost of the loss.  It's far cheaper for the store to do that than pay for prosecution.  

Walk it off and don't do it again.