Please help!!I've done a terrible thing. I Shoplifted from Target....?

Question

I was caught shoplifting 2 video games worth $100 on July 7th at Target and now today(August 17th) I get a fine in the mail from Target for 620$!

I'm incredibly scared and ashamed of what I have done...This is my first time ever doing something this stupid. I don't know what I was thinking..

I live with my parents and they don't know about it yet. I am 18 years old and I work part time at a Blockbuster Video. I currently only have 200 dollars in the bank and I won't reach the demanded amount until sept 12th to be exact.(I get paid like 230 dollars every 2 weeks.)

I got the job a week before the incident.

This is what happened:

Some guy and a security guard took me down to a room(I went peacefully) and took down information and had me sign Like 2 papers. Then the 2 cops came in and took me to a local precinct. I had to stay in jail cell for about 3 and half hrs. Then they let me go with a ticket saying that I had to show up to a court on the 22nd of september...

Thats exactly what happened. But my main problem is paying this amount of money instantly...Is there a way for me to arrange a date (sept 12th) to pay the money off fully? I want to pay the money but I only have 200 dollars at the very moment.

Should I call someone or go somewhere?

Please help me. I know what I have done is terrible but I don't know what to do and I don't want my parents to find out...

Thank you so much.

Answer 1

It seems dumb that you have to pay a fine before going to court... you have the right to a hearing even if you admit your guilt.  That being said, I wonder what you signed.

I would suggest calling the DA and explaining your financial situation... he might reduce the fine or give you a payment plan.  Be humble and tell him you would be happy to talk to him in person, or at the court date, but you just don't have the money right now (can't get blood from a Turnip).

If you get to your court date and speak to the DA or judge, throw yourself on the mercy of the court.  It being you are young (and foolish) it may be that you could work community service instead of paying the fine.

Good luck and I hope this teaches you a leason... ya big dummy.  (just kidding, we all make mistakes).

*EDIT:  I didn't realize the "fine" was from Target.  s***w them!  You are intitled to your day in court and have NO legal obligation to pay them.  Even signing whatever BS paperwork they made you signed (which you should have refused BTW), you can't sign away your rights of protection under the law.  Talk to the DA and don't send Target nothing.

It would be exactly like me sending you a bill for this post, IMO.

Good luck.  That makes me mad.

Answer 2

Unless you get to your mail before your parents, there is really not any way for them not to find out eventually.

A couple things come to mind.  First, Target will most likely take 2 or 3 payments - talk to them.

Second, sometimes parents can actually come through when you are completely convinced they won't.  I'm a 58 year old with two grown boys, both of whom got into a bit of trouble when they were younger.  Whenever they tried to hide something, I knew something was up, just didn't know the facts.  Your parents have to know something is up.  Give them a chance, it'll go quite a long way in helping you define who you will grow up to be - a man of integrity or not.

Good luck.

Answer 3

Let's be clear, Target Can't fine you, make it clear to them you will pay them to drop the misdemeanor charges. If Target takes you to court, you would likely pay a fine and costs of $200-300 and they would get nothing.

If Target wants to drop the charges, then offer $310 payable in 2 payments of $155 each. Things like this are always subject to negotiation, bet Target would take that  deal (although they may wait until September 21st) if you haven't stolen anything before. Target should have the satisfaction you have paid a sufficient penalty that way, you can avoid having your parents learn about it and not having a record.

Just because you did something wrong doesn't mean you need to allow them to s***w you over. BTW, tell your parents, they're likely to find out later anyway.

--------------------------------------...

Seeing the added information, you should only contact the store manager if you want to change the terms presented.  As I mentioned, get them to drop the criminal charges, if they don't , tell they to go f-- themselves. There's no way they incurred $620 in extra costs, costs they would need to prove in a civil matter.  I'm guessing you  signed away the right to sue their security, as thugs in security often get over enthusiastic in their work, they have those waivers.  But as you're under 18, that waiver may not be enforcable, nor promising to pay any $620 expense.

Assests Protection Recovery means security. Try calling the store manager, not  "Assests Protection Recovery" , if you want to get the criminal charges dropped, which is most important.

Answer 4

copy your question & give it to your parents & tell them you learned so much & this has turned your life around & they will see you made a mistake & are not ever going to do it again. This is part of life. They probably love you cause you are a good person so they are probably good people but you know if they are insane or not & will get over it. Good luck!

Answer 5

I agree with the lady above me.  Dont pay the money.  Even if you pay the money, the court may ask you to pay even more - restitution.  Take the letter to court with you, and the judge may make the restitution payment the same as the request of payment from target (Yay - one payment) From there, you can probably arrange a payment plan.

If you're worried about target doing more - call the number on the paper (there has to be one) and tell them you've been instructed not to pay anything until after your court appearence (if you were to hire a lawyer, that's what they'd say)

Oh... and in the future - no matter WHAT the situation, be it buying a car, gettin charged with shoplifting, or entering a contest... READ THE PAPERWORK BEFORE YOU SIGN IT!!

Answer 6

Call them up and see if they will accept a payment plan.  Alternatively, come clean with Mom and Pop and ask them to float you.  

This could be the best or worst thing that's happened to you, depending on how you approach it.

Edit:  I think, as a practical matter, if you settle this you will settle any potential criminal liability.  I remember reading an article about this a while ago, retailers are resorting to this to resolve shoplifting cases and to avoid the court system.  I'm not a lawyer and you're not allowed to sue me if it blows up in your face, but I am highly confident if you handle this debt you can put this episode behind you without a criminal record.

Answer 7

A fine from Target? That sounds wrong. Call a few Target managers, other department store managers, the cops, and your local consumer advocacy group to see if this is legit. Some Target or security guards may be trying to steal from you!

If it is legit, tell them that you don't have all that money and they will have to either wait until you save it or work with you to create a payment plan. But only accept a payment plan that you can afford...that won't make you take out a loan or threaten your rent/power/utilities. So figure out what that amount will be before you contact them and create a document of the payment plan, what it is for (the fine probably has a number) and your signature on it. Make two copies. If they start balking, say "That payment plan is the best I can do. If you don't take it, you'll have to wait until I save it up. What do you choose?" If they take it, make them sign both copies (you keep one). If they don't sign, hang up/walk out.

But be sure it is legit before you do anything. BTW: You said you signed two papers when caught...do you have copies? Cuz one of them probably is that you agree to pay the fine.

Perhaps paying the fine or setting up payments will cause Target to dismiss procecution. If so, do it. You don't want a criminal record. But when you pay, get a receipt...even for every payment.

If you do need to go to court, bring the stuff your signed when you were caught, bring the signed payment plan, and whatever else you can think of. Admit to everything you did, tell the judge that you are/have worked out a payment plan for their fine (if legit), that both Target security and the police handled you properly...and say "I am young and made a very stupid mistake and I'm very sorry for it. I apologize to Target and the police and this court for troubling them for what I did. I take full responsibility for my actions and will do whatever is needed to make it up to Target and society. But concerning my record, I beg the court and Target for mercy. I am only 18, living at home, working a part time job making $460/month. I am just starting my career/college/whatever in xyz and a criminal record would be devasting."

And no matter what the judge tells you what to do, thank the judge and do it.

By the way, if you aren't going to college, stop playing games and get an additional job. Young people should be working at least 60 hours/week so they can save up enough to buy a small house outright...not to rent, but to own. http://www.DaveRamsey.com.

Concerning telling your parents, that is kinda tough. Your 18 and you are going to live up to your actions...so you really don't *have* to. If they are going to possibly kick you out or try to bail you out, I would say no. You both need to live there and need to atone for this like an adult. This may seem contrary to each other, but young adults living with their parents until they can save up for a small house of their own is just wise...for both the young adult and, in the long run, the parents.

And whether you are paying them rent or not, you should be doing extra chores and projects around their house...as thanks for taking care of you from babe to high school.

Answer 8

DONT PAY THE $$ if you have not resolved the criminal charge.

Paying the money can be seen as an admission of guilt and used against your in the criminal matter.

Target can demand any money they want from you, but they have no legal right to try and collect this without either an agreement or some sort of Judgment, for which they would have to take you to civil court.

They send these letters out to all people caught shoplifting to try to recoup security costs.

They may sue you later or they may not. At this point you have no legal obligation to pay it.