Tjmaxx shoplifting in illinois what happens?

Question

My daughter was caught shoplifting but no police were called just had to sign a paper stating a civil demand will be mailed later and htat she will be put in a database...will there be a criminal charge later? Also is there a record of the civil demand that will be mailed later..as long as we pay it there are no other charges correct and no legal record that employers etc can track that aren't in the retail business...and no impact on credit score right? I am so worried :( i don't know what to do...she is over 18 so this is really scary on what kind of scar this will leave

Answer 1

As long as you follow the instructions in the civil demand paperwork, there will be no criminal charge. The will probably come up with an amount equal to three times the value of the shoplifted property, plus reasonable court costs. If you pay, that is the last you will hear.

If you don't pay, they will file a small claims action. This will be a matter of public record, and can be accessed during a background check.

Answer 2

They let her go, the civil demand may be nothing but it can be a demand for reparations for the time and cost of processing but it rarely is done.

It is nothing but a letter. it is not an official court document, just something like a lawyers letter demanding payment for past due credit.

Tell her to pay if it is reasonable.

There is no official report made and the data base is a loss prevention data base shared between stores owned by the same company (they cannot share the information with other companies or publish the information and it is not available on the net). Usually what she signed also has a notice on it that she is banned from their stores. If it did they can have her arrested for trespassing if she enters one of their stores again. The notice satisfies Illinois trespassing laws.

The can make a report anytime, but as long as they are paid they won't.

BOTTOM LINE

Likely no criminal charges, No public record of the letter. No credit score impact. Her future employers will not discover it unless they are owned by the same company as TJMaxx.

Answer 3

Ok - the civil demand letter will accompany a very large fee - just so you know.

No criminal charges will follow - however if there is a video of the crime - she could be later - but it is doubtful.  There is no credit score impact or anything like that.  I assume it was for a minimal amount - remember that $150 dollars is the felony amount for retail theft in Illinois.  The incident is over - criminally - but you'll be surprised at the amount of civil damages they try to collect

(720 ILCS 5/16A‑7) (from Ch. 38, par. 16A‑7)

    Sec. 16A‑7. Civil Liability.

    (a) A person who commits the offense of retail theft as defined in Section 16A‑3 paragraphs (a), (b), (c), or (h) of this Code, shall be civilly liable to the merchant of the merchandise in an amount consisting of:

        (i) actual damages equal to the full retail value of  

     the merchandise as defined herein; plus



        (ii) an amount not less than $100 nor more than  

     $1,000; plus



        (iii) attorney's fees and court costs.

    (b) If a minor commits the offense of retail theft, the parents or guardian of said minor shall be civilly liable as provided in this Section; provided, however that a guardian appointed pursuant to the Juvenile Court Act or the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 shall not be liable under this Section. Total recovery under this Section shall not exceed the maximum recovery permitted under Section 5 of the "Parental Responsibility Law", approved October 6, 1969, as now or hereafter amended.

    (c) A conviction or a plea of guilty to the offense of retail theft is not a prerequisite to the bringing of a civil suit hereunder.

    (d) Judgments arising under this Section may be assigned.

(Source: P.A. 93‑329, eff. 7‑24‑03.)