NSW Freaking out! I need advise. Think I have been caught shoplifting and I am on a good behaviour bond

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eurogirl15

Member
20 February 2020
1
0
1
I am freaking out!!!

I know you shouldn't steal but I suffer from mental illnesses and I didn't have any money so I stole over two days from the same store.

It's a store called HOT BARGAIN and all up I stole maybe about $70-80 worth. I realised when they left that their cameras turned and they had pictures up of all the people who have stolen.

I got told if I break the good behaviour bond I am going to jail (I didn't get into trouble in the past because of it, it was something totally unrelated).

I don't know what to do, do I wait and get caught or do I go back and apologise and pay for the stuff? They still might arrest me there and then. They are asian and I can barely understand a word they say so I don't know how to.

I have questions, will the police chase up something under a $100 and how do they find who it is from CCTV footage? Do they cross base it with their system of criminals? Also, are the police more likely to hunt someone down because they are on a good behaviour bond?

I am just asking because the police were hassling and trying to find someone for trying to do a fuel run for only $10 so I took more than that.
 

rjm

Well-Known Member
2 February 2020
92
8
314
I wouldn't go back to the store. Especially with the language barrier. I'd suggest going & speaking to the police. They prefer for you to go to them rather than having to spend their time tracking you down. They'll either have someone on staff who speaks the same language as the shop owners or access to an interpreter service. If you can pay for the goods that's best. If not pay as much as you can & the rest as quick as you can. It's possible the shop owner would still want you charged. If they're nice people hopefully not. If the mental health problem is genuine seek help for it. Pretty much the only thing you really need to get through the day is food. Most cities & larger regional towns have places you can get either meals or groceries. As for anything else, you really can manage without stealing it, so do your best not to.