The cameras are not fake like in walmart or any other store and to be considered shoplifting. You have to leave the store.
The fine is probably just to scare you, but I recommend not trying to steal again. They have these things called "follow shoppers". They are security pretending to be shoppers that follow around suspicious people.
If you know what to look for they aren't hard to find. The cameras aren't fake. And when no one is around, it is actually more likely they will be watching THOSE cameras.
What you did wrong was steal when you aren't stealthy enough or smart enough to get away with it, and you went with an expensive target. If they were going to file charges, because it is over $20, it would be a felony charge and the cops would have come. Unless a cop came and took your adress down, you won't be getting fined.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.