Just got a COT on a system for a little under $1000 / first post

First post, so I'll do my best to follow the rules. Apologies in advance if I don't get everything perfect.<br><br>As the title says, I was just busted for shoplifting and given a COT (City Ordinance Ticket, don't know what all areas call it) from the system in question. The ticket is for $1000.<br><br>A little background: I have been shoplifting for about a year and a half now. I have not been caught before this, but I have had close calls and recently have been having dreams / nightmares about being caught. I have never been fully caught for anything illegal in my life, so this is my first go at this. I am a 20 year old / female.<br><br>Yesterday: I go in to the system, don't sign in yet, walk around and take / destroy an item from a fixture that has a camera built in. I do this sometimes to get out of taking a tag if I'm in a hurry. I didn't choose to do this yesterday, but my anxiety was so high that I just wanted to get out quick. The tag I took from the item I destroyed was from a fixture that was a few stores down, so I believe they will be lost on tracking me. If they end up pressing charges, and they see me shoplifting in the future, it will likely be a felony. I put the remains of the item in my bag and sign into the system. I have shoplifted from this system before, but they didn't catch me. I sign in with a fake name and number. I do this so they can't track me by the number if they catch me. I have had issues in the past where the system would call me to ask if I forgot my stuff / wallet, but I just always tell them I did / they must have misremembered. After signing in, I just walk around the system and drop a few more tags into my bag. I've never had success using a booster bag on this system, so I just usually carry the items I want to take, which is usually 2-4 items. I drop all the tags, don't bother opening the tags, and walk out. I have never carried any shoplifting tools with me, so I have to carry the items out. The system is a bit of an odd shape, so I walk / turn through 2 security cameras before even reaching the system's entrance. They are mounted from the ceiling, and I purposefully / strategically placed my bag directly under them to block their view.<br><br>I walk through the system's entrance / exit and I notice the security guard standing near the scanner, but he doesn't seem to notice me. I walk outside the system and don't stop to open my tags. The security guard walks out and tells me to stop. I turn and face him, but I don't stop. I ran down the stairs (the system is on the second floor), and into the parking lot. I didn't have to go far to get to my car, so I just ran that way and quickly opened my door and got in. The security guard tried to open my door, but it was locked. He didn't try to break my window, but he walked up to the passenger side window and tried to take a picture of me. I sped away, and the security guard ran up to a few cars and tried to get them to / tell them to stop me. They all declined, and I got away.<br><br>I later received a call from the system, and they told me they saw me shoplifting and that they / police know my description and license plate number. I just hung up, and they called me a few more times. I had my mom answer and she said she was sorry and that I will pay the ticket. They said they will likely be pressing charges, and if they catch me they will be pressing felony charges because I have already stolen from them before. I know I can likely just ignore all of this and get away with it, but I'm not sure if I should pay the ticket or not. I'm really afraid of going to court, and the only time I have ever been in court was when I was a minor and got in trouble for something vaguely unrelated. I also do not have $1000, but I could likely come up with it within a few months / year.<br><br>TLDR: Got busted for shoplifting from a system. They gave me a COT for $1000. Not sure if I should ignore it, pay it, or pay it and go to court.<br><br>EDIT: what is the likelihood that they will match me to other shoplifting cases with my car / license plate number?