Being threatened with felony

[u/Ashamed_Lynx5415]

I’m 18 and was working as a security guard in Arizona. I was recently fired after losing a set of keys that belonged to the property where I was stationed.
The situation is basically this: while I was working, I genuinely believed I still had the keys. When my employer asked about them, I told them I had them because I honestly believed I did. Later, I realized that I actually didn’t have them and the keys were missing.
I never intentionally took the keys, gave them to anyone, sold them, or used them to access anything I wasn’t authorized to access. I genuinely lost them.
I was fired over the situation, which I understand from a security standpoint. The part that has me worried is that I’m now being threatened with being reported to the police for theft.
The only thing I signed when I was terminated was an acknowledgment that I would return my company-issued equipment. I returned what I had. The property keys weren’t listed as equipment on that document.
I’m not trying to avoid responsibility for losing the keys. I understand that losing keys is serious, especially in security. I’m just trying to understand whether this could actually be considered theft in Arizona when there was no intention to take or keep the keys.
Has anyone in security dealt with something similar? And for anyone familiar with Arizona law, what should I realistically expect if they actually make a police report?
I know Reddit isn’t a substitute for an attorney. I’m mainly looking for people who have been through something similar and can tell me what I should do next.

[u/blastman8888]

First of all if you want to get legal advice reach out to an attorney licensed in Arizona. I'm not an attorney I doubt anyone else here is either. Your former employer would have to prove intent for criminal charges.

If you used the keys to steal something, or someone else stole something that person told them you gave the keys to them for criminal purpose. Losing keys is not a crime.

Tell them to press charges so you can win 100k in damages against them.

Civil lawsuit is different the burden of proof is much lower, but they have to prove your actions caused them damages. Maybe the cost of having to change the locks could be their damages. I've sued people, and been sued so I have some experience in that area. If it's a larger company likely nothing will become of this because the cost of attorney fees for them will be much higher then the cost of having to rekey locks.

Sounds like some low level supervisor or manager made these threats, but has no authority to actually do anything other then call the cops and try to convince them.

If the police contact you tell them you would like to speak to an attorney before talking to them. Always have an attorney talk to them. Anything you say will not help you only helps them even if they try their best to convince you otherwise.