I got a bit of a situation here and need some legal advice. This all went down in Tulsa, Oklahoma, so I'm hoping you're familiar with the area and can help me out. Here's the deal:

Last Friday night, I was hanging out with a couple of friends from work. We decided to hit up this new spot on Cherry Street, you know, trying to catch the vibe of the place. It's supposed to have great live music and all.

Anyway, after a few hours and admittedly a few too many drinks, we thought it'd be hilarious to snag one of those fancy digital road signs. The ones that flash messages about construction or whatever. It was just sitting there, not being used, on a side street off of Peoria Ave, near that big park – you know, Woodward Park.

So, we did it. We took the sign. It was stupid, I know. We weren't thinking straight. Ended up putting it in my buddy's truck, and we drove it back to his place, just laughing about it. Didn't even think about the consequences at the time.

Fast forward to Monday morning, and there's a knock on my door. It's the Tulsa Police, and they're asking questions about the missing sign. Turns out, there's surveillance footage from a gas station nearby that got a clear shot of us loading the sign into the truck. They're talking about pressing charges for theft of city property or something along those lines.

Here's where I need your advice:

What are the possible legal consequences I'm looking at here?

Is there any way to mitigate this situation, maybe return the sign and apologize, or is it too late for that?

I've never been in trouble with the law before – does that count for anything in my favor?

Should I be talking to the police on my own, or do I need a lawyer with me for all communications?

Really appreciate any guidance you can give. This is all new to me, and I'm kinda freaking out about it. Thanks in advance.