Shoplifting is the informal term for the criminal offense of retail theft. It involves someone depriving a merchant of their goods without compensating them, usually by leaving a store with an item they did not pay for. There are a number of circumstances that can lead to a charge of shoplifting, and our dedicated criminal defense attorneys could help you fight back against all of them.
Any theft-related charge is a serious matter, and it is crucial that you build a strong defense. If convicted, you face the potential for jail time, fines, and damage to your reputation that can affect your future. Reach out to our Cranberry Township shoplifting lawyer at Benjamin Levine Law for help defending yourself against retail theft charges.
Shoplifting is not limited to walking out of a store without paying for items. Under state law, retail theft covers a wide range of conduct that involves depriving a merchant of the value of their goods. The most common example is concealing merchandise and attempting to leave without paying. However, shoplifting can also include switching price tags to pay less, altering packaging to disguise the true value of an item, or even consuming food or beverages in a store without paying for them. Retail theft also extends to situations where someone attempts to return items they did not purchase in order to obtain a refund or store credit.
The crime itself involves the attempt to unlawfully take a merchant’s property without paying. This means you could be charged even if you never left the store, as concealing items with the intent to steal them may be enough for charges.
Because these laws are broad, many ordinary acts, such as absentmindedly leaving the store with an unpaid item in a cart or even using your own reusable shopping bag, can lead to a shoplifting accusation. Whether intentional or accidental, you deserve the support of strong legal counsel who is not afraid to take on the prosecution. Our Cranberry Township shoplifting attorneys are here to help you achieve the best possible outcome in this situation.
With the right approach, you may be able to avoid a conviction on shoplifting charges. Our Cranberry Township shoplifting attorneys have had success with the following strategies:
Shoplifting is a crime of intent, meaning that you have only committed it if you intended to deprive a merchant of their goods. Therefore, accidentally leaving the store with an item or mistakenly believing the goods in your possession were paid for when they were not does not meet the definition of shoplifting. Our team could show a judge or jury that you made an honest mistake and never intended to take anything without paying.
The government has a high burden of proof it has to meet to convict you of a crime. There are times when the best defense in a shoplifting case is to highlight how weak the state’s evidence is. We could focus on the weakness of the case instead of attempting to make an alternative case for what happened.
You are protected by the U.S. Constitution when it comes to when and how the police can search your person or property. If they obtain evidence against you through an illegal search, our team could work to have anything collected by the state excluded at trial.
If you have been charged with retail theft, it is crucial that you take action immediately, as prosecutors will not hesitate to utilize government resources against you. Fortunately, all our attorneys are former prosecutors themselves and are therefore well-equipped to help you fight back.
Call today to discuss your options with our Cranberry Township shoplifting lawyer at Benjamin Levine Law.