Title: Shoplifting Laws and Punishments | ExpertLaw
Headings: Shoplifting Laws and Punishments
Shoplifting Laws and Punishments
Contents
What is Shoplifting
When Can Shoplifting Result in More Serious Charges
Detention by a Store for Shoplifting
What is the Punishment for Shoplifting
Criminal Penalties
Civil Penalties
Civil Demand Laws
Trespass Bans
Retail Theft Databases
Defenses to Shoplifting Charges
What Should You Do if Charged With Shoplifting

Content: Shoplifting Laws and Punishments | ExpertLaw
Shoplifting Laws and Punishments
By Aaron Larson | Law Offices of Aaron Larson
May 8, 2018
Shoplifting is a term used to describe the act of stealing merchandise from a retail store. The actual criminal charge that is filed against a shoplifting suspect may have a different name, such as retail fraud, petty larceny or petty theft. Although shoplifting is a very common offense, particularly with younger people, the consequences of getting caught stealing from a store can be serious even for juvenile offenders, and can carry significant long-term consequences that may affect future employment, college enrollment, renting a house or apartment, or giving testimony in court. Shoplifting creates significant costs for retailers, which are passed on to law-abiding consumers. The National Retail Federation estimates that the prices paid by the average consumer are raised by approximately $500 per year due to the costs of shoplifting. Contents
What is Shoplifting
When Can Shoplifting Result in More Serious Charges
Detention by a Store for Shoplifting
What is the Punishment for Shoplifting
Defenses to Shoplifting Charges
What Should You Do if Charged With Shoplifting
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What is Shoplifting
Although in its simplest terms, the act of shoplifting is normally regarded as trying to remove merchandise from a store without paying for it, a wide range of criminal actions may be regarded as shoplifting offenses, including: Tampering With Price Tags: altering or switching price tags in order to try to pay a lower price for merchandise; and
Return Fraud: attempting to return a stolen item as if it was purchased from the store, to get an undeserved refund.