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: If a shoplifter does not voluntarily pay the amount demanded, the merchant may file a lawsuit against the shoplifter, in which case many states also permit the merchant to recover attorney fees. The merchant may also report the amount demanded to credit reporting agencies, such that the amount shows up on their credit reports as an unpaid debt. When the theft is committed by a minor, states typically provide that the minor's parents are also liable for the amount of the civil demand, with the parents also being potentially sued or having an unpaid demand negatively affect their credit. Trespass Bans
Retailers also have the right to ban shoplifters from their premises, an action known as a trespass ban. A person suspected of shoplifting may be banned from a store, or from an entire chain of stores, for a specified period of time, or even indefinitely. If a shoplifting suspect violates the trespass ban, they can be criminally prosecuted for trespassing even if they are merely shopping at the store and intend to pay for the merchandise they have selected. Retail Theft Databases
Many retailers maintain databases of suspected shoplifters, and many participate in reporting programs through which they exchange the identities of shoplifters who either confess a