Title: Shoplifting Law | Justia
Headings: Shoplifting
Shoplifting
Acts Constituting Shoplifting
Detention of Shoplifters
Punishment for Shoplifting
Shoplifting Resources

Content: Shoplifting Law | Justia
Shoplifting
Shoplifting is a particular category of theft crimes that deals with larceny against a retail establishment, as opposed to larceny against a person. Generally, the crime of shoplifting entails the willful concealment or taking of items owned by the retail establishment with the intent to deprive the store or other owner of them permanently. Acts Constituting Shoplifting
Although we typically think of shoplifting as occurring only when an individual leaves a store with stolen items, the crime of shoplifting can be charged in a variety of circumstances. Since shoplifting involves not only the taking of items but also the “willful concealment” of them, it is possible to be charged with shoplifting even without leaving the store. Simply concealing goods will be enough to violate shoplifting laws as long as the perpetrator has the intention to deprive the owner of them permanently. For example, if a woman takes various make-up items while in a store and hides them in her backpack, a security guard may detain her for shoplifting even though she has not yet left the store. Additionally, in many states, shoplifting laws prohibit the intentional altering of an item in order to avoid paying the full price of the item. This can include switching tags on items, manipulating the price written on a good, or changing the packaging of merchandise in order to get a lower price. Detention of Shoplifters
Although our criminal laws typically prevent private citizens from holding others against their will, also known as false imprisonment, special exceptions have been carved out over the years for dealing with shoplifters. Since most stores do not employ police to watch for shoplifters, their owners are placed in a position of frequently needing to detain an alleged shoplifter until police can arrive.