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Shoplifting is the act of stealing from a retail business and can result in charges, fines, or prison time. Laws vary by location, but intentional theft below a certain amount is typically considered shoplifting. Charges can be brought even if the theft is unsuccessful, but individuals have the opportunity to defend themselves in court. Repeat offenders may face harsher penalties.
Shoplifting is a crime in which a person steals something from a retail business. When a person is arrested for committing this type of crime, they can be charged with shoplifting in court. Essentially, this means that he is formally charged with the crime and may face the penalties permitted in his jurisdiction, such as probation or prison time, if convicted of it. In many cases, sentences are light for first-time offenders, and fines can be low as well. However, sometimes a judge can give a repeat offender a more severe sentence.
The laws regarding shoplifting fees can vary from place to place. Typically, however, shoplifting means that a person steals something from a retail business. In many places, theft must be intentional to be considered shoplifting. For example, if a person stuffs a pair of socks in his pocket and leaves a store without paying, he could be charged with shoplifting. The same can be true for a person who tries on clothes in a dressing room, discards the clothes that belong to him, and then walks out of the store wearing the new clothes.
An individual can shoplift virtually any type of item. For example, a person may be charged with shoplifting if he steals a phone, tool set, toy or candy bar from a retail store. In many places, however, the laws consider retail theft below a certain amount, such as $500 US Dollars (USD), to be shoplifting. If an individual steals more than $500 USD worth of property from a retail store, in some jurisdictions he or she could be charged with a different type of theft.
Interestingly, a person can be charged with shoplifting even if they fail to steal from a retail business. For example, an individual may pocket some cologne and attempt to leave a store without paying. If someone discovers the theft before they can escape, they could still be charged with shoplifting in some jurisdictions.
A shoplifting charge does not mean that a person is guilty of shoplifting. In most cases, it simply means that the person has been formally accused of committing the crime. Usually, a person has the opportunity to defend themselves against shoplifting charges in court and possibly prove that they are not guilty. If he is convicted of shoplifting, however, he could face a variety of penalties. For example, he may be sentenced to probation or ordered to pay a fine. In some cases, a person convicted of shoplifting may also receive a prison sentence.
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