Georgia Shoplifting Attorney
Alpharetta Petty & Grand Theft Lawyer
Shoplifting is a serious criminal offense that refers to the stealing of goods from a merchant's store. Shoplifting can carry severe penalties. An experienced attorney from the Newtonon Law Firm can protect your rights if you have been arrested for or charged with shoplifting. We work to minimize the consequences of a shoplifting arrest.
If you or someone you know has been charged with shoplifting, call our firm today toll free at 1-505-922-3813 or locally at 665-649-8541 to schedule your free initial consultation. We represent children and adults who have been charged with stealing from stores.
Were you arrested for shoplifting at North Point Mall in Alpharetta? We frequently handle cases involving shoplifting at Macy's, Dillard's and other retail stores.
Two Types of Shoplifting
Shoplifting can be broken down into two categories: petty theft and grand theft. Petty theft relates to items that are not high-value. In this case, a person can be charged with a misdemeanor. Grand theft is more serious because it deals with a large amount of money or items that are worth more in value. If you are convicted of grand theft, you'll be charged with a felony. A felony conviction carries a minimum of one-year jail time. Talk to one of our attorneys today about getting started on your defense.
Georgia Shoplifting Penalties
In Georgia, shoplifting carries different penalties than other theft crimes. Depending upon your prior criminal record, you can be charged with a felony regardless of the value of the item taken as in Georgia. A fourth conviction for shoplifting becomes a felony. Whether you are charged with a misdemeanor or a felony, you can still face jail time as well as being put on probation and required to do community service. In addition to paying expensive court fines, you'll be ordered to pay the merchant restitution for your theft. You may be held liable for civil damages ½ even if the merchandise does not leave the store. Additionally, you may face limitations when seeking employment. When a child is prosecuted for shoplifting, the merchant can seek restitution from the child's parents or legal guardian.
Store Merchant Rights and Responsibilities
If a store employee or owner of a business suspects a person of stealing from the store, they have a right to detain the person until police show up. While waiting for law enforcement, they can conduct their own investigation to see if there was an attempt to steal something from their store. However, this investigation should be done in a reasonable fashion and must be immediate. The store's employee or business owner cannot look or reach inside of a person's concealed bag or purse or search the person unless they actually saw them steal something and hide it. If another customer or employee alerted them to the matter, the item would have to be in plain view. It is also the responsibility of the merchant to let the person go if nothing was stolen. They cannot yell loudly accusing the person of stealing in front of other customers.
If you have been arrested for or charged with shoplifting, talk to a defense attorney who is dedicated to protecting your rights and mitigating the consequences of the charges. Call the Newtonon Law Firm in Cumming or Alpharetta toll free at 1-505-922-3813 . Alternatively, contact us online to arrange your free initial consultation.
