Shoplifting Lawyers in the USA

When thinking of shoplifting, you may think of Jean Valjean in Les Misérables who stole bread for his starving sister and was imprisoned for five years. But not everybody who shoplifts steals food because they're hungry. It doesn't matter what was shoplifted, or who did the shoplifting, it is still a crime, and is the most common type of theft happening today in the United States.

Shoplifting is the unpermitted taking of an item belonging to another with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of the item. It is defined as petty theft (California Penal Code § 484 (a)), which means the value of the items stolen is $950 or less. It is always a misdemeanor, but nonetheless serious because it is a crime of dishonesty and a conviction for this can have immigration consequences. Even the mere charges can destroy one’s employment opportunities and reputation.

It’s generally against the law for most employers to discriminate against job applicants on the basis of race and national origin, among other characteristics. But these same employers routinely refuse to even consider hiring someone with a criminal record. The applicant with a record goes to the bottom of the pile – or doesn’t get into the pile at all.

Misdemeanor Charges - A misdemeanor is an offense that the criminal justice system considers less serious than a felony. The offense is normally punishable by fines up to $1,000 and imprisonment for up to six months. Felony offenses are punishable by a year or more in prison. Misdemeanor sentences are typically served in a local jail.

It may surprise you to learn that a person living in Colorado is twice as likely to have their car stolen as a person living in New York City. According to the Colorado State Patrol, Denver has five thefts per 1,000 cars and a surprisingly large number of those thefts are carried out for the purpose of committing more serious crimes.

It is January 1, 2012 and a host of new laws become effective today. While some of these laws may not affect you, others may, so it good to be aware of how the laws have changed. There are dozens of new laws, but our focus in this article in limited to ten that involve possible criminal cases.

Raymond Mooney and his girlfriend, Janna Lorette, drove together to a San Bernardino Stater Brothers grocery store. Mooney and his two small children entered first. About twenty seconds later, Ms. Lorette entered with an empty purse.

Have you ever been in a store and had someone follow you around watching your every move? That usually is because shoplifting is big business and, during a recession, it typically grows.

Theft crimes can range from minor incidents involving small dollar figures to much higher levels such as the stealing of a boat or automobile. Depending on the value of the property stolen, a theft crime can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony offense.

Shoplifting is one of the most common theft crimes in the United States today. Depending on the value of the property stolen – it can be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony offense.