What You Need to Know About Retail Theft
Retail fraud in the taking or attempted taking of property from a store without permission and without paying for it.
A more common name is shoplifting.
Retail fraud can be charged as a misdemeanor or felony, depending on the property’s value taken or concealed. It can also be charged as a felony if a person has a prior conviction without considering the property’s value. If you are convicted, a sentence could include any number of things — incarceration, fines and costs, counseling, drug and alcohol testing, theft prevention classes, lengthy probation, and not being allowed to return to the store where the offense occurred, among other things. However, an unseen penalty, called a collateral consequence, can cause the most damage to a person. That is the effect of having a theft conviction on your criminal history. A theft or dishonesty crime on your criminal history will cause problems relative to seeking, keeping, and retaining a job. Because the statute is confusing, people regularly ask, “what is retail fraud?”
Employers, in general, are not inclined to hire a person that is “a thief.” Unemployability is not a penalty that you are advised of while in court – it is a side effect of your conviction and is extremely important to your future. It is essential to have an expert legal team to protect you and fight misdemeanor or felony allegations against you.
What is Retail Fraud?
Many different actions can constitute retail fraud. Generally, retail fraud is doing any of the following with an item offered for sale in a store: changing or reducing the price, stealing or concealing the item, or seeking a refund or returning an item that was not legitimately purchased. The degree of the offense, i,e. seriousness, is determined by the value of the property and the defendant’s prior record.
Have You Been Charged with Shoplifting or Retail Fraud? Wondering what is retail fraud?
The attorneys at LEWIS & DICKSTEIN, P.L.L.C. have vast experience helping people facing criminal charges of all kinds. Our experienced Michigan attorneys practice statewide and have the reputation of being experienced, aggressive, respected, and “not afraid to win.” They are in the state and federal courts in Michigan almost daily. The attorneys at LEWIS & DICKSTEIN, P.L.L.C. will pursue every possible defense available to protect you. We will not stop fighting until the best possible result is reached. If you face possible charges and want to understand “what is the best defense for retail fraud,” you are in the right place.
Call us today at (248) 263-6800 for a free consultation or complete a Request for Assistance Form. We will contact you promptly and find a way to help you.
We will find a way to help you and, most importantly,
we are not afraid to win!
