Caught Shoplifting
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Caught Shoplifting, What To Do?
Shoplifting can be a lot more serious than most people realize, it can remain on a person's record for years and may even result in a felony conviction that can remain on a person's record permanently! Here good things to do if you are caught shoplifting:
What To Do If You Are Caught Shoplifting
- The first, and most important thing to do if you are caught shoplifting, is to be respectful and honest with the retail store security and the police, this can have a huge effect on the outcome of the shoplifting consequences. If you run or become violent when confronted, store security may have the right to use equal force to detain and question the shoplifting suspect in many states (innocent people don't run or fight). If you lie about the goods you were attempting to shoplift that are found on your person, you will only aggravate store security and worsen the situation. Sometimes if you are respectful and honest with store security, they will impose only a $100-$500 fine from the store, a warning to not return to the store but not press legal charges, avoiding having a shoplifting charge on your permanent legal record. A $350 shoplifting fine from the store may seem like a lot at the time, but considering the alternate of having to write the shoplifting conviction on resumes etc. and even possibly facing felony charges (dollar amount for felony theft per state), plus court and legal fees and jail or prison time, that $350 shoplifting fine seems like an easy out.
- Exercise your right to remain silent if caught shoplifting. This is your right, you are only a shoplifting suspect until proven guilty or you admit guilt. You can say 'sorry for my actions' without saying 'yes I stole something.'
- After getting caught shoplifting, get an attorney who specializes in theft or shoplifting or, in the minimum, a public defender so you can learn your rights.
- If you're caught shoplifting and guilty, don't try to fight the charges or sue the retail business, not only is it extremely poor forum, it will likely only worsen the shoplifting sentence. Instead, you can file 'no contest,' honestly explain the circumstance and apologize for your actions. This may in result in a judge imposing a much lighter sentence and later having the charges removed from your record.
- Accept the punishment, pay the fines, learn from the experience and not shoplift ever again. Multiple shoplifting offenders get much more severe punishment every time and in some states where the three strikes rule applies, shoplifting offenders with prior theft convictions recieve life in prison.
