Clark Shoplifting and Theft Charges
Experienced Criminal Defense Lawyers for Shoplifting and Theft Cases in Clark, NJ
Shoplifting and theft convictions can have serious consequences in New Jersey. Along with fines and jail (or prison) time, a conviction for shoplifting or theft can tarnish your criminal record, leading to a range of consequences that impact your career, finances, and family life. As a result, if you have been arrested for shoplifting or theft in Clark, elsewhere in Union County, or the surrounding areas, you need a defense lawyer who can help protect you by all means available.
Our firm has extensive experience defending clients against shoplifting and theft charges across New Jersey. With more than a dozen office locations, including one in Clark, we are able to handle shoplifting and theft cases statewide. However, we can only assist you if you get in touch, and the longer you wait, the more difficult it may become to establish a successful defense. With this in mind, we encourage you to contact us to arrange a confidential consultation with one of our Clark criminal defense lawyers promptly.
We Handle Cases Involving All Types of Shoplifting and Theft Charges Under New Jersey Law
The New Jersey Revised Statutes outline several theft-related offenses, including shoplifting. If you are facing a shoplifting charge or any other type of theft charge, understanding the specific accusations against you will be critical for building an effective defense.
It will also be crucial to understand the penalties that are applicable in your case. Theft charges can range from disorderly persons offenses to first-degree indictable offenses depending on the specific accusations involved. This means that potential sentences can range from a $1,000 fine and six months in jail to a six-figure fine and decades of imprisonment.
With this in mind, some examples of potential charges in Clark shoplifting and theft cases include:
Shoplifting
Shoplifting involves stealing merchandise from a store or another retail establishment. This includes taking merchandise without paying, as well as altering or switching price tags or barcodes to pay less than an item’s full price. If the stolen merchandise is worth less than $200, shoplifting is classified as a disorderly persons offense. However, stealing $200 or more worth of merchandise is a fourth-degree indictable offense, stealing $500 or more worth of merchandise is a third-degree indictable offense, and stealing $75,000 or more is a second-degree indictable offense. The potential penalties for these crimes are as follows:
- Disorderly Persons Offense (Less Than $200 Stolen) – Six months in jail and a $1,000 fine
- Fourth-Degree Indictable Offense ($200 to $500 Stolen) – 18 months in prison and a $10,000 fine
- Third-Degree Indictable Offense ($501 to $74,999 Stolen) – Three to five years in prison and a $15,000 fine
- Second-Degree Indictable Offense ($75,000 or More Stolen) – Five to 10 years in prison and a $150,000 fine
While many people assume that shoplifting is a relatively minor offense, the potential penalties make clear that this is not the case. If you are facing a shoplifting charge in Clark, you should take your situation very seriously, and this begins with hiring an experienced criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible.
Theft By Unlawful Taking
The crime of theft by unlawful taking involves “taking, or exercising unlawful control over, movable property of another with the purpose to deprive him thereof.” Theft of digital assets can also constitute theft by unlawful taking.
Similar to shoplifting, theft by unlawful taking can be prosecuted as a disorderly persons offense or an indictable offense, depending on the value of the property stolen. The same thresholds that apply to shoplifting generally apply here as well, although enhanced penalties are imposed in cases involving the theft of firearms, drugs, boats, and certain other types of property.
Theft By Deception
The crime of theft by deception involves purposely obtaining someone else’s property by deceitful means. This deceit can involve either (i) creating or reinforcing a false impression (“including [a] false impression[] as to law, value, intention or other state of mind”); (ii) preventing the victim from acquiring information “which would affect [the victim’s] judgment of a transaction;” or, (iii) failing to correct a false impression that the alleged perpetrator previously created or reinforced.
Theft by deception is subject to the same degree classifications and penalties as theft by unlawful taking.
Theft By Extortion
The crime of theft by extortion involves using a threat to obtain someone else’s property against their will. This includes, but is not limited to, using threats of:
- Physical injury, confinement, or restraint;
- Accusations of criminal conduct;
- Exposing any secret or purported secret to incite hatred, contempt, or ridicule; or,
- Inflicting other harm “which would not substantially benefit the actor but which is calculated to materially harm another person.”
Theft by extortion is also subject to the same degree classifications and penalties as theft by unlawful taking.
How We Defend Our Clients Against Shoplifting and Theft Charges in Clark, NJ
When we represent clients accused of shoplifting and theft in Clark, we carefully examine the facts of our clients' cases in order to identify all viable defenses. This includes not only defenses related to the allegations against our clients, but also defenses related to the conduct of police officers and prosecutors. From executing unlawful searches and seizures to withholding key evidence, various issues with how police officers and prosecutors handle shoplifting and theft cases can potentially give rise to defenses in court. This is true even if the underlying facts might otherwise warrant a conviction.
To determine what defenses we can assert on your behalf, we need to learn about the details of your case. Our criminal defense lawyers in Clark are available to speak with you, and we encourage you to contact us for a confidential consultation right away.
Speak with a Clark Criminal Defense Lawyer About Your Shoplifting or Theft Case in Confidence
Are you facing a shoplifting or theft charge in Clark, NJ, elsewhere in Union County, or the surrounding areas? If so, contact us today. Call 877-435-6371 or tell us how we can reach you online to schedule a confidential consultation as soon as possible.
