Arrested for Shoplifting?
Posted By Michael Redenburg on May 1, 2011 3:20pm PDT
Sephora, Macys, Century21 and other retail stores are known to employ security guards, also commonly referred to as loss prevention associates, to monitor for shoppers who attempt to remove items from the store without paying for them. Shoplifting, which is usually charged as PL165.40 is a Class A
Misdemeanor; and if convicted, will leave you with a permanent criminal record. If a first arrest, it is common to receive a DAT, or desk appearance ticket, which will state the date you have to appear in criminal court and appear before the judge. The police who arrested you will hand you the DAT notice after you have been released fron the precinct where you were fingerprinted and photographed.
Often times an individual arrested for shoplifting will also be given a Civil Demand Notice by the store personnel who took them into an interrogation room in the store while the police were called. The Civil Demand Notice will demand that you pay the store for the merchandise they are alleging you stole. It is very important to consult with an experienced criminal defense attorney before taking any action in this regard. The store personnel will also likely hand you a notice demanding that you not visit their store again for some stated period of time; and this notice is usually called a "Notice Not To Trespass."
If you are facing shoplifting charges, you should not go to court without a
Shoplifting Attorney to speak on your behalf.