The offense of Petit Larceny is also known as shoplifting. This offense is very commonplace in New York and around the U.S. This crime involves the theft or taking of any good or service that has a value of less than $1,000. If the item stolen has a higher value, the crime would be considered Grand Larceny. This crime is frequently committed by teenagers and young adults, and is very costly to businesses. This is known as a quality of life crime, because in order for stores to bear the monetary loss this crime causes, they must raise their prices. This means that the consumers ultimately pay for these crimes by way of higher store prices. Because of this, civil statutes have been put in place that allow victims of this crime to sue the perpetrator in court for up to 5 times the value of the items stolen. This civil action does not preclude a criminal action being brought as well. If you or a loved one has been charged with theft, such as Burglary, robbery, credit card fraud or Grand Larceny, speak with a Nassau County Petit Larceny Lawyer from Stephen Bilkis & Associates, PLLC for guidance.
If you have been stopped by a security officer for suspected shoplifting, do not be surprised in the officer asks you to sign a confession. They may tell you that you will not be allowed to leave the premises until you do so. They are allowed to detain you until the police arrive, but they are never permitted to force you to sign something. Remember that store security is not a branch of the government and do not have the same powers that a police officer would have. When the police arrive, you should be polite and cooperative, and give them your identifying information (driver’s license, name and address). They sometimes will try to scare a suspect by telling them that their theft was caught on video tape. This may not be true, and is just being used as a scare tactic. If a tape does exist, a skilled lawyer from our team will be able to obtain a copy of the tape, as well as gather all evidence and information associated with you case to create an aggressive defense strategy.
Often with the case of a shoplifting offense, you will see the following charges:
Usually when a defendant is charged with petit larceny they will be issued a desk appearance ticket (DAT). Our team can explain that a DAT only represents a single charge. Once you appear in court, the District Attorney may charge you with other crimes as well. A DAT needs to be taken seriously, and is not like a traffic ticket. If you do not appear in court on the date specified, you could have a warrant issued for your arrest.
Potential DefensesThe defenses that will be available in your case will depend on the circumstances surrounding the incident. Because store security is not an arm of the government, the legal rules that govern search and seizure will not apply. There may be factual and procedural problems with your arrest. Our team will be able to determine the best defense strategy for your case so that you receive the best outcome possible.
If you or a loved one has been charged with shoplifting or other theft crime, you know how stressful and upsetting this can be. Contact our legal team to ensure that your interests are protected. When you contact our office, you will receive sound guidance and a free consultation. We have locations to serve you throughout New York including offices in Queens, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Staten Island and Manhattan. We also have locations in Nassau County and Suffolk County on Long Island and Westchester County. Call us today to schedule an appointment at 800.696.9529.