A Nassau County Shoplifting Lawyer knows how distressing being arrested for Shoplifting is. In New York, the crime of Shoplifting is legally known as Petit Larceny, and is defined in section 155.25 of the Penal Law. The crime is defined as taking the property of another, where the value of the item is less than $1,000. It is classified as a misdemeanor. A misdemeanor is a crime that is punishable by a maximum of one year in jail or less. If you have been charged with Shoplifting or other theft crime such as Grand Larceny, Burglary, credit card fraud or robbery contact a Nassau County Criminal Lawyer from our team.
If you are caught Shoplifting, a store security will detain you until the police arrive. One of their main objectives will be to get you to confess to the crime. They may even tell you that if you confess they will let you go. This is never the case, so do not fall for this ploy. Say as little as possible and insist that you speak with a Nassau County Shoplifting Lawyer from our office right away.
When the police arrive to arrest you, two things could happen. You could be arrested, booked and held in custody pending your arraignment. On the other hand, you may receive a desk appearance ticket (DAT) and be released. If you receive a DAT, it will have the date and time that you are to attend your arraignment.
A Nassau County Shoplifting Lawyer will tell you that the District attorney in Nassau County aggressively prosecutes petite larceny. Further, if you are convicted of the charge, you will end up with a criminal record. This conviction is a public record and can be retrieved by anyone commissioning a background check. That means employers can have access to your criminal record.
Everyone can agree that being arrested for shoplifting is scary, and embarrassing. You could be facing serious penalties if convicted. Contact a Nassau County Shoplifting Lawyer from Stephen Bilkis & Associates, PLLC. We will provide you valuable legal advice, and a completely free consultation. We have offices to serve you throughout New York, including offices in Nassau County and Suffolk County on Long Island, and Westchester County. In New York City, we have locations in Manhattan, Queens, the Bronx, Brooklyn and Staten Island. Call us today to receive your free consultation at 800.696.9529.