Retail Theft Attorney in New Jersey
Retail theft charges are a crime in which an individual unlawfully carries away or takes possession of or transfers merchandise or retail goods which has been kept for sale by any particular retail establishment. Shoplifting can even make you go to jail as it is one of the major crimes in New Jersey.
You must be wondering what has shoplifting to do with retail theft. Let’s make it clearer. Shoplifting and retail theft are generally used as synonyms and can be considered as one therefore, at times they are used interchangeably.
Now, you must be wondering about the circumstances in which you can go to jail for committing a shoplifting crime. To know how to proceed further in your case contact a criminal attorney.
Some of the circumstances are described as below:
- The complete retail value of the one or more items that you have stolen apparently can increase your offense.
- Your involvement in the “organized retail theft enterprise.”
- Your records will be verified if you have been convicted of any such offense in the past.
You should consult a New Jersey retail theft lawyer who can help you if you have been charged with retail theft charges and if in case the stakes are high. An experienced attorney will assist you and will work on making a defense strategy for you that will make your case work in favor of you.
Accused of Shoplifting in New Jersey
Don’t think of shoplifting as a minor crime as the punishments you will be getting are severe. A shoplift in New Jersey could mean various things such as stealing merchandise out of the store without paying for it or you are altering any price of an item or in some cases, you might be entering the wrong codes in self-checkout stores.
In all these cases, you will be punished and you will have to pay penalties which vary according to the value of the item that you have stolen. If you have been convicted of shoplifting for the first time then you will be punished according to the following breakdown:
- Value of items up to $200 is considered a misdemeanor crime in which you will be going to jail for 6 months and pay a fine of $1000.
- Value of items ranging from $200 to $500 is considered a fourth-degree crime in which you will be going to prison for 18 months and pay a fine of $10,000.
- Value of items ranging from $501 to $74,999 is considered a third-degree crime in which you will be going to jail for 3 to 5 years along with paying a fine of $15,000.
- Value of items above $75,000 is considered a second-degree crime in which you will be going to jail for 10 years and pay a fine of $1,50,000.
Along with this, the convicted person will also be doing 10 days of community service.
Considering the present scenario where technology has surrounded humans, committing crimes can be caught on cameras. Suppose, if you have taken merchandise from a shop and are caught on camera, then that is strong evidence against you.
In other words, your case will likely appear for prosecution directly. Although, there are a variety of defenses that may relate to your case such as:
- If you are found arguing with the cashier or if the employee working in the shop made a mistake
- If there is a lack of evidence against you which can prove that you have not stolen a particular item or items
- If the witness testimony is challenged
- If a plea deal has been negotiated
If you want an effective defense strategy, it must be implemented correctly with thorough knowledge about the facts which surround your case including evidence that can be used against you and which legal path needs to be followed. A retail theft attorney in NJ can give you better insights into shoplifting.
Organized Retail Theft Enterprise
In New Jersey, the shoplifting laws comprise special provisions for a retail theft that happens in agreement with an organized enterprise. New Jersey retail theft attorney is ready to help you and your near and dear ones if any of you have been convicted of being involved in any organized retail theft enterprise.
Do not make any errors while consulting a lawyer as the penalties resulting from a retail theft conviction might be severe. Therefore, it is recommended that you must consult a New Jersey retail theft attorney who is skilled and experienced. Let’s take a look at what is an “organized retail theft enterprise.”
The shoplifting law in New Jersey is bound to impose greater penalties for the individuals who have been charged with shoplifting as part of an “organized retail theft enterprise.” An “organized retail theft enterprise” can be defined as an association in which two or more two individuals come together for effectuating the merchandise transfer which has been shoplifted.
In the law which is prevalent in New Jersey, when shoplifting involves an organized retail theft enterprise it is often associated with a degree of crime which is a second-degree offense.
However, a third-degree offense in shoplifting is when an individual shoplifts products that are of the value of more than $1000 and is consistent with an organized retail theft enterprise.
Therefore, any shoplift which commences with an organized retail theft enterprise is considered a third-degree crime even if an individual shoplifts an item that is of limited value. Law Offices of Lidia Alperovich will surely address your concern.
Looking for an Experienced Retail Theft Lawyer in New Jersey?
If you or your loved ones have been charged with retail theft, then you should consult a renowned lawyer. Retail theft attorneys have many years of experience and will surely assist you in the right direction. If you have mistakenly or intentionally stolen any merchandise from a shop, then serious allegations can be filed against you.
To safeguard yourself from going to jail just consult an attorney who is knowledgeable enough to take up cases suiting your charges. The lawyers will help prevent you from having a permanent criminal record. Therefore, it is advisable to contact a qualified criminal defense attorney.