New York Penal Code 155.25: Petit larceny.

While petit larceny is a less serious crime than grand larceny, it is still a crime and punishable by law. Shoplifting is classified as petit larceny if the value of the stolen goods is less than $1,000. Shoplifting is a major problem for most retail stores and for consumers as well. The cost of goods lost to shoplifters gets shifted to the consumer through higher prices. New York penal code 155.25 addresses the problem of petit larceny. It is important to understand what the penal code says and what the potential consequences are to anyone who is charged with a violation of petit larceny.

Penal Code 155.25 Explained

Basically, a person is guilty of petit larceny when he steals property with a value under $1,000. This is a class "A" misdemeanor and could potentially carry a sentence of up to 1 year in jail. The value of the property will determine how severe the consequences are. However, even if there is no jail time involved, a person convicted of petit larceny could have a record that would follow them throughout their life and make finding a job more difficult.

In addition to the criminal charges, there could be potential civil penalties as well. In New York, a victim can sue for up to five times the value of the items that were stolen. Retailers take shoplifting very seriously and have taken extraordinary measures to try to prevent it. When someone is caught shoplifting, most retailers have a strict prosecution policy regardless of the amount involved.

Examples of Petit Larceny