Voorhees Shoplifting Attorney: Your Guide to Defending Shoplifting Charges in New Jersey

Getting accused of shoplifting can be a scary and overwhelming experience. Even if you feel the charges against you are unfair or exaggerated, the legal consequences can be severe. That’s why it’s so important to have an experienced criminal defense attorney on your side to protect your rights.

In this article, we’ll provide an overview of shoplifting laws and penalties in New Jersey, and explain how a knowledgeable lawyer can help build the strongest possible defense for your case.

Understanding Shoplifting Charges in New Jersey

Shoplifting, also known as retail theft, refers to the act of stealing merchandise from a retail store. Under New Jersey law, you can face shoplifting charges if you:

• Purposely take merchandise without paying
• Alter or transfer price tags on items
• Transfer items to another container to conceal them
• Under-ring items at checkout
• Conceal merchandise on your person or in your belongings

To convict you of shoplifting, prosecutors must prove you intended to steal the items. If it was an honest mistake – like forgetting an item was under your cart – it wouldn’t qualify as shoplifting.

The penalties you face depend on the total value of the allegedly stolen merchandise:

• Less than $200 – Disorderly persons offense. Up to $1,000 fine and 6 months jail.
• $200 to $500 – Fourth degree shoplifting. Up to $10,000 fine and 18 months jail.
• $500 to $75,000 – Third degree shoplifting. Up to $15,000 fine and 5 years jail.
• Over $75,000 – Second degree shoplifting. Up to $150,000 fine and 10 years jail.

Juveniles charged with shoplifting typically face detention time instead of jail. But the consequences are still extremely serious.

Building a Strong Shoplifting Defense Strategy

Don’t leave your fate in the hands of overzealous prosecutors. A skilled criminal defense lawyer can carefully examine the evidence against you and develop a personalized defense to fight the charges.

Here are some of the ways we defend shoplifting clients:

• Challenge intent – If there’s no solid proof you meant to steal, we can argue you simply made an innocent mistake.
• Dispute the value – We scrutinize how the store calculated the total value and look for errors or exaggerations. Even a small change could reduce the charges.
• Suppress evidence – If police violated your rights or store security used improper detention methods, we can request evidence be thrown out.
• Negotiate for deals – Such as getting charges downgraded or dismissed in exchange for community service.
• Advocate for diversion – First-time offenders may qualify for intervention programs to avoid a criminal record.
• Mitigate penalties – We present mitigating circumstances to persuade the judge to impose less severe sentences.

An experienced lawyer understands all the intricacies of shoplifting defense and how to get you the best possible outcome.

Why Hire a Local Shoplifting Lawyer?

Don’t go it alone against store security and prosecutors who want to make an example out of you. Having a trusted lawyer in your corner levels the playing field.

Here are some key benefits of hiring a local shoplifting defense attorney:

• We know local laws and courts – Navigating New Jersey’s complex shoplifting laws requires an attorney well-versed in the nuances that apply to your exact jurisdiction.
• We’ve handled similar cases before – There’s no substitute for actual courtroom experience. We leverage our background defending shoplifting charges to build creative, effective strategies.
• We negotiate with local prosecutors – Drawing on relationships with DAs and prosecutors can help secure deals and alternatives to conviction.
• We fight civil demand letters – Large retailers often send threatening letters demanding you pay civil fines. We stand up to these legally and make sure you aren’t taken advantage of.
• We understand diversion programs – If you qualify for a diversion or intervention program, we’ll advocate to the court and prosecutor on your behalf.
• We have resources to investigate – From hiring PIs to consulting security experts, we use the tools needed to thoroughly examine the evidence.

Don’t leave anything to chance. An experienced criminal defense lawyer can make all the difference in how your shoplifting case plays out.

Case Study: Juvenile Shoplifting Charges Dismissed

To understand how a skilled lawyer defends shoplifting charges, let’s walk through a real case example:

Kyle, a 17-year old high school junior, was detained for allegedly shoplifting a $300 video game system from a local department store.

The store’s head of security claimed he witnessed Kyle remove the item from a shelf and put it in his backpack before trying to leave without paying. Kyle insisted it was an accident – he’d forgotten the game system was still in his bag.

Kyle’s parents hired our firm the day after he was released from police custody. After reviewing the evidence, our attorney noticed inconsistencies in the security guard’s written statement about where he claimed to be standing.

We sent an investigator to take photos documenting the guard’s vantage point made it unlikely he could have clearly observed Kyle’s actions.

Armed with this evidence, our lawyer was able to get the prosecutor to dismiss the shoplifting charges at Kyle’s first court appearance. The civil demand letter from the retailer was also withdrawn after we pushed back on the validity of their claims.

Thanks to our firm’s aggressive defense, Kyle avoided a devastating criminal record that could have haunted him for life.

Defending Your Rights is Our Top Priority

Don’t leave your fate to chance. The stakes are too high. With an experienced criminal defense attorney guiding you, you can feel confident knowing your rights are protected.

We understand how scary and stressful shoplifting charges can be. Our top priority is defending you and achieving the best possible case outcome.

To discuss your situation in a free, no-obligation consultation, contact our office today. We’re here to help.