Top Rated Henrico County VA Shoplifting Defense Attorneys
Shoplifting is a criminal offense and is punished like larceny. It is the theft of goods from a retail establishment during business hours. A common scenario involves concealing a store item on one’s person in pockets, under clothes or in a bag and leaving without paying. Va. Code § 18.2-103 makes shoplifting illegal. Shoplifting can be a felony or a misdemeanor. A key element of the offense is that the taking is done knowingly. If the merchandise involved is less than $1,000, then the offense is a misdemeanor petit larceny violation. If the merchandise is over $1,000, then the offense is a felony grand larceny violation. Shoplifting does not require leaving the store or going past the line of cash registers.
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Experienced Henrico Criminal Defense Attorneys Dedicated to Client Service
Riley & Wells Attorneys-At-Law is a premier Henrico County criminal defense firm with over 60 collective years of trial experience. We successfully represent clients accused of shoplifting before the Henrico County Courts. Our lawyers recognize that people can make mistakes. We are recognized as a “Best Law Firm” by U.S. News & World Report. We also know that Loss Prevention Officials and the Henrico Police can make errors. Our attorneys are dedicated to fighting for you whether you made a mistake that you regret or whether you have been wrongly accused of shoplifting. You can benefit from our experience. Our firm has been positively reviewed more than any other law firm that defends criminal cases in Henrico County.
Henrico VA Shoplifting Lawyers Presenting Your Best Defense
Skilled Henrico VA Lawyers Defending Shoplifting Cases in the Courts
Many local Henrico County business owners aggressively monitor their businesses to avoid and or eliminate shoplifting. Henrico County authorities are serious about investigating property crimes such as shoplifting. Our Henrico VA defense lawyers represent clients accused of criminal offenses such as shoplifting every week before the Henrico Courts. We have assisted countless clients secure favorable outcomes in cases involving shoplifting allegations. Dispositions include cases where charges were either nolle prosequi or dropped, dismissed, reduced or channeled through diversionary programs that help clients avoid incarceration or a criminal record. Let us review your case. There may be defenses or mitigation evidence. We can help even if you think you are guilty!
Retain a Superior Attorney if You Have Been Accused of Stealing
Retail merchants deploy many strategies to apprehend violators from stealing merchandise. Many merchants use video surveillance, anti-theft sensors, and loss prevention security guards. Unfortunately, no monitoring system is perfect. This can lead to false accusations. The self-checkout option for many retailers has exploded. Retailers are using camera monitored self-checkout stations more than ever. Skip scanning is a common shoplifting allegation that can lead to false allegations depending on a merchants checkout monitoring technology and evidence gathering techniques. Skip scanning is when a customer deliberately decides not to scan an item at the self-checkout but still puts the item in their checkout bag. Customers are not trained on how to use the scanners. Self-checkout scanners are computers. Computers sometimes malfunction.
Henrico County Merchants Can Detain Shoplifting Suspects for Police
Virginia law allows a merchant, agent or employee of the merchant who has probable cause that a person has shoplifted in violation of Va. Code 18.2-95, 18.2-96 or 18.2-103 on the premises of the merchant to detain such person for a period not to exceed one hour pending arrival of a law-enforcement officer. If you have been accused of shoplifting, then you will likely be requested to accompany a loss prevention officer to a secure room for questioning. Henrico Police will respond to your location and take over the interrogation. REMEMBER: You are under no obligation to answer questions and any incriminating statements you make can and will likely be used against you at trial.
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6/1/2021 | Updated 12/18/2023