Fort Lauderdale Shoplifting Attorney

Charged with Shoplifting?

If you enter a store or any type of retail establishment and take an item of value you can be charged with the crime of shoplifting. If you switch the tags on an item to show a lower price tag you can also face a shoplifting charge. In Florida, shoplifting is the number one property crime and one of the most common theft crimes committed. A shoplifting offense can be charged as either petty theft or grand theft. The difference between the two charges is that petty theft, also known as “petit” theft, requires that the item stolen has a value below $300. Grand theft would be charged for any item that has a value above $300. Typically shoplifting is a misdemeanor offense but in some cases can be tried as a felony offense in Florida. It is our advice to you that if you have been arrested for or accused of shoplifting that you contact a Fort Lauderdale theft crime lawyer immediately.

Petty Theft & Grand Theft Lawyer in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

It is estimated that one out of every 11 Americans have shoplifted at some point. Many times a child or juvenile is involved. Shoplifting is also known as the “five finger discount” and may be very hard to dispute even for a seasoned attorney. Stores will often have surveillance systems and video cameras in place that most likely captured the offender’s every move during the commission of the shoplifting crime. In addition, store security officers and employees may provide excellent witness testimony. However, an experienced lawyer may be able to lower the charges against you, often resulting in informal probation and a fine instead of jail time. If there was not strong evidence or witness testimony to show proof of the actual crime being committed, a skilled attorney may be able to have the charges dismissed altogether due to lack of evidence.

Florida Theft Crime Lawyer

In order to make an attempt to clear your name and avoid a lifetime mark on your criminal record, you must hire a professional attorney. At the Law Office of Marshall Geisser we help our clients reach the best possible outcome for their shoplifting cases. We are very experienced with these types of theft crime cases and will do whatever we can to work toward obtaining a win for your shoplifting case in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Contact a Fort Lauderdale theft crime lawyer at our office today if you have been accused or arrested for shoplifting.