As one of the most common property crimes committed in the U.S., shoplifting is legally defined as the act of taking goods from a retail business. In the state of North Carolina, shoplifting charges can even be filed against an individual if he/she is suspected of having concealed the goods in a purse or pocket while still in the store.

Shoplifting is considered to be a Class H felony punishable by up to 10 years in jail and/or an expensive fine if more than $1,000 in goods is stolen. When the goods taken are valued at less than $1,000, the charges will be a Class I misdemeanor crime that can be punishable by up to 1 year in jail and/or heft fines. Concealment charges are considered to be a Class III misdemeanor that are punishable by up to 30 days in jail and/or community service.

While being convicted of shoplifting can temporarily strip a person of his/her freedom and cost thousands of dollars in court fines, it can also be extremely humiliating and could potentially cause him/her to lose a job and future career opportunities. Anyone arrested and charged with shoplifting should secure top-of-the-line legal services to ensure the strongest possible defense.

Raleigh Criminal Lawyer You Can Count On

In Wake County and throughout the state of North Carolina, Curtis R. High, Attorney at Law is extremely experienced at defending the accused by:

  • building a solid defense for those accused of shoplifting
  • aggressively presenting the defense case in state and federal courts
  • helping clients through the legal process as efficiently as possible
  • aiding clients in getting the charges against them reduced or dismissed entirely, if possible.

Shoplifting Statistics in North Carolina

The following facts and statistics are from the Uniform Crime Report, which is put together by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (statistics are based on 2008, the most recent year for which they are available):

  • In Wake County, more than 33,300 individuals were accused of shoplifting about $7.7 million dollars worth of goods
  • This number is up from 2007 when just over 28,500 people were charged with shoplifting
  • About 31 percent of larceny cases involved accusations that a defendant took goods that were valued at $50 or less
  • Over 46 percent of larceny cases involved the theft of goods valued at $200 or more

Do You Need a Criminal Defense Lawyer?

If you’ve been arrested and charged with shoplifting in Wake County or anywhere in North Carolina, contact Raleigh larceny lawyer Curtis R. High for qualified representation.