People imagine a specific type of theft when picturing a shoplifting incident. They likely imagine a young person slipping candy, makeup or sunglasses into a purse or a pocket. Others might picture a grab-and-dash theft where a customer loads their arms or a basket with items and runs from the store before workers can stop them.
People involved in such activities obviously intend to shoplift and know that their actions are illegal. However, some people accused of shoplifting did not intend to steal. In fact, they may not have left the store at all.
The definition of shoplifting in Georgia is much broader than people realize. People can face criminal charges for actions they take in a store before they ever leave with merchandise.
What conduct constitutes shoplifting?
In addition to leaving the store without paying or hiding merchandise on one’s person, there are an assortment of other actions that could lead to allegations of shoplifting. Hiding merchandise inside other items that the shopper intends to purchase could be shoplifting.
Any attempts to tamper with price tags or barcodes, including moving price tags from one item to another, could also constitute shoplifting. So could attempts to deactivate or remove security devices intended to prevent the theft of specific items.
Even cost-saving tactics at the self-checkout could lead to allegations of shoplifting. In cases where store managers, loss prevention specialists or security professionals witness conduct that constitutes shoplifting, they can potentially detain an individual or contact the police before they ever attempt to leave the business.
People accused of shoplifting could face serious penalties, particularly if they have prior convictions or the value of the merchandise is higher than $500. Discussing what led to a shoplifting arrest can help people develop criminal defense strategies to avoid convictions.