The Penalties for Shoplifting in Illinois

Shoplifting falls under the heading of a theft crime. People are very familiar with the ramifications of theft. In general, the penalties for shoplifting a small trinket at a drug store are very different than the penalties for stealing a new car off a dealer’s lot.

In Illinois, theft is defined as taking somebody else’s property without their consent with the intent to use, conceal, abandon, or deprive the owner of the item and, in Illinois, if you knowingly possess stolen property; than you can be convicted for theft, even if you yourself, did not steal it. If you are facing shoplifting charges, it would be in your best interests to contact a Chicago criminal defense attorney for help.

Generally speaking, the higher the value of the stolen property, the more severe the penalties. Shoplifting refers to the taking or stealing merchandise from a store or similar establishment. In most cases, shoplifting is a misdemeanor offense, however, shoplifting can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the value of the property taken and your prior criminal history.

The prosecutor can charge someone with shoplifting as a felony if the value of the merchandise taken exceeds $150. If the value of the merchandise taken is below $150, then it will be charged as a misdemeanor. With shoplifting charges, an accident, or a momentary lapse in judgment can change your life forever. Going to jail, paying thousands of dollars in fines and gaining a permanent criminal record is a high price to pay for a simple mistake.

Assistance from an Experienced Shoplifting Lawyer

If you have been arrested for shoplifting in Chicago or the surrounding areas, contact a Chicago shoplifting defense attorney from the Law Offices of Mitch Furman & Associates. At our firm, we understand how accidents can happen or how some people are driven to do things they wouldn’t normally do in these tough economic times. We will work aggressively on your behalf in order to help get the charges against you reduced or dropped entirely so you can move forward with your life.

Contact a Chicago shoplifting defense attorney from our firm for an initial consultation.