Riverside Shoplifting Defense Attorney

Shoplifting Defense Lawyers in Southern California

Shoplifting is commonly considered a crime teens commit, but the National Council on Crime Prevention estimates that 75 percent of all shoplifters are adults. People of all ages, genders, ethnicities, and socioeconomic groups help themselves to the "five finger discount" at retail stores. Most are individuals, but some are involved in organized rings of professional shoplifters.

If you or a member of your family has been arrested for shoplifting, it's important to speak to a Riverside criminal defense lawyer. Contact Blumenthal & Moore for effective defense against all types of shoplifting, petty larceny, and theft charges.

• Petty Theft: Shoplifting merchandise worth $400 or less is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail, $400 in fines or both. In many cases, our lawyers can see that our clients get probation instead of jail time.

• Grand Theft: Shoplifting becomes more serious if the value of the items stolen is above $400. It can be charged as grand theft, a misdemeanor or felony, punishable by up to 16 months in prison.

• Prior Record: If you have a previous conviction on your record for petty theft, grand theft, robbery, burglary, or carjacking, and are arrested for shoplifting, you can be sentenced to a year in county jail regardless of the value of the item taken. If you have two prior strikes on your record, shoplifting a pack of gum or a magazine might be enough trigger the three strikes rule, which would send you to prison for 25 years to life.

If you've got a clean record, we can help you keep it that way. If you already have a record, it is extremely important to avoid additional convictions.