Home › Theft & dishonesty › Shoplifting
The whole idea in one picture
It's the everyday end of theft — usually low value and dealt with quickly. But it's still a criminal charge, and how it's handled the first time really matters.
It's taking, or trying to take, goods from a shop without paying. More forms than people expect:
Retail theft is usually caught on the spot, and the response depends on the circumstances:
Almost all shoplifting is heard in the local or magistrates' court:
Penalties where you are
Charged as larceny. Under $2,000 it's dealt with summarily, up to 2 years — but most cases sit far lower.
Shoplifting turns on dishonest intent — so an honest slip is the most common answer to it:
You forgot to pay, or left with an item by accident.
You believed you owned it or had permission.
Mistaken identity on the CCTV.
You were forced or coerced by someone else.
For a first, low-value matter, a lawyer can often argue for a non-conviction — a caution, diversion, or bond — that keeps it off your record. We can point you to lawyers in your state.
Read this first
This page explains how these charges generally work — it can't tell you what will happen in your case. Shoplifting is charged as ordinary theft, and outcomes range from a non-conviction to, rarely, jail for serious or repeat offending. If you're charged, talk to a criminal lawyer before your first court date.
