Retail therapy acts as a stress reliever for many Ohio residents. As a woman who enjoys such activity, you may look forward to having a day out to do some shopping and treat yourself to some new items. However, your enjoyable venture may turn into a nightmare scenario if someone accuses you of shoplifting.
Such an accusation may seem absurd, but if a store employee or other individual suspects that you broke the law, you could find yourself facing criminal charges. As a result, you may also have to deal with serious legal proceedings in order to address the allegations. Because such a situation can be frightening and confusing, you may want more information on shoplifting.
Shoplifting law
Laws relating to retail theft can vary from state to state, but in general, two main offenses can constitute accusations of shoplifting. These offenses include the willful concealment or taking of for-sale items and the intent to deprive the owner of the property without rightfully purchasing the items. What you may wish to pay particular attention to in relation to these offenses is that you must have purpose and intent to carry out the actions.
You may also want to understand that, based on these laws, you could potentially face charges even if you do not try to leave the store premises with an item. If someone simply suspects that you attempted to conceal a piece of property, you could face allegations.
Furthermore, you could also potentially face charges if you attempt to swindle the owner out of the full price for an item. This type of action could include altering price tags, placing items inside of other items or otherwise making unauthorized changes to merchandise in hopes of getting a lower price.
Dealing with charges
Typically, shoplifting charges fall into the category of misdemeanors, but in severe cases, felony charges could potentially apply. If you have had misdemeanor charges brought against you, you may feel baffled by the idea of how such allegations came about. Luckily, you do not have to sit back and accept the charges and potential punishment, as you have the right to defend against such allegations.
In order to find the defense strategies that may best suit your circumstances, you may want to assess your situation and explore your legal options. Gaining information from local legal resources may be in your best interests for finding reliable facts.
