Shoplifting Attorney in Miami, FL

Have you been accused of merchandise theft?

If you have been detained by a store employee who suspects you of shoplifting, you may be held or detained in the store until the police arrive. The majority of stores throughout Miami use video surveillance and in-store security to monitor shoplifting attempts and to convict people who are charged with shoplifting. It is vitally important that you contact us immediately after you have been accused of shoplifting so that you can make sure your rights are protected.

Challenging shoplifting charges and accusations of petty theft can be challenging, especially when there is concrete evidence that the prosecution is bringing against you. Shoplifting is defined under the law as the intent and attempts to steal something from a store. Common instances of shoplifting include switching labels to pay a lesser amount and removing price tags. A knowledgeable Miami theft lawyer from Parks & Braxton, PA can help you challenge these charges and more by preparing a strong defense.

According to §812.015 of the Florida statutes, it is considered one theft so shoplift from any number of stores within a two day period. In other words, shoplifting at three different stores, as long as they all happened within a 48-hour period, will be considered one crime and the amount added up. Even if an individual stole an item worth less than the amount of grand theft if that same individual stole additional items within two days that amounted to more than $300 it will be considered grand theft.

Retail Theft: Fighting Allegations

If you or someone you know has been accused of shoplifting, keep in mind that there are serious penalties that come with being convicted. Depending on the value of the items stolen, being convicted of shoplifting under $300 will result in penalties including one year in jail, one year of probation and fines up to $1000. You may be up against overwhelming evidence such as employee testimonies, eyewitness accounts and the item that was stolen being found in your belonging, but our firm can help. There are actually many defenses against shoplifting. One of them is proving that the item was not clearly marked as store property; another is that the item actually had no monetary value. Whatever the case, our firm will fight your misdemeanor charge.

With over 50 years of collective experience in criminal law, we are intimately familiar with shoplifting charges and the courtroom proceedings that follow an arrest. We aim to protect your rights along every step of the way to assure that you have a positive outcome for your charges, so call today. We can take your call 24 / 7, including nights, weekends, and holidays. Our firm has successfully handled thousands of cases, and we want yours to be next!