Philadelphia SHOPLIFTING CRIME LAWYERS

Under Pennsylvania law, shoplifting also known as retail theft includes various actions taken in order to unlawfully deprive a retail store of merchandise. This may be accomplished by

• Physically taking the property by concealment,
• Altering the price tag on the item so it is fraudulently lower than its actual worth,
• Removing a security strip or other mechanism, in order to take the item from the property.

The penalties for a conviction may include, imprisonment, fines, community service, restitution and more..

In Philadelphia the penalties vary dependant upon the value of the property taken. A defendant convicted of shoplifting may face the following penalties:

• Value of less than $150 and it is the offender’s first offense it is considered a summary offense and is punishable by imprisonment for up to 90 days and/or a fine of up to $200.
• Value of less than $150 and this is the offender’s second offense it is considered a 2nd degree misdemeanor and is punishable by imprisonment for up to 2 years and/or a fine of $500 to $5,000.
• Value of more than $150 and it is the offender’s 1^st or 2^nd offense it is considered a 1st degree misdemeanor and is punishable by imprisonment for up to 5 years and/or a fine of up to $10,000.
• Regardless of Value, an offender’s 3^rd or subsequent offense or if the value is $2,000 or more, or if it is a motor vehicle or firearm then it is considered a 3^rddegree felony and is punishable by imprisonment for up to 7 years and/or a fine of up to $15,000.