There could come a time in your life when you’re accused of shoplifting in a retail store. Regardless of your true intentions, you must know the steps you can take to protect your legal rights.
Follow these tips
There’s no exact strategy for facing a shoplifting accusation, but there are some tips you can follow to maintain the peace without making yourself look guilty:
- Don’t run: For example, if a store clerk or security officer confronts you, don’t run away and hope for the best. Instead, ask them why they’re stopping you and go from there.
- Don’t admit to anything: As long as you’re still in the store, you can always argue that you were going to pay for the item. So, there’s never a reason to admit that you had intentions of stealing. Furthermore, even if you’re caught outside the store, you shouldn’t admit to anything.
- Don’t resist: For instance, the clerk or security officer may attempt to hold you in place until police arrive. While they don’t have the legal authority to do so with force, you shouldn’t resist their efforts. Wait for police to arrive and then explain yourself.
If you’re formally charged with shoplifting, it’s critical that you better understand the circumstances surrounding your case, potential penalties and the steps you can take to defend yourself.
With the right shoplifting defense strategy in place, you’ll feel better about your ability to avoid a conviction. And if you’re successful in doing so, you can leave this chapter of your life in the past and look toward a better future.