Michael Kramer, Attorney at law

1311 Mamaroneck Ave
Suite 340
White Plains, NY 10605
mk@michaelkramerlaw.com

Call for a Free, 20-min,
Traffic Ticket Strategy Session

(914) 709-7161

Michael Kramer, Attorney at law

Interviewer: What’s the limit? If you steal something worth one penny, can you be accused of shoplifting?

Grand Larceny and Petty Larceny: The Value of the Stolen Items Determines Misdemeanor or Felony Charges

Mike: Any stolen item with any value is considered shoplifting. A misdemeanor would be an item with a value up to $1,000. Stolen items with a value above $1,000 are grand larceny, which is a felony. So, items valued at less than $1,000 will be charged as a misdemeanor in New York.

Are Certain Stores Targeted By Shoplifters?

Interviewer: Are there stores that people seem to preferentially steal from, versus others?

Larger Retail Establishments Experience More Shoplifting than Smaller Establishments

Mike: Usually the larger stores such as larger supermarkets, larger department stores.

They might feel that they have a better chance of getting away with it than smaller stores where they might be watched a little more carefully. That’s been my experience.

Interviewer: You’d think it’d be the opposite. The Mom and Pop stores might be considered easier to steal from than the big ones. I think people would think the larger stores have security and they have personnel watching the cameras.

Mike: Strangely enough, it’s usually the larger stores. At Westchester Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom’s, Bloomingdales, supermarkets, experience a higher volume of shoplifting than so the small stores. That might very well be because the small stores don’t bring charges. They don’t want to tie up their personnel in having to testify if the need arises and so forth.

They may just warn them and say “Don’t do it again” and “You’re barred from here.” Then, I wouldn’t know about it. The cases I seem to handle are more from the larger stores.

Will Stores Aggressively Prosecute Shoplifters?

Interviewer: What’s the opinion on the large stores? Are they very aggressive toward shoplifters? Will they prosecute anything and everyone?

You Are Likely to Be Charged for Any Shoplifting Offense

Mike: Yes. Once a person is caught, 99 out of 100 times, they’re going to refer it to the police and have a formal case and formal arrest. In such a scenario, you need to consult an experienced Shoplifting Offenses attorney in Valhalla. As, they seem to want the word to go out that they’re not going to mess with them, and they won’t deter and defect.

Michael Kramer, Esq.

Call for a Free, 20-min,
Traffic Ticket Strategy Session
(914) 709-7161