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.