Waldorf, MD Shoplifting Defense Lawyers

Attorneys for Retail Theft Charges in Waldorf, Maryland

When a person is accused of stealing one or more items from a retail store, they may face criminal charges for shoplifting. These charges may be more serious than people may expect. Even if an incident may not have involved valuable property, a person could be charged with theft, and a conviction can result in jail time, fines, and other consequences. In cases involving higher-value items or aggravating circumstances, a person could even face felony charges.

At Farmer & Klopfer, our criminal defense lawyers can provide representation for people in Waldorf and other nearby areas who have been charged with shoplifting or retail theft. We understand that these cases may involve misunderstandings, mistakes made by young people, or other factors. We know how to respond to these charges and defend against criminal convictions, and we will work to resolve cases while protecting our clients' rights.

How Maryland Law Addresses Shoplifting

In Maryland, retail theft is prosecuted the same as other forms of theft. A person who is accused of taking items from a retail store or engaging in other forms of shoplifting may be charged with larceny. The value of the merchandise that was allegedly stolen will determine the severity of the charges.

There are some unique concerns that may affect the ways shoplifting cases are handled. Retail stores may have security personnel who watch for shoplifting, and they may use security cameras, electronic tags, and receipt-checking procedures to monitor for theft. A store may have video footage of an alleged offense, and multiple employees may provide statements about what happened. People accused of shoplifting will need to understand how to respond to these issues.

Situations Where People May Face Shoplifting Charges

A person does not necessarily need to walk out of a store with merchandise to be arrested and charged with shoplifting. The intent to steal and conduct in which a person attempted to take items may lead to accusations of retail theft. Some situations where people may be accused of shoplifting include:

Concealing Merchandise

A person may be accused of placing merchandise in their pocket or in a bag or purse while they are in a store. Employees may be watching for these attempts to conceal items, and they may stop a person before they walk out the door.

Switching or Changing Price Tags

Removing the price tag from an item and replacing it with a tag from a less expensive product is a form of theft. A person could also be accused of shoplifting if they allegedly placed one item inside the packaging of a cheaper product.

Self-Checkout Manipulation

Some shoplifting charges may be based on the ways people use self-checkout lanes. A person may be accused of scanning a less expensive item while bagging a more expensive one, entering a product code for a cheaper item instead of an expensive one, or failing to scan items.

Return Fraud

A person may be accused of returning merchandise to a store under false pretenses, including returning items that were not purchased at a store, returning merchandise that was stolen, or using fraudulent receipts to obtain cash refunds or store credit.

Using Devices to Defeat Security Measures

People may be accused of using tools or devices in a store to bypass anti-theft systems. These may include bags or containers that are meant to block security systems from detecting security tags or tools that remove security tags from items. The possession of these items inside a store may be viewed as evidence showing that a person intended to commit retail theft.

Organized Retail Theft

In some cases, people may be charged with operating large-scale schemes to steal merchandise from multiple stores and resell items at a profit. These schemes may involve multiple people working together in a store at the same time, with some providing distractions while others conceal merchandise. These cases may involve the theft of a large amount of valuable items, which may lead to more serious penalties when the people involved are charged with shoplifting or other theft-related offenses.

Defense Strategies in Shoplifting Cases

When a person is charged with shoplifting, evidence such as security camera footage or statements from a store's personnel may not capture the full picture of what happened. Our attorneys can determine what steps may be taken to defend against shoplifting charges, looking carefully at the evidence and raising arguments to challenge the claims made by prosecutors. Our strategies may include:

Challenging Intent

Theft charges will be based on a person's intent to steal. Our lawyers may challenge this aspect of a charge and show that there was no intent to commit retail theft. We can provide innocent explanations for what happened, such as showing that our client forgot that they placed an item in their bag or made a mistake at a self-checkout.

Examining Security Camera Footage and Other Evidence

The surveillance systems used by retail stores may be extensive, but the footage they capture may not provide clear and conclusive evidence that retail theft occurred. Camera angles may not capture what actually happened, or there may be an innocent explanation for a person's actions. Our team will review all available evidence and look for inconsistencies, gaps, or alternative explanations.

Addressing Mistaken Identity

In busy retail stores, people may be misidentified, and the wrong person may be detained, arrested, and charged with shoplifting. A person who resembles someone else who previously committed a theft or who was in the area of a store where a theft occurred may be falsely accused of a crime. Our lawyers can review the evidence in a case and question whether our client can be conclusively identified as the person who committed an alleged offense.

Challenging Witness Statements

A store's employees are trained to identify and stop theft, but they may be mistaken about what they saw. They may have only seen part of what happened, or they may have made assumptions about a person's intent based on their behavior rather than directly observing an act of theft. Our attorneys can cross-examine witnesses, looking for inconsistencies or other issues that may call their observations into question.

Contesting the Valuation of Items

The value of merchandise that was allegedly stolen may determine whether a shoplifting charge is a misdemeanor or a felony and the penalties that a person may face. Our lawyers can challenge the claims made about the value of the merchandise involved in a case, which may allow for reduced charges.

Contact Our Waldorf Shoplifting Defense Attorneys

When you have been charged with a retail theft offense, the outcome of your case could affect your freedom and your future. At Farmer & Klopfer, we take these matters seriously, and we can help you determine the best steps to take to defend against shoplifting charges. Contact our Waldorf, MD retail theft lawyers at 301-843-3890 to schedule your free consultation.