NJ Attorney Defending Shoplifting Charges (N.J.S.A. 2C:20-11)

Experienced Lawyer Defending Shoplifting Charges throughout Bergen, Hudson and Essex County, New Jersey.

Whether it is the Garden State Plaza in Paramus, the Newport City Mall in Jersey City, the Willowbrook Mall in Wayne, the Wal-Mart stores in Saddle Brook, Boonton and Riverdale or the local retail stores of Livingston, West New York, North Bergen, and Hackensack, retailers have cracked down on shoplifting during these hard economic times. This makes it increasingly important to find a lawyer if you have been charged with shoplifting under New Jersey statute, N.J.S.A. 2C:20-11.

There are six major ways that you can be accused of shoplifting in the State of New Jersey. While some of these ways may seem obvious, some are not:

1. The most common form of shoplifting is when an individual purposely takes merchandise and leaves the store without paying for it. N.J.S.A. 2C:20 11(b)(1).
2. A person can be charged with shoplifting when he or she hides an item. This means that a person does not have to leave the store with the merchandise. N.J.S.A. 2C:20 11(b)(2). A common example is putting on clothes for sale and walking around in the store with the clothes on.
3. A person can also be charged for shoplifting if he or she alters, transfers or removes any label, price tag or any other marking that is for sale at a store. N.J.S.A. 2C:20 11(b)(3). This often occurs when a person removes a tag from a cheaper item and puts that tag on a more expensive item that the individual intends to purchase.
4. A person can be charged with shoplifting if he or she removes an item from one container and puts it in another. N.J.S.A. 2C:20 11(b)(4). For example, if a person removes a camera from its box and places it in a cereal box with the intent to only purchase the cereal, the person can be charged with shoplifting.
5. An employee of a store can be charged with shoplifting if the employee permits the purchase of an item at less than the marked price of the merchandise. N.J.S.A. 2C:20 11(b)(5).
6. A person can be charged with shoplifting for removing a shopping cart from the store without the consent of the store owner. N.J.S.A. 2C:20 11(b)(6).

The more expensive the merchandise, the higher the potential consequences of a shoplifting charge becomes. For this reason alone, you should consult an experienced lawyer to determine what potential consequences you are facing.

If you are charged with shoplifting, please feel free to contact The Cintron Firm at any of their offices in New Jersey for a free consultation.