The Consequences of Theft – Theft and the Law

Theft can include armed robbery, burglary, check theft, forgery, unauthorized use of a vehicle, fraud, false statements to a credit bureau, shoplifting and the list goes on. Consequences for stealing range from a Class C misdemeanor to felony charges, usually depending on the monetary value of what was taken. If the value of the stolen item is less than $1,500, the perpetrator will most likely be convicted of a misdemeanor. This can result in a simple fine and/or community service, but could also mean jail time, depending on the circumstances. If the stolen item was of great value, the defendant will most likely be charged with a felony and have to serve time in prison. At the time of the hearing, the court will be notified if there is more than one offense on the suspect’s record and this will also affect the sentence. People who steal usually don’t do it just once.

It is important to note that in some states, theft of any kind is considered a “crime of moral turpitude.” This means that the act of stealing is not a favorable action in the community standards of fairness, honesty or good manners. Even if you are charged with a misdemeanor, you will have a permanent criminal record that will follow you for the rest of your life. This can have negative effects on the wrongdoer’s character personally, legally, and with future employment opportunities.

One of the most common forms of theft is shoplifting. Shoplifting is the deliberate act of taking an unpaid item from a place of business and it happens more than we are aware of. A person can be convicted of shoplifting even if he does not leave the store, but finds merchandise concealed in his possession. In some states, there’s even a “law of the parties,” which means that if you’re with a friend who’s caught shoplifting at a retail establishment, you can still be prosecuted even if you didn’t mean to shoplift. An average of $10 billion dollars worth of goods is stolen from retail businesses each year. The numbers and statistics are staggering. We all pay the price for the people who commit these acts by having to pay more for products when companies raise prices to recover losses from thieves. The law takes a dim view of shoplifters.

Simply put, stealing is never a good idea and can land you in a world of trouble. It will affect the offender in many negative ways for the rest of their lives. Stealing also affects everyone in the community, in one way or another, so the laws are tough. Thieves may think they can get away with stealing, but eventually they will be caught and forced to face dire consequences.