Tidewater Shoplifting Lawyer

Shoplifting, contrary to popular belief, is a very serious crime, especially in Virginia. The Commonwealth has some of the strictest laws when it comes to theft and as such, prosecutors are eager to prosecute anyone who has been charged with a theft crime. If you have been arrested and charged with shoplifting in the Tidewater area, you don't have to plead guilty and subject yourself to a criminal record. A Tidewater Shoplifting Lawyer can work to prevent that your shoplifting offense from following you into the future.

Shoplifting is a crime that with which nearly everyone is familiar. In 2010, the majority of shoplifting was committed by females and by people who were 16 years old. What kind of shoplifting it is depends on how much the property that was stolen was valued. If the property was valued at over $200, it is considered grand larceny (a felony). If the property was valued at under $200, the type of theft is deemed petit theft (a misdemeanor). A Tidewater Shoplifting Attorney can look at the facts of your case and assess whether the elements of a shoplifting conviction have been met. Many times, they have not, and those accused of shoplifting have their charges dropped.

There are several defense that can be used to mitigate or dismiss shoplifting charges and our Tidewater Shoplifting Lawyers are familiar with all of them. They include:

1. Mistaken identity.
2. Lack of intent
3. Property not valued over $200 (to mitigate a grand larceny charge)
4. Dropping charges upon the successful completion of probation

Many people who have been arrested and charged with shoplifting are worried about how one mistake can impact the rest of their life, and they do have a reason to be concerned. A criminal conviction for shoplifting looks bad in a lot of ways: on a job application, on an apartment rental application, or a student loan application. It tells people that a person is dishonest and untrustworthy. A Shoplifting Lawyer in Tidewater understands these concerns very well and can work hard to create a defense where these concerns do not become realities.

If you are in need of a Shoplifting Lawyer in the Tidewater area, call today at (757) 320-4900 for your initial consultation. You don't have to go through this alone - we are here to help you.