Chicago Criminal Lawyer Purav Bhatt explains the difference between theft (720 ILCS 5/16-1) and robbery (720 ILCS 5/18-1). To many of my clients, the offenses of robbery and theft seem identical because both involve the taking of other people’s property without their permission or consent. However, they are separate and different crimes in Illinois and therefore are prosecuted differently. The best way to understand the [...]
The answer to this question depends on many factors such as your criminal background, the amount of the theft, any mitigating circumstances and other facts surrounding your arrest. In Illinois under 720 ilcs 5/16-25, the severity of the punishment will depend on whether you have been charged with a felony or misdemeanor offense. Whether you will be charged with a felony or misdemeanor offense will depend [...]
With the holiday shopping season in full swing, shoplifting and retail thefts are at the highest levels of the year. Shoplifting in Illinois and cook county is at such a high level that people, who usually consider themselves upstanding citizens, commit the offense of retail theft at one time or other. Some people simply switch [...]
If you or someone you know is arrested or given a written citation for shoplifting or retail theft, it is important to understand that retail theft and shoplifting are serious criminal offenses. THESE OFFENSES ARE CONSIDERED CRIMES OF “MORAL TURPITUDE” FOR FEDERAL PURPOSES. IF YOU ARE FOUND GUILTY OF ANY OF THESE OFFENSES, YOU WILL HAVE A PERMANENT CRIMINAL [...]
When I represent clients being charged with the offense of retail theft or shoplifting I am inevitably asked about a letter each of them receives from the legal representative of the store, oftentimes before their first court date, from which they are accused to committing the retail theft or shoplifting offense. The law in Illinois regarding civil liability [...]
If you are arrested or given a notice to appear citation for accidental retail theft please understand that you have been charged with a serious criminal offense. For purposes of immigration, a retail theft, shoplifting or theft charge is considered a crime of “moral turpitude“. If you plead guilty or are found guilty of a theft related offense, it can [...]
A prominent businessman in Chicago’s Indian community and an appointee of Rod Blagojevich who testified at the former governor’s trial faces a felony retail theft charge in connection with a shoplifting accusation at a Far North Side home repair store, police said tonight. Rajinder Bedi, 58, was expected to appear Saturday in Cook County Central Bond Court after [...]
A large eight person shoplifting operation was uncovered out of Austin, Texas. The group shoplifted household items including: batteries, shampoos, lotions, razors, nail polish, detergent and hair products valued at approximately $50,000. The leader of the group had accomplices shoplift from retailers such as Target and grocery stores and then resell the items at flea markets or resell the items in Mexico. Officials [...]
Down Michigan Avenue in Chicago, stores are seeing retail theft and shoplifting cases but in a different way. Across Cook County, incidents are down 2%. The group that has shown an increase in retail theft arrests are juveniles. “Flash Mobs” are groups of individuals who utilize social media tools such as Facebook and Twitter to coordinate activities at a certain time and date. [...]
The Law Office of Purav Bhatt has successfully fought for dismissals on hundreds of theft cases. Many of my clients tell me that they did not “intend” to steal the item and it was an “accident”. The State’s attorney must prove that the accused left the store and had the specific intent to take the item. If the judge or [...]