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 [...]
Illinois retail theft The National Retail Federation study reports that the slow economy has caused businesses to reduce security jobs and as a result, more people are shoplifting and stealing. In 2011, retail theft losses totaled over $32 billion. Additionally, the National Retail Federal found that close to 95 percent of retailers reported being the victim of organized theft, 6 percent higher than [...]
In many cases I handle, people make bad decisions and steal things. Occasionally, there is a misunderstanding and false charges are brought against innocent and good people. The chances of getting a retail theft or shoplifting charge, under 720 ilcs 5/16A-3, reduced to a less serious offense or dismissed depends greatly on the experience of the Chicago Retail Theft Attorney representing you. Retail Theft and shoplifting offenses [...]
720 ilcs 5/16-25 In Southern Florida, police conducted sting operations that resulted in the arrest of of almost two dozen individuals related to a retail theft operation. Prosecutors in Miami paraded the mugshots of numerous suspects related to the investigation. The targeted individuals are suspected to stealing millions of dollars in goods and [...]
Retail theft or shoplifting is an offense that crosses age groups, socio-economic status and races. Recently, changes have been made to the theft laws here in Illinois. These changes favor defendants so it is vital a person knows what these changes are so that he/she can put forth the best defense against theft charges. The most important change is in [...]
Being arrested or cited for retail theft/shoplifting under Illinois Criminal Statute 720 ILCS 5/16A-3 can lead to serious criminal, civil and economic consequences. A person arrested for the first time has the opportunity to protect themselves during their criminal case, as well as, in their future if they know how to approach their case. By law, a [...]
Charged With Theft or Shoplifting? Shoplifting and retail theft offenses in Chicago are prosecuted vigorously by the police, prosecutors and retailers due to the large volume of shoplifting that occurs in stores every year. Shoplifting occurs when one takes items from a store that do not belong to them or even tampering with price tags in [...]