• If the cumulative amount of the property stolen is less than $100, then the person will be facing a second degree misdemeanor and be subject to a  $500 fine and up to 60 days in jail.  (See Fla. Stat. 812.014) 
• If the cumulative property amount alleged to have been stolen is more than $100 but under $300, an it is the person's first or second time being arrested for shoplifting, then they will be charged with a misdemeanor of the first degree and face a $1000 fine and up to a year in jail.
•   If the amount of property alleged to have been stolen is in excess of $300 or if a person has already been convicted of shoplifting two or more times, or if the item stolen is a firearm then they can be charged with grand theft which is a 3rd degree felony and face a possible sentence of up to 5 years in state prison and a $5000 fine. 

SHOPLIFTING DEFENSES

Theft cases often involve conflicting accounts of what occurred and the police will often accept the shopkeeper or store security personnel's account of what transpired.  It takes the actions of an aggressive and experienced criminal defense attorney to set the record straight in such cases.  The number one goal of Ft. Lauderdale petit theft attorney Antonio D. Quinn Esq. is to keep his client's criminal records clean.  If it is your first time getting arrested, then you may qualify for certain pre-trial diversion programs which are intended to keep your record clean.  Fort Lauderdale Petit theft attorney Antonio Quinn can help you evaluate your options and decide what is the best course to pursue in your case. 

 In order for a loss prevention officer to detain a person , they must first observe the individual take or hide merchandise and then pass by all points of purchase.  Merely concealing merchandise is not enough to arrest a person for shoplifting.  The store employee alleges that they witnessed the merchandise being stolen is required to provide a sworn statement to the police.  If this is not done an experienced criminal defense attorney can move to have the charges dismissed when the case goes to court.

Retaining a knowledgeable and experienced Broward County petit theft attorney as soon as possible after a person's arrest will maximize the chances of achieving a successful outcome.

 Quinn Law, P.A. represents individuals who are being charged with all types of retail theft including:

• Petit Theft
• Grand Theft
• Shoplifting
• Tampering with an anti-theft device
• Using a fraudulent receipt to obtain property
• Resisting loss prevention officer

No matter what you are being charged with, if you have been arrested for shoplifting, it is crucial to retain an experienced, aggressive and effective criminal lawyer in order to protect your reputation, your livelihood and your future.  If you have been arrested for shoplifting contact Fort Lauderdale petit theft attorney Antonio D. Quinn, Esq. today to set up a case evaluation at (954) 463-0440.