What Constitutes Shoplifting in Illinois?

 Posted on May 10,2022 in Criminal Law

It probably comes as no surprise that retail theft is taken seriously by retailers and law enforcement in Illinois. To protect merchandise at stores and retailers, Illinois has some of the strictest penalties for shoplifting in the country. While you may commonly think of shoplifting as sneaking an item out of a store in a pocket or under a coat, Illinois law specifies a number of actions that constitute retail theft or shoplifting.

Retail Theft in Illinois

Under Illinois law, the following actions constitute shoplifting or retail theft:

• Sneaking merchandise out of a store without paying for it. This is a classic example of shoplifting.
• Changing the price tag or label of an item to make it appear to cost less than it should.
• Hiding merchandise in other merchandise in order to sneak it out of the store.
• Under-ringing an item at a register. This charge had been more commonly used against store employees when buying items for themselves or for their friends or acquaintances. However, it is also becoming more common with the advent of self-checkout lines in grocery stores and other retailers
• Removing a shopping cart from the property of a store and not returning it.
• Knowingly deceiving a store about the ownership of merchandise. This can include claiming you’ve already purchased an item if it has in fact not been paid for.
• Using or possessing a theft detection shielding device or a tool to remove theft detection devices. These can include a laminated or coated bag or another device used to shield merchandise from being detected by a store’s theft sensors.
• Not returning a leased item to a store within the agreed-upon lease term and not paying the full price for taking possession of the item.

Most minor retail theft charges, typically those under $300, are prosecuted as a Class A misdemeanor. More serious charges, up to a Class 3 felony can be charged under certain circumstances. These include previous convictions for shoplifting or other crimes, use of an emergency exit during the shoplifting, or shoplifting a total value of merchandise of over $300 or motor fuel of over $150. The value of items taken can quickly add up, meaning that felony charges are more likely than you might think.

Contact a Joliet Shoplifting Defense Lawyer

If you are facing shoplifting charges, do not hesitate to call the experienced Will County criminal defense attorneys at Reeder & Brown, P.C.. We will fully investigate your case and aggressively defend you against the misdemeanor or felony charges. We know how seriously these charges can affect your life. Call our office at 815-885-5980 for a free consultation.

Source:

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=072000050K16-25