Shoplifting from a retail location is not the most serious crime in North Carolina. If you steal less than $1,000, it’s usually charged as a misdemeanor, and charges don’t typically go higher than a Class H felony. There are associated fines and can be jail time, depending on the specific charge, but numerous other crimes are treated more severely by our lawmakers.

In mid-November, however, a Belmont woman’s alleged shoplifting spree resulted in over 16 felony and misdemeanor charges and a $1,061,000 bond against her.

What happened?

Lacey Brooke Lynch and the $1

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Retail shoplifting is a growing problem in North Carolina and throughout the US.

According to recent reports, more than 90 percent of companies are victims of shoplifting every year.

In our state, shoplifting is punished as “larceny of goods,” and occurs when someone takes and carries an item without the owner’s consent, and with the intent of depriving the owner of that item permanently.

Below, we’ve listed 6 of the most commonly shoplifted items in North Carolina and the US.

Meat. As surprising as it seems, meat is one of the most commonly [...]