Shoplifting is a very common theft crime both here in North Carolina and throughout the United States. It’s so prevalent that most shoplifters actually go undetected.

Though it’s often associated with rebellious teens stealing for the thrill of it, there isn’t a particular profile for a typical shoplifter. In fact, anyone can be a shoplifter.

Check out these statistics studied and compiled by the National Association for Shoplifting Prevention:

• One in 11 people are shoplifters, which equates to about 27 million Americans.
• In the last 5 years, more than 10 million people have

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Several different types of theft crimes exist in North Carolina.

If you are charged with theft, the value of the goods or property usually decides whether the charge is a misdemeanor or a felony. If a firearm or violence was involved at the time of the incident, the class of the offense will be higher. This is also true if a prior theft record exists.

By understanding the various types of theft that are defined under the law in our state, it can help you to plan your defense strategy, understand why you [...]

Generally, theft happens when a person takes someone else’s property without their permission and with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of the property.

So, if you go into a clothing store and take a pair of jeans, intending to keep them for your personal use and not return them, you are committing retail theft. But sometimes it’s not so cut-and-dry.

There is a lot of nuance in North Carolina’s laws regarding theft, and it’s essential to understand the terms of a theft charge in order to know how best to fight [...]