75-Year-Old Woman Accused of Shoplifting at Palisades Center Mall
An elderly woman has been charged with petty larceny for allegedly stealing jewelry from a department store. According to The New City Patch, the arrest occurred at the Lord and Taylor Store at Palisades Center Mall. The 75-year-old woman has been charged with taking up to $538 worth of items. An investigation into the incident is ongoing.
New Jersey Statute 2C:20-11 states that it is shoplifting “for any person purposely to take possession of, carry away, transfer or cause to be carried away or transferred, any merchandise displayed, held, stored or offered for sale by any store or other retail mercantile establishment with the intention of depriving the merchant of the possession, use or benefit of such merchandise or converting the same to the use of such person without paying to the merchant the full retail value thereof.”
To convict an individual of shoplifting in New Jersey, the prosecution will have to prove that the defendant intentionally took the items. It is common for wrongful charges to arise from a situation where someone mistakenly left a store without paying or inadvertently walked away with an item or merchandise. What was simply a mistake can be viewed as a criminal act. Depending upon the value of the items involved and the history of the defendant, the charges for shoplifting can be severe. Having the right attorney can make a huge difference on the outcome of your case.
The knowledgeable criminal defense attorneys in Princeton at Lependorf & Silverstein handle all types of shoplifting and theft cases in New Jersey. If you or a loved one is facing theft-related charges, call our law offices at 609-240-0040 before discussing the case with the authorities.
