Man Charged with Shoplifting from New Jersey Target
A 42-year-old Philadelphia man has been arrested on suspicion of shoplifting from a New Jersey Target store. According to a news report in The Asbury Park Press, the alleged shoplifting incident occurred at the Target on Stafford Park Boulevard in Stafford. Officials stopped the man on Route 72 near Lighthouse Drive where they discovered a $599 vacuum cleaner and numerous other items valued at more than $1,700. The man may face additional penalties as well for alleged thefts at more than 24 stores throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania, officials say.
Under New Jersey Statute 2C:20-11: "Shoplifting shall consist of any one or more of the following acts: (1) 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."
The penalties that a convicted offender may face for shoplifting in New Jersey are directly related to the estimated value of the items stolen. It is a disorderly persons offense to wrongfully take items worth less than $200 and a fourth-degree crime to take items valued between $200 and $500. When the items are valued between $500 and $75,000, it is a third-degree crime that could result in three to five years of jail time. An experienced criminal defense attorney will examine how the items were obtained by authorities and if the civil rights of the defendant were violated during a search or arrest, the charges can be thrown out.
If you or a loved one is facing shoplifting charges in New Jersey, please do not take them lightly. The outcome of your case can have an impact on your future. Please contact the reputed New Jersey shoplifting defense lawyers at Lependorf & Silverstein to better understand your options. Call us today at (609) 240-0040 to discuss your case.
