Top Rated Richmond VA Shoplifting Lawyers • 1500+ Reviews
Shoplifting is a criminal offense in Richmond and is punished like larceny. It is the theft of goods from a retail establishment during business hours. A common scenario involves concealing an item from a Richmond store in your pocket, under clothes or in a bag and leaving without paying. Shoplifting is illegal according to Va. Code § 18.2-103. Shoplifting can be a felony or a misdemeanor. A key element of the offense is that the taking is done knowingly. If the Richmond merchandise involved is less than $1,000, then the offense is a misdemeanor petit larceny violation. If the merchandise is over $1,000, then the offense is a felony grand larceny violation.
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Experienced Richmond Shoplifting Defense Attorneys
Riley & Wells Attorneys-At-Law are premier Richmond shoplifting lawyers with over 60 collective years of trial experience. We successfully represent clients accused of shoplifting before the Richmond Courts. Our lawyers recognize that people can make mistakes. We are recognized as a “Best Law Firm” by U.S. News & World Report. We also know that Loss Prevention Officials and the Richmond Police can make errors. Our Richmond attorneys are dedicated to fighting for you whether you made a mistake that you regret or whether you have been wrongly accused of shoplifting. You can benefit from our experience. Our firm has been positively reviewed more than any other law firm that defends criminal cases in Richmond.
Most Rated Richmond VA Shoplifting Lawyers Presenting Your Best Defense
Free Richmond VA Consultation with Top Rated Shoplifting Defense Lawyers
The biggest issue with representing yourself after a Richmond shoplifting allegation is lack of experience. Shoplifting cases are adversarial in nature and most folks in this situation lack experience on how to either handle a police encounter or to present valid defenses before the Richmond Courts. Our top rated Richmond VA shoplifting lawyers know the best tactics for obtaining the best results. Our lawyers spend hours in the Richmond VA Courts every week and are familiar with the habits of the different judges who preside over these cases. This local knowledge is invaluable when defending a Richmond shoplifting case.
Richmond VA Shoplifting Defense Attorneys Recognized by Super Lawyers
Super Lawyers is a lawyer rating service of outstanding attorneys from more than 70 practice areas including shoplifting defense who have attained the highest degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. This organization recognizes the top lawyers nationwide across a variety of practice areas and firm sizes. Our Richmond VA shoplifting lawyers have been recognized by this publication since 2009. No more than five percent of the Virginia lawyers are named to this list and no more than 2.5 percent are named to the Rising Stars list. This recognition is merit based. Retain a top rated Richmond VA shoplifting defense attorney who has been recognized with this elite award.
Skilled Richmond VA Lawyers Defending Shoplifting Cases in the Courts
Many local Richmond business owners aggressively monitor their businesses to avoid and or eliminate shoplifting. Richmond authorities are serious about investigating property crimes such as shoplifting. Our Richmond VA defense lawyers represent clients accused of criminal offenses such as shoplifting every week before the Richmond Courts. We have assisted countless clients secure favorable outcomes in cases involving shoplifting allegations. Dispositions include cases where charges were either nolle prosequi or dropped, dismissed, reduced or channeled through diversionary programs that help clients avoid incarceration or a criminal record. Let us review your case. There may be defenses or mitigation evidence. We can help even if you think you are guilty!
Retain a Superior Attorney if You Have Been Accused of Stealing
Retail merchants in Richmond deploy many strategies to apprehend violators from stealing merchandise. Many Richmond merchants use video surveillance, anti-theft sensors, and loss prevention security guards. Unfortunately, no monitoring system is perfect. This can lead to false Richmond shoplifting accusations. The self-checkout option for many retailers has exploded. Retailers in Richmond are using camera monitored self-checkout stations more than ever. Skip scanning is a common shoplifting allegation that can lead to false allegations depending on a merchants checkout monitoring technology and evidence gathering techniques. Skip scanning is when a customer deliberately decides not to scan an item at the self-checkout but still puts the item in their checkout bag. Self-checkout scanners are computers. Customers are not trained. Computers sometimes malfunction.
Richmond Merchants Can Detain Shoplifting Suspects for Police
The law allows a Richmond merchant, agent or employee of the merchant who has probable cause that a person has shoplifted in violation of Va. Code 18.2-95, 18.2-96 or 18.2-103 on the premises of the Richmond merchant to detain that person for a period not to exceed one hour pending arrival of a Richmond police officer. If you have been accused of shoplifting, then you will likely be requested to accompany a loss prevention officer to a secure room for questioning. Richmond Police will respond to your location and take over the interrogation. REMEMBER: You are under no obligation to answer questions and any incriminating statements you make can and will likely be used against you at trial.
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11/18/2024