Category Archives: retail theft

THE CRIMINAL BURDEN OF PROOF IN ILLINOIS

Under our system of government, you are innocent until proven guilty. For most crimes, this means the prosecutor must prove beyond a reasonable doubt all the elements of a crime, and that the defendant committed that crime. For example, if … Continue reading

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STAYING PAST YOUR WELCOME: HOW RETAIL THEFT BECOMES BURGLARY IN ILLINOIS

In Illinois, you can be charged with burglary if you 1) enter or remain in a building without authority 2) with intent to commit a felony or theft. Under recent Illinois case law, you can lose the authority to enter … Continue reading

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SIX WAYS TO DEFEND AN ILLINOIS SHOPLIFTING CASE

As with most criminal charges, the State has to prove you guilty of all the elements of retail theft beyond a reasonable doubt. Retail theft is a tough crime to defend because often someone is caught in the act on … Continue reading

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“THEY ASKED ME TO PAY!”: THE RETAIL THEFT CIVIL DAMAGES LETTER

You’re already on edge after you were charged with shoplifting. Now you have received a letter or a phone call from a collection agent or a law firm asking you to pay money for the merchandise that you took. Will … Continue reading

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“I DIDN’T KNOW!”: WHEN IGNORANCE IS A DEFENSE

As the saying goes, ignorance of the law is no excuse. Generally, that statement is true. All persons are presumed to know the law. There are rare occasions, however, when ignorance can be a defense. In Illinois, ignorance can be … Continue reading

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RETAIL THEFT: SECOND OFFENSE AND BEYOND

Retail theft the second time around can be a much more complicated affair than your first offense. Repeat offenses may lead to stiffer charges, violation of supervision, and a conviction that stays on your record. For starters, a second offense … Continue reading

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NEW HOPE FOR ILLINOIS FIRST-TIME FELONY DEFENDANTS: THE OFFENDER INITIATIVE PROGRAM

You’ve never been in trouble before. It’s bad enough you were arrested, but even worse, your first offense is a felony. Maybe it was for shoplifting or taking drugs, something that you swear you would never do again. Fortunately, Illinois … Continue reading

Posted in Chicago felony, Class 1 Felony, drug crimes, felony, first offender, first time felony, narcotic offenses, retail theft, shoplifting | Leave a comment

THE LAW OF RETAIL THEFT, THEFT, ROBBERY AND BURGLARY IN ILLINOIS

In bad economic times, people can get a little desperate and take something that doesn’t belong to them. Where, how and how much you steal can determine the type of criminal charges brought against you and your possible punishment. What … Continue reading

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THEY’RE WATCHING!: HOW STORES COMBAT RETAIL THEFT

Retail theft can cost U.S. retailers about $10 billion a year. Because of that, stores use a variety of methods to stop you from swiping their merchandise. Stores such as Whole Foods may use plain clothes security. You don’t realize … Continue reading

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FROM SHOPLIFTING TO REMOVING PRICE TAGS: RETAIL THEFT LAW IN ILLINOIS

You were scanning groceries at the self-service station and decided to omit a few items before slipping them into your bag. But unbeknownst to you, the cameras were watching. As soon as you left the store, security stopped you, and … Continue reading

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