Shoplifting is defined as the act of stealing items of any kind from any store, especially retail ones. This is commonly known as taking things from a store without paying for them or having the intention of paying for them. When a person is caught shoplifting there are a variety of negative repercussions.
Initially, the individual can rightfully be detained by the respective retail store as long as it has a probable cause. This means that if a store has justified suspicion about an individual taking something from the shelves and concealing it, then they can stop the person from leaving the store. Besides concealing items from the store, any activities that include modification, movement or failing to pay for items, gives the store a mandate to detain a suspect. The store can also determine if the shoplifter should return the item and declare a ban on the individual if necessary. The store may also be allowed to prosecute them and impose a fine on the offense.
If you are with a friend that decides to shoplift, get away from the situation. You may not want anything to do with your friend's behavior and just stand there watching the act unfold. However, if you don’t get yourself away from the scene, you can be considered an accomplice just by being together with the person who does the crime. You will also be qualified to be charged. A charge also applies if you help the shoplifter conceal the item by distracting the staff at the store or acting as the lookout. You are also considered to be shoplifting if you alter the price tag of merchandise or just take a piece of the item for consumption or sampling.
The severity of your punishment when getting caught shoplifting is often up to the judgment of the manager or owner of the store. For example, as in the case of Lindsey Lohan walking out of a jewelry wearing a piece of jewelry, the owner could have believed her story that it was a mistake and let it go. Instead he chose to press charges which got her in a great deal of trouble. Punishment may range from community service all the way to a jail term. Judges almost always include that a theft education class be taken to show retribution as well.
Online theft classes provide a high quality way to fulfill this court ordered mandate. Taking them online is beneficial because it eliminates the stress of having to miss work or school to drive to a classroom at a specific time. If you take an online course, you can take them 24/7 and can drop in and out of the program at your own convenience. No one is watching over you to make sure you’ve accomplished a certain amount of the course. It is strictly up to your own judgment and convenience. At the end of the course, a certificate of completion is issued. This is a document that is similar to a diploma and proves to the court that you have successfully fulfilled their request. Classes are also low-cost, so you are not only saving gas money but the expense of supporting the rent of a traditional classroom setting. If you choose a course that is designed by a licensed and practicing therapist, you will be satisfied with an interesting and educational experience.
