LEGAL BEFORE LIVE THESE three defenses could get you out of a shoplifting charge if you're caught stealing at Walmart, a law firm has revealed. Big retailers like Walmart and Target appear to be more prone to petty theft than smaller businesses, according to the lawyers at Jackson White Attorneys At Law in Arizona.
GettyThese three defenses could get you out of a shoplifting charge, according to a law firm '/ '
GettyBig retailers like Walmart appear to be more prone to shoplifting, the law firm revealed '/ ' Shoplifting charges can differ in severity from a misdemeanor to a felony that could land you jail time. However, the Jackson White firm revealed three go-to defenses you can use if you are caught stealing. First up is the lack of intent defense. To be convicted of shoplifting, the thief in question had to have acted with the intent to steal, the firm explained. Read more on shoplifting
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TAKING THE FALL I'm a lawyer - 3 errors to avoid if Walmart wrongly accuses you of stealing So, if you can prove that you unintentionally shoplifted like if you accidentally forgot to scan something at self-checkout, then you would have a valid defense. According to the firm, you could prove lack of intent by showing a receipt from the same day to show you paid for other items, demonstrate your ability to pay for the stolen items, or establish your good moral character. The second defense is lack of knowledge. Sometimes a price tag on a product could be swapped out for a price tag from a cheaper item. Most read in The US Sun SAD END Tragic way Aaron Carter's body was found is revealed after 'crippling relapse' SAD TURN Aaron Carter shared eerie final post just hours before his shocking death at 34 TRAGIC LOSS Aaron Carter, 34, tragically found dead 'in bathtub at his California home' HOO LA LA I'm a Hooters girl - we don't always wear uniforms, sometimes we work in bikinis BLOODY PICTURES Horror pics of blood-soaked tent after Oklahoma Girl Scout Murders 'PROUD MOM' Teen Mom Farrah Abraham's daughter Sophia, 13, looks so grown up in new photo For shoppers who do this with the intention to steal, it's called ...the switcheroo.... However, if you are accused of shoplifting, but you can prove that someone else swapped the price tags without your knowledge and that you didn't intend to steal, then you could get off the hook. The law firm also gave the example of a shoplifting ...mule,... which is an innocent customer who had an item placed in their pocket without knowing. This is done by a ...professional shoplifter... who then tries to pick-pocket the ...mule... once they leave the store with the item, so that they can retrieve the product they wanted to steal. If you can prove that you are a victim of this, you're charges could be lifted, according to the firm. The last way out of a shoplifting charge is through a Miranda rights violation. Read More on The US Sun
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SPOTFIGHT Kim & Kendall compete for the spotlight as they both rock sexy looks at same gala Lawyers will typically use one of the previously mentioned defenses along with a Miranda rights violation to strengthen their client's case. The firm listed common examples of Miranda rights violations: coercing a confession, refusing to let the accused shoplifter call a lawyer, challenging the validity of an unlawful search, and failure to advise a defendant of their Miranda rights.
