Shoplifting

Taking something from a store without paying for it is shoplifting, and if you have been arrested on this charge in New Hampshire, you will need a criminal defense lawyer to help you.

While this is not a crime that will send you to prison for years to come, it is a serious matter. And, in all likelihood, you won’t stop after the first time you illegally take an item for the store. You will more than likely keep doing this, taking larger and more expensive items until you finally get caught.

And, you will probably get caught and arrested at some point. That is when you will need the assistance of Michael Anzalone, a criminal defense attorney who has helped many clients accused of shoplifting.

Shoplifting happens almost every day in stores across the country. It is the act of taking items without paying for them from a store. It is a crime that causes stores to lose a great deal of money over the course of a year. Some say because of shoplifting, the costs of items in retail stores increase.

While many teens have swiped something from a store over the course of their lives, some people say that shoplifting is considered a “gateway” crime for some. That means that the thrill of shoplifting leads them to a life of crime.

In fact, for many people, shoplifting provides the rush of stealing items to compensate for other things like depression, stress or anxiety.

If you have been arrested on a shoplifting charge, you will immediately want to contact criminal defense lawyer Michael Anzalone of The Anzalone Law Firm in Nashua, New Hampshire.

This is especially true if you are a parent of a teenager who has been accused of shoplifting. As you may understand this is a charge that can greatly impact your child’s life. You don’t want to have this mark on their record as they start applying for college, or looking for jobs.

While it is only a misdemeanor offense in most cases, a shoplifting conviction means that you could face up to a year in jail and have a fine of up to $2,000. This is something that a teenager doesn’t need on their record.

This happened in 2017 when an 18-year-old boy was caught shoplifting in Merrimack. Police said the teen took items from a store at the Merrimack Premium Outlets Mall by concealing them in a bag.

He was arrested.

The last thing a teenager wants is to be booked into jail and to have a shoplifting conviction on their record. This is why you need a criminal defense attorney to handle the matter for you.

The state outlines the penalties in RSA 637:3-a.

Your attorney will advise you on whether it is possible to strike a plea deal with prosecutors that in many cases would mean pleading guilty to a much lesser charge.

You certainly don’t want an arrest to affect future school or job opportunities.

Call us today for a free consultation with Michael Anzalone.