Caught Shoplifting at Macy’s
Orlando Department Store Shoplifting Lawyer
Have you been arrested or charged with theft or stealing from Macy’s department store?
You wandered around Macy’s and saw many things you liked. You had money to pay for the items but for some reason you got excited about the prospect of taking clothes, lingerie, jewelry, or sunglasses from Macy’s without paying for the items. Perhaps it was the impulse of wanting something right away for free. Maybe you were on some medication for anxiety or depression, or you were just plain bored. You conceal the items and walked out of Macy’s without paying. Unfortunately, loss prevention caught you and took you to the security office were you were ultimately charged and possibly arrested for petit or grand theft from Macy’s.
You may not believe that stealing from a department store that makes so much money every day would be a serious matter, but the opposite is true. Macy’s deters shoplifters by not only detaining them and retrieving the item but also pressing criminal charges. If you’re being prosecuted for shoplifting, be sure to acquire legal representation. The Orlando shoplifting attorneys at The Umansky Law Firm have over 100 years of combined experience and can help negotiate lesser penalties or even pre-trial diversion.
Macy’s Shoplifting Policy
Macy’s has a full time staff of trained and licensed loss prevention security guards. Once you have been suspected of shoplifting, a security guard will approach you and must identify themselves as an employee of the store. At this time the security guard must willingly provide his or her name if asked by the customer. The use of excessive force or threatening language in the course of detaining a suspected shoplifter is not permitted.
At this point, if you are still suspected of shoplifting the security guard can legally detain you in a reasonable manner for a reasonable amount of time for questioning. They do not have to wait for you to leave the property to detain you. If they have probable cause (seeing you conceal the item), they can approach you while you’re still on the premises.
Recently stores like Macy’s have come under public scrutiny for racial profiling and have a strict policy against. If you feel you have been have been profiled based on your race, you can submit an instance report with Macy’s.
Shoplifting at Macy’s Legal Consequences
What do you do now? Theft charges from Macy’s are serious offenses that can lead to driver license suspension, probation, community service hours, and in some cases jail time. If you have been caught stealing over $750 dollars worth of merchandise in clothing, jewelry, or any items from Macy’s you can be facing serious criminal charges.
Under Florida § 812.014, the penalties for shoplifting are as follows:
Valued Under $100 | Second-Degree Misdemeanor | Petit Theft
- Up to 60 days in jail
- Up to six months probation
- $500 in fines
Valued $100 to $750 | First-Degree Misdemeanor | Petit Theft
- Up to 1 year in jail
- Up to 1 year on probation
- $1000 in fines
Valued Over $750 | Felony | Grand Theft
- Up to 5 years in prison
- Up to 5 years on probation
- Up to $5000 in fines
If it is your first offense, you may be able to get your charges dropped or gained access into a first time offenders program called diversion or intervention. If you had prior theft offenses then you may face more serious penalties.
Get Help from an Orlando Shoplifting Defense Attorney
The Orlando shoplifting attorneys at The Umansky Law Firm are former prosecutors on the state and local level who have a thorough understanding of how the State will prosecute a suspected shoplifter. With over 100 years of combined experience, we can use our insight to negotiate down the charges and help settle your legal issues on the most favorable terms. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.
