At approximately 7:38 pm on February 2, Loss Prevention Officers at Belk, 3700 Atlanta Highway, observed a person take clothing from a rack, then proceed to take other items and conceal them underneath his clothing. Then he entered a fitting room, but when he exited, the merchandise was not visible.
He attempted to exit the business, but was arrested by Loss Prevention. Police officers arrived to investigate, and $195 worth of merchandise was recovered. He also had a .32 caliber revolver in his pocket which was found during arrest processing. The shoplifter was arrested and charged with Felony Theft By Shoplifting, Carrying A Concealed Weapon, Carrying A Firearm Without A Permit and Possession Of A Firearm By A Convicted Felon. Because of the risks, is critical that you seek the advice of an experienced attorney to avoid penalties. This is especially true if you’ve been arrested before or are not a U.S. Citizen.
In New York, shoplifting is charged as Petit Larceny and you can be arrested and charged with a misdemeanor. During the arrest, if other illegal items are found, this could create a more serious situation. An experienced attorney can help by fighting the arrest and the resulting search. Depending on the charges, you could face staggering fines, penalties, and even incarceration.