On Wednesday April 13th, a 31-year-old mother with five children entered into an H&M store in the Queens Center Mall in Elmhurst. Apparently, the mother came with a mission because she immediately began scooping up various hair accessories, clothes, and jewelry and putting them into a cart and a separate bag.
In all, officials say the products were worth around $4,135.
Rather than heading to the register to check out, though, the suspect instructed her children to run out of the store. The mother grabbed the bag and cart before fleeing past the registers herself. The frantic actions didn’t go unnoticed by loss prevention officer Ronnie Salmon-Wilson, who attempted to approach the woman. When he did, the suspect allegedly spit in his face before running to a nearby subway station.
Once there, the woman and her four children began jumping and running between subway cars to cause confusion. Amongst it all, the loss prevention officer says the children were crying and screaming. Despite all the chaos, police officers were able to arrive at the scene and apprehend the woman. The suspect is currently facing several charges including criminal possession of stolen property, petty larceny, harassment, and five counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
Consequences of Larceny and Shoplifting in New York
In New York, the severity of shoplifting or larceny charges hinges on the value of the stolen property. As mentioned above, this case involved property amounting to over $4,000. Petit larceny is charged as a misdemeanor, but it often involves stolen property that’s valued at less than $1,000.
This type of crime doesn’t come with mandatory imprisonment time, but you’ll likely at least face fines of up to $1,000 and two to three years on probation.
Property that’s valued at over $1,000 is usually charged as grand larceny. There are various degrees of larceny, all of which are felony offenses. These larceny felony charges will likely result in at least 4 years behind bars on top of fines and a probation term. These consequences generally get worse as the property’s value gets higher. Your penalties will also be harsher if you’ve been convicted of shoplifting or larceny charges in the past.
Criminal penalties won’t be the only consequence of a conviction, either. You might also end up contending with a civil lawsuit, too. The business you stole from does have the legal right to pursue financial compensation from you in civil court.
Are You Looking for a Shoplifting Defense Lawyer?
Have you recently been accused of shoplifting or larceny in New York? The best way to avoid the potential consequences outlined above is to avoid a conviction. To do so, you’ll need to come up with a solid defense strategy. That means considering the facts surrounding your arrest, the evidence prosecutors have against you, and the exact charges you’re facing.
Here at NYCriminal Defense, we can help you navigate the challenges you’re facing. Leave your contact information on our online form or call us at (800) 601-0207 to discuss your charges in more detail.
