Businesses Up Their Security and Theft Monitoring at the End of the Year

 Posted on November 23, 2016 in Theft

The most booming time of year for retailers is the end of the calendar year. With all of the shopping that goes along with the holiday season, retailers pull out all the stops and offer great sales to draw in customers. Retailers also engage in gimmicks to draw in business, such as two-for-one deals or Black Friday sales. Whatever retailers can do to get customers into their stores and spend money is all that matters this time of year. However, the end of the calendar year is also a time when retailers increase their store security efforts and monitor most closely for instances of retail theft.

With more customers in their stores, there is an increased likelihood that theft will occur more frequently. Customers might try and hide unsoldmerchandise in shopping bags they are carrying from other stores, and may try to simply walk out of the store without paying. Theft is a serious problem for retailers, so it makes sense that retailers would take extra precautions this time of year to catch people in the act.

Charged With Retail Theft

Retail theft is a serious crime in Illinois. Generally speaking, retail theft occurs when someone knowingly takes a piece of merchandise without paying the full price for the item. Under Illinois law, retail theft can take many different forms. For instance, it is retail theft if you:

• Take an item off the shelf and then conceal it in a bag or on your person, so that you can leave without paying for the item;
• Swap the price tags of a lower cost item and a higher cost item so that you can get the item for less than full price;
• Work with the cashier to under-ring up the item you are trying to get for less than full price;
• Modify the price tag on an item so that you can get it for a cheaper price;
• Lie to store employees to claim that a piece of merchandise is actually your personal belonging; or
• Use a theft detection shielding device to smuggle an item out of a store without paying.

When store security catches you stealing merchandise, they have a right to hold you and call the police. Once the police arrive, it is likely that you will be arrested and charged with retail theft. You do not have to speak to the police—speaking with them will only serve to incriminate you. You can instead request to speak to your lawyer.

Call The Law Offices of Christopher M. Cosley

Being charged with retail theft charges can be frightening. If you have been arrested for retail theft, or any other form of theft, you need to speak with an experienced Rolling Meadows criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. We are here to help you.

Source:

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs4.asp?ActID=1876&ChapterID=53&SeqStart=39200000&SeqEnd=39700000