Answer

Shoplifting as a Crime

One out of every 11 Americans shoplift with the majority of shoplifters not doing it out of inevitability rather; they cannot help themselves.  By definition, shoplifting is the act of stealing goods from a retail shop or establishment, particularly by concealing the store’s item on one’s pocket, under clothes, or in a bag and leaving the store without paying for such items.  After reading chapter 15, and specifically under “Shoplifting”, I believe shoplifting is a serious crime that people should avoid at all cost.

Several individuals erroneously believe that the consequences of shoplifting are not severe hence do not fight the charges aggressively as it should be.  Based on the reading, shoplifting is a serious offense that can result in a felony conviction, a crime that is regarded in the US judicial systems as more serious than a misdemeanor. Notably, consequences of shoplifting depend on state and the value of the item shoplifted.  Specifically, in the United States, if the value of an item is less than $ 400, a person is charged with misdemeanor petty theft, which is punished by up to six months in jail or a fine that ranges between $ 50 and $1000. However, when the value of the shoplifted item is more than $ 500 then the individuals is charged with grand theft, which can be a felony or a misdemeanor. The penalty of grand theft is so serious that it can lead to full year in jail or state prison with a large fine to pay.  Based on the above analysis, it is important to note that shoplifting is a serious crime since at some point it is regarded a felony, which is considered a grave offense by the judicial system of the United States.

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