If you’re a parent of a teenager, it’s natural to worry that their experimenting and mischief might get them into legal trouble. Shoplifting might be one of your many concerns, since this is a common juvenile offense.
You’re not alone in your worry; many parents have experienced panic when their teenager emerges from a store empty-handed, only to discover a hidden item later. Does it matter if your teenager tells you they forgot to pay for an item? In Georgia, the answer can depend on the circumstances.
Georgia shoplifting laws
The Peach State interprets shoplifting as having every intention of depriving a store owner of the value of an item they sell. Shoplifting can manifest as:
- Hiding an item and leaving the store with it without paying
- Changing the price tag of an item so as to pay less
- Transferring items from their original packaging to disguise them as something else
Suppose your teenager says that they forgot to pay for an item; the prosecution will scrutinize their action to determine if that’s true. If the store’s security cameras captured your teen while they were in the store, the circumstances surrounding the incident may help determine whether there was an intent to steal.
It’s crucial to acknowledge that while genuine forgetfulness might seem like a defense, proving intent can be tricky. This is because the courts might consider factors that could complicate the case. For instance, if your teenager walked out with a high-value item without paying for it, this might raise suspicion of intentional theft.
Additionally, if the security camera footage in the store shows your teenager concealing the item, this may suggest a deliberate attempt to avoid paying. Lastly, when your teen realized that they had forgotten to pay for an item, did they make immediate attempts to return to pay for it? Or did they try to keep the item?
Suppose your teenager is found guilty of shoplifting; they may be charged with a misdemeanor if the value of the item is less than $500. However, if the value of the item is over $500, the charges may escalate to a felony.
Receiving the news that your teenager might be facing shoplifting charges might feel like one of your worst fears came true. However, you shouldn’t give up just yet; you might want to enlist appropriate legal guidance to understand your teen’s case better.
