Shoplifting – which is treated as theft under Texas law – is one of the most commonly charged offenses in the Houston area and throughout Texas. In a typical shoplifting case, store security or loss prevention officers will detain a person they suspect of shoplifting until police arrive. But are store employees or security guards…
Category: Theft Crimes
How Long Does a Shoplifting Arrest Stay On Your Record?
In the Houston area, there are hundreds of shoplifting arrests and citations every month. The majority of shoplifting incidents are filed as misdemeanors, but the consequences of a shoplifting arrest can still be severe. As can be imagined, shoplifting is one of the most damaging offenses to a person’s reputation and job prospects, even if…
What If I Stole An Item But Returned the Stolen Property?
In Texas, a shoplifting charge can be very serious. In addition to potential criminal penalties, such as jail time or a fine, a person charged with shoplifting could face a permanent criminal conviction. But how is “shoplifting” defined in Texas? What happens if you return the items that were stolen to the store? How is…
What happens if you get caught shoplifting at Walmart?
Being accused of theft or shoplifting can be extremely stressful. Big retailers like Walmart lose millions of dollars to theft every year, and as a result, Walmart spends enormous sums of money on surveillance of its stores, and its loss prevention officers are trained to detect suspicious behavior or shoplifting, including customers concealing merchandise or…
I was caught shoplifting and now the store wants money. Do I need to pay?
Shoplifting is one of the most common offenses in Texas and the Houston area. If you are arrested for shoplifting, you can expect to get cited or arrested and face a criminal charge for theft. But one additional consequence of a shoplifting arrest is that the retailer that you allegedly shoplifted from may send you…
What happens if you get caught shoplifting at Home Depot in Houston?
Home Depot is one of the Houston area’s largest retailers and they are known to take the prevention and enforcement of shoplifting offenses seriously. Due to the high value of many items that are sold at the Home Depot, the retailer is a target for organized theft. Earlier this year, for example, two men were…
What happens if you get caught shoplifting at Walgreens?
Walgreens is one of the largest retailers in Houston with 105 stores in Houston as of 2023. As a corporation, Walgreens is known to be very conscious of economic loss (known as “shrinkage”) due to shoplifting. In other states, Walgreens is even experimenting with new stores where most merchandise is not accessible to customers and…
Shoplifting Repeat Offender
Shoplifting (a form of theft under Texas law) is one of the most common crimes in Houston and throughout Texas. Most shoplifting cases filed in the Houston are misdemeanors allegedly committed by first-time offenders. But what happens if you are arrested for shoplifting and have a prior conviction for shoplifting? How are repeat shoplifters charged…
What happens if you shoplift at Kroger?
Kroger is one of the largest supermarket chains in the United States with 2719 stores in 35 states. In the Houston area alone, there are at least 35 Kroger stores. In Harris County, many shoplifting arrests are made at Kroger. But what kind of policy does Kroger have against shoplifters? What can you expect if…
Can shoplifting be a felony in Texas?
If you are arrested for shoplifting in Texas, you are likely feeling anxious about the potential criminal penalties or damage to your reputation or job prospects. One common concern among first- time shoplifting defendants is whether shoplifting is treated as a misdemeanor or felony under Texas law. A felony conviction can carry steeper penalties and…
