Charged with petty theft in Los Angeles County? You’re facing a criminal conviction that can follow you for life — affecting your job, your housing applications, your professional licenses, and your immigration status. Even a single petty theft misdemeanor under California Penal Code § 488 can result in up to six months in county jail, fines reaching $1,000, mandatory restitution, probation, and a permanent criminal record branding you as a thief. Whether you were accused of shoplifting merchandise from a Walmart in Norwalk, allegedly taking something from a Target in Burbank, or facing any other theft allegation under $950 anywhere in Los Angeles County, the consequences are far more serious than most people realize — and you need an aggressive Spanish-speaking criminal defense lawyer in your corner immediately.
At Tu Defensor Criminalista, we represent clients facing petty theft charges throughout Los Angeles County, including Los Angeles, Long Beach, Pasadena, Glendale, Pomona, El Monte, Torrance, Inglewood, Downey, West Covina, Compton, Carson, Santa Monica, Whittier, and every surrounding city. Our criminal defense team understands that what may seem like a minor charge to the court can be a life-altering event for you — and we fight hard to get charges reduced, dismissed, or resolved without a permanent mark on your record.
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California Penal Code § 484[1] defines theft as the unlawful taking of another person’s property with the intent to permanently deprive them of it. Petty theft, codified under PC § 488[2], covers theft of property valued at $950 or less. It is typically charged as a misdemeanor, though repeat offenders or those with specific prior convictions may face felony charges under PC § 666[3] (Petty Theft with Prior).
Los Angeles County is home to over 10 million residents, making it the most populous county in the United States, according to the U.S. Census Bureau[4]. With that population density comes an enormous volume of theft-related arrests. The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD)[5] collectively handle tens of thousands of theft reports every year.
According to the California Department of Justice — Crime in California Report[6], Los Angeles County consistently accounts for a significant share of all property crime arrests statewide. Petty theft and shoplifting arrests alone number in the tens of thousands annually across the county’s numerous law enforcement jurisdictions.
Common petty theft situations we defend include shoplifting (PC § 459.5) — taking merchandise from a retail store valued at $950 or less while the store is open — which is the most frequently charged form of petty theft in Los Angeles County. We also defend against theft of services such as using meals, transportation, or accommodation without paying; pickpocketing or purse snatching; employee theft involving small amounts of merchandise or cash from an employer; and taking property from a vehicle or shared workspace without the owner’s consent.
Many people charged with petty theft make the mistake of assuming that because the charge is “minor,” the consequences will be minor too. That is a serious miscalculation. A petty theft conviction in Los Angeles County can cost you up to 6 months in Los Angeles County Jail, fines up to $1,000 plus court assessments and fees that can inflate the total significantly, victim restitution for the value of the items taken, informal or formal probation for up to three years, a permanent misdemeanor criminal record visible to employers, landlords, and licensing boards, possible immigration consequences including deportation, inadmissibility, or denial of naturalization for non-citizens, and loss of professional licenses in fields including healthcare, law, real estate, and financial services.
The immigration consequences are particularly severe. Under federal law, theft offenses that involve moral turpitude can be considered grounds for removal. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)[7] and federal immigration courts take theft convictions seriously, and a seemingly minor petty theft conviction can derail years of work toward legal residency or citizenship.
Los Angeles County has a large immigrant population — approximately one-third of residents are foreign-born according to U.S. Census data[4]. This makes the immigration stakes of any theft conviction especially high for a large portion of our community.
California Penal Code § 666[3] elevates petty theft to a felony — called “Petty Theft with Prior” — for individuals who have a prior theft conviction AND a prior conviction for certain serious offenses including sex offenses requiring registration, violent felonies, or prior theft convictions. If charged under PC § 666, you could face up to three years in California state prison.
Even without PC § 666 enhancement, multiple petty theft arrests in Los Angeles County can result in prosecutors pursuing enhanced charges or refusing to offer diversion programs. A skilled defense attorney can help ensure one mistake does not compound into a felony record.
California voters passed Proposition 47 in 2014, which reclassified shoplifting of items valued at $950 or less as a misdemeanor under the newly created PC § 459.5[8] rather than burglary. This was a major shift. However, it does not eliminate criminal exposure — it simply changes the charge. You can still face jail time, fines, probation, and a permanent record.
In Los Angeles County, retailers routinely call law enforcement for shoplifting incidents involving even very small amounts. Stores like Target, Walmart, Costco, CVS, and Walgreens have dedicated loss prevention teams that gather video evidence, witness statements, and other documentation before law enforcement even arrives. Prosecutors receive this evidence and often build strong cases — which is exactly why you need an experienced defense attorney reviewing everything before you consider accepting any plea.
Accused of being part of an organized retail theft operation in Los Angeles County? You may be facing far more than a misdemeanor. California has aggressively expanded its laws targeting organized retail crime (ORC) in recent years, and Los Angeles County prosecutors have made ORC prosecutions a high-visibility priority.
Under Penal Code § 490.4[9], individuals who act in concert with others to commit retail theft — even if each individual theft is under $950 — can face felony charges if their conduct is part of a coordinated operation. The total value of merchandise taken across multiple incidents can be aggregated to support a felony charge, regardless of whether any single taking exceeded the $950 threshold.
What many defendants do not realize is that you do not need to be the “organizer” or “ringleader” to be charged under ORC statutes. Participating in a group that collectively steals merchandise — even if your individual role was minor — can expose you to felony prosecution. A felony ORC conviction carries potential state prison time, a permanent felony record, and all of the devastating collateral consequences that accompany a felony conviction in California.
The California Retailers Association[10] has documented the significant and growing impact of organized retail theft on businesses throughout California, and has been a driving force behind legislative expansion of ORC penalties. Retailers in Los Angeles County — including those in the San Fernando Valley, the South Bay, the San Gabriel Valley, and the greater Los Angeles metro area — are investing heavily in loss prevention infrastructure specifically designed to build ORC cases against suspected repeat offenders.
If you have been contacted by law enforcement regarding organized retail crime, or if you have been arrested in connection with an alleged ORC operation in Los Angeles County, contact Tu Defensor Criminalista immediately. Do not speak to investigators or prosecutors without an attorney.
Understanding how retailers and their loss prevention personnel build theft cases is essential to building an effective defense. In Los Angeles County, major retailers employ sophisticated loss prevention operations that go far beyond simply watching for shoplifters.
Surveillance Systems
Modern retail loss prevention relies heavily on high-definition surveillance camera networks that cover virtually every square foot of the sales floor, the registers, the exits, and even the parking lot. Loss prevention officers review footage in real time and on replay, building a documented record of suspected theft activity. However, surveillance footage is not always as clear or as definitive as prosecutors claim. Camera angles can be misleading, footage quality varies, and what appears to be concealment on camera may have an innocent explanation.
We obtain all available surveillance footage in every petty theft case we handle, review it carefully, and challenge the prosecution’s interpretation where the footage is ambiguous or inconclusive.
Loss prevention (LP) officers are private employees of the retailer — not law enforcement officers. Their training, professionalism, and reliability vary significantly. LP officers can make mistakes in identification, can misinterpret customer behavior as intentional theft, and are subject to quotas and performance metrics that can create incentives to make stops even when evidence is weak.
We scrutinize the qualifications, training records, and prior conduct of loss prevention officers who testify against our clients. Prior complaints, disciplinary records, and patterns of questionable stops are all relevant to the credibility of LP testimony.
Receipt Checks and Exit Stops
Many shoplifting cases begin at the exit, when a loss prevention officer stops a customer who they believe has concealed merchandise. These exit stops are governed by Penal Code § 490.5[11], California’s merchant’s privilege statute, which gives retailers the right to detain suspected shoplifters for a reasonable time using reasonable, non-excessive force. However, this right has limits. If the detention exceeded a reasonable time, involved excessive force, or lacked the required reasonable belief that theft occurred, the detention itself may be unlawful — and evidence obtained during an unlawful detention may be suppressible.
In addition to criminal charges, many Los Angeles County retailers send civil recovery demand letters to individuals accused of shoplifting, seeking amounts ranging from $50 to $500 or more under Penal Code § 490.5[11]. These civil demands are separate from and in addition to any criminal proceedings. Many defendants — particularly first-time offenders — panic when they receive these letters and either pay them unnecessarily or make statements that are later used against them in criminal court.
Do not respond to a civil recovery demand without first consulting an attorney. Paying a civil demand is not an admission of criminal liability, but how you respond can affect your criminal case.
One of the most significant real-world consequences of a petty theft conviction in Los Angeles County is the impact on employment. California’s employment background check industry is extensive, and most employers — from major corporations to small businesses — conduct criminal background checks on prospective employees.
California’s Fair Chance Act (AB 1008)[12], which took effect in 2018, restricts employers with five or more employees from asking about criminal history before making a conditional job offer. However, after a conditional offer is made, employers can still consider criminal history and may rescind offers based on convictions. For theft offenses — where the implication of dishonesty is direct and obvious — employers in virtually every industry are likely to view a conviction as a serious red flag.
The California Civil Rights Department[13] enforces the Fair Chance Act and provides guidance on how employers must evaluate criminal records. Despite these protections, a theft conviction remains a significant barrier to employment in fields including retail (ironically), banking and financial services, healthcare, education, government, law enforcement, and transportation.
For young defendants — particularly those still in school or just entering the workforce — a petty theft conviction can close doors before a career even begins. This is why fighting every petty theft charge vigorously, pursuing every available diversion option, and working toward expungement when a conviction does occur are all critical components of protecting your future.
Los Angeles County is home to hundreds of thousands of licensed professionals — nurses, doctors, pharmacists, real estate agents, contractors, cosmetologists, teachers, financial advisors, and many more. For all of these individuals, a petty theft conviction can trigger licensing board consequences that threaten careers built over years or decades.
The California Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA)[14] oversees more than 40 licensing boards and bureaus. Virtually every board regulated by the DCA treats theft convictions as crimes of moral turpitude — meaning convictions directly relevant to a licensee’s fitness to hold a professional license. Depending on the board and the circumstances of the conviction, consequences can range from a letter of reprimand to license suspension or outright revocation.
For healthcare professionals, the Medical Board of California[15] and the California Board of Registered Nursing[16] have specific reporting requirements for criminal convictions, and theft-related convictions — particularly those involving patient property or healthcare system assets — are treated with extreme seriousness. For real estate professionals, the California Department of Real Estate[17] views theft convictions as directly relevant to the trust and fiduciary responsibilities of real estate licensees.
Our defense strategy always accounts for the licensing implications of every possible case resolution. We work to achieve outcomes — whether dismissal, diversion, or charge reduction — that minimize the risk to your professional license, not just your freedom.
Charged with petty theft as a juvenile in Los Angeles County, or does your child face a shoplifting or theft charge? The juvenile justice system in California operates differently from the adult criminal system — but the consequences of a juvenile adjudication for theft are still significant and should not be minimized.
Under California’s juvenile justice framework, most first-time juvenile petty theft offenders are eligible for diversion, informal supervision, or informal probation that avoids a formal adjudication entirely. The Los Angeles County Probation Department[18] administers juvenile probation and diversion programs throughout the county. However, repeat juvenile theft offenders, or those whose cases involve aggravating circumstances, may face more serious consequences including formal wardship, community detention, or placement in a juvenile camp or facility.
Even juvenile records — while generally more protected than adult records — can have consequences. Juvenile adjudications for theft can affect applications to colleges, universities, and scholarship programs that ask about juvenile justice involvement. They can affect military service eligibility. And in some circumstances, they can be used to enhance adult charges for defendants who reoffend after turning 18.
If your child has been arrested for petty theft or shoplifting in Los Angeles County, contact Tu Defensor Criminalista immediately. Early intervention in juvenile theft cases — before a formal petition is filed — is often the most effective way to protect your child’s future.
Facing both a criminal petty theft charge AND a civil recovery demand from a Los Angeles County retailer? You are not alone. This dual-track process — criminal prosecution by the state AND civil recovery by the retailer — is standard practice throughout Los Angeles County, and navigating both tracks simultaneously requires careful strategy.
Under Penal Code § 490.5(b)[11], a merchant who detains a person for suspected shoplifting may also demand civil restitution for the value of any merchandise that was not recovered in sellable condition, plus an additional civil penalty. Retailers frequently use third-party collection firms to send these demand letters, and the letters are deliberately designed to create urgency and fear.
Here is what you need to know about civil recovery demands in Los Angeles County: Paying a civil demand does NOT make your criminal case go away. It is not an admission of guilt in a criminal proceeding if handled properly. However, making statements — in writing or verbally — in response to a civil demand can create evidence that is used against you in your criminal case. Never respond to a civil recovery demand without first consulting with your criminal defense attorney.
In some cases, civil compromise under Penal Code § 1377[19] provides an opportunity to resolve the criminal case by satisfying the victim’s (retailer’s) economic loss. Our attorneys evaluate whether civil compromise is appropriate in each case and, where it is, negotiate the terms strategically to achieve the best possible outcome for both the civil and criminal aspects of your situation.
A petty theft conviction in Los Angeles County does not just affect your employment and your freedom — it can also affect where you live. Los Angeles County has one of the most competitive rental housing markets in the United States, and landlords throughout the county routinely conduct criminal background checks on prospective tenants.
While California law provides some protections for renters with criminal records — including restrictions on how landlords can use criminal history in housing decisions under guidance from the California Civil Rights Department[13] — a theft conviction raises immediate concerns for landlords about the safety of their property and the property of other tenants. Many landlords will decline applications from individuals with theft convictions regardless of when the conviction occurred.
For Los Angeles County residents in federally assisted housing, the stakes are even higher. Federal regulations allow public housing authorities to deny or terminate housing assistance for individuals with certain criminal convictions, and theft-related convictions — particularly felonies — can trigger housing assistance loss that compounds the already severe consequences of a criminal record.
Avoiding a petty theft conviction — or achieving expungement if a conviction occurred — is therefore not just about staying out of jail. It is about maintaining your ability to secure stable housing in one of the most expensive and competitive rental markets in the country.
Los Angeles County offers several diversion and alternative sentencing options that can result in charges being dismissed — keeping your record clean. Our attorneys aggressively pursue every available diversion option on your behalf.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office[20] administers various diversion and alternative prosecution programs and has expanded diversion eligibility in recent years, particularly for first-time, low-level offenders. Successful completion of a diversion program typically results in the charges being dismissed entirely.
Available options include Deferred Entry of Judgment (DEJ), where you complete community service, pay restitution, and attend a shoplifting prevention program and upon completion the plea is withdrawn and charges are dismissed. Pretrial Diversion under PC § 1001.95[21] allows a judge to order diversion even over the prosecutor’s objection for eligible misdemeanor defendants. Civil Compromise under PC § 1377[19] allows for case dismissal if the victim accepts restitution. Informal Diversion and Plea Negotiations allow your attorney to negotiate directly with prosecutors to reduce charges, pursue civil compromise, or secure dismissal based on lack of evidence or procedural issues.
Not everyone qualifies for diversion, and qualification depends on your prior record, the specific facts of your case, and the jurisdiction within Los Angeles County where your case is filed. Our attorneys know the tendencies of prosecutors in every courthouse — from the Metropolitan Courthouse in downtown Los Angeles to the Pasadena, Long Beach, Compton, Pomona, and Van Nuys courthouses.
A petty theft charge does not mean a petty theft conviction. There are numerous powerful legal defenses available, depending on the specific facts of your case. Our attorneys investigate every angle and identify the strongest possible defense strategy for you.
Lack of Intent
Theft requires the specific intent to permanently deprive the owner of their property. If you accidentally left a store with an unpaid item — for example, if it was buried under other items in a cart, placed in a bag by mistake, or you genuinely forgot to pay — the required intent is absent and charges cannot legally stand.
Mistake of Fact
If you reasonably believed the property belonged to you, or that you had permission to take it, this constitutes a complete defense to theft. This defense applies in situations such as taking items from shared living spaces, borrowing property with an honest but mistaken belief of permission, or taking items you previously owned.
Insufficient Evidence
Loss prevention officers and store surveillance systems are not infallible. Video footage may be unclear, witness identifications may be unreliable, and the prosecution may simply lack sufficient proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Our attorneys scrutinize every piece of evidence submitted by the prosecution.
Under the Fourth Amendment and California’s equivalent protections codified in the California Constitution[22], evidence obtained through an illegal search or seizure may be suppressed. If law enforcement violated your rights during the detention or arrest, we file motions to suppress evidence that can result in charge dismissal.
Entrapment
If law enforcement or a loss prevention officer induced you to commit a theft you would not otherwise have committed, entrapment may be a viable defense.
Ownership or Color of Right
If you had a legitimate claim to the property — such as taking back property you lent to someone who refused to return it — this can be a complete defense to theft charges.
Value Dispute
The valuation of stolen property determines whether a charge is petty theft or grand theft. If the prosecution overvalues the property, contesting valuation can reduce charges significantly.
California Penal Code § 487[23] defines grand theft as theft of property worth more than $950. Grand theft is a wobbler — meaning it can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the circumstances and your prior record. Felony grand theft carries up to three years in California state prison.
Prosecutors in Los Angeles County sometimes overvalue stolen goods to elevate charges from petty theft to grand theft. Our defense attorneys challenge inflated valuations using retail pricing data, depreciation analysis, and expert testimony where appropriate.
If you were convicted of petty theft in Los Angeles County and successfully completed probation (or are otherwise eligible), you may qualify for an expungement under California Penal Code § 1203.4[24]. Expungement withdraws your guilty plea, enters a not guilty plea, and dismisses the case. While not a complete erasure, expungement significantly reduces the negative impact of the conviction for employment and licensing purposes.
Our attorneys handle post-conviction relief including expungements, reductions, and record-sealing petitions for clients throughout Los Angeles County. Do not assume a past conviction is permanent — call us to discuss your options.
While petty theft itself is not a “strike” offense under California’s Three Strikes Law (PC § 667)[25], a conviction under certain escalated theft charges — such as robbery under PC § 211 — are serious felonies with STRIKE designations. More importantly, multiple petty theft convictions can lead to felony prosecution under PC § 666 (Petty Theft with Prior), which opens the door to a felony record.
If you are facing a third theft-related charge of any kind, or if you already have prior convictions, the stakes are dramatically higher. Contact our office immediately.
Los Angeles is consistently among the top cities in the nation for property crime volume, given its sheer size. According to the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program[26], California ranks among the states with the highest absolute numbers of property crime arrests, with Los Angeles County accounting for a disproportionate share.
The LAPD Crime Statistics Portal[27] tracks theft incidents across the city’s 21 area stations. Property crime — including shoplifting, petty theft, grand theft, and auto theft — consistently represents the largest category of reported crimes in the city of Los Angeles.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department[5] also reports on theft crime trends across the unincorporated areas and contract cities it serves throughout the county, including cities like Lancaster, Palmdale, Lakewood, and Bellflower.
Understanding the local crime statistics and the aggressive prosecutorial environment in Los Angeles County is critical context for why even a petty theft charge demands serious, experienced legal representation.
When you are facing a petty theft charge in Los Angeles County, you deserve a defense attorney who understands not just the law — but your community, your language, and what is truly at stake for your life.
At Tu Defensor Criminalista, we are a bilingual Spanish-English criminal defense firm dedicated to serving the Latino community and all individuals across Los Angeles County. We provide bilingual defense conducting all client consultations, strategy meetings, and court representation in both English and Spanish. We have deep Los Angeles County courthouse experience and regularly appear in Los Angeles Superior Court locations throughout the county, including the downtown Metropolitan Courthouse, the Airport Courthouse, the Compton Courthouse, the Pasadena Courthouse, the Long Beach Courthouse, the Pomona Courthouse, the Van Nuys Courthouse, and the East Los Angeles Courthouse.
We pursue aggressive record protection strategies — every available diversion program, plea reduction, civil compromise, and dismissal avenue to protect your record. We provide immigration-sensitive representation, understanding the devastating immigration consequences that even a misdemeanor conviction can trigger and coordinating defense strategy with your immigration situation. You will receive personalized attention — working directly with an experienced attorney, not a paralegal or an overworked public defender juggling hundreds of cases. We offer free consultations so you can understand your options without any financial commitment.
Contact us today at tudefensorcriminalista.com or call us directly. We are available for urgent matters and evening and weekend consultations.
Our petty theft defense attorneys represent clients from every corner of Los Angeles County, including but not limited to Los Angeles (all neighborhoods including Downtown LA, East LA, South LA, Hollywood, Koreatown, Boyle Heights, Watts, Sylmar, Chatsworth, Reseda, Canoga Park, San Pedro, Wilmington, and Harbor Gateway), Long Beach, Pasadena, Glendale, Pomona, El Monte, Torrance, Inglewood, Downey, West Covina, Compton, Carson, Santa Monica, Whittier, Hawthorne, Alhambra, Burbank, Norwalk, Bell Gardens, Maywood, Huntington Park, Bell, South Gate, Lynwood, Paramount, Lawndale, Gardena, Lomita, Artesia, Cerritos, La Mirada, Lakewood, Bellflower, Pico Rivera, Montebello, Monterey Park, Rosemead, San Gabriel, Temple City, Arcadia, Monrovia, Covina, Azusa, Baldwin Park, La Puente, Industry, Diamond Bar, Walnut, La Verne, San Dimas, Claremont, Lancaster, Palmdale, Santa Clarita, San Fernando, Pacoima, Van Nuys, North Hollywood, Tarzana, Woodland Hills, and Westlake Village.
No matter where in Los Angeles County you were arrested or where your case is being heard, our attorneys are ready to defend you.
If you have been arrested for petty theft in Los Angeles County, here is what typically happens next — and where our attorneys step in to protect you at every stage.
Arrest and Booking
You are arrested and taken to a Los Angeles County jail facility or local police department for booking. You are photographed, fingerprinted, and your charges are documented. You may be released on your own recognizance (OR) or required to post bail.
Arraignment
Your first court appearance, where you enter a plea. Our attorneys are with you at every stage. We evaluate the charges, request discovery, and begin building your defense from day one.
Pretrial Hearings
Multiple pretrial appearances occur where we negotiate with prosecutors, file motions to suppress evidence, challenge the sufficiency of evidence, and pursue dismissal or diversion options.
Trial (If Necessary)
If no favorable resolution is reached in pretrial, we take your case to trial. Our attorneys are skilled litigators who know how to challenge loss prevention testimony, undermine surveillance evidence, and present compelling arguments to juries and judges in Los Angeles County courtrooms.
Sentencing (If Convicted)
If convicted, our attorneys advocate for the most favorable sentencing terms possible — minimizing jail time, securing probation in lieu of custody, and preserving pathways to expungement.
Post-Conviction
We pursue expungement, reduction of charges, and other post-conviction remedies to minimize the long-term impact of any conviction on your life.
Shoplifting under PC § 459.5 specifically covers taking merchandise from a retail store during business hours when the value is $950 or less. Petty theft under PC § 488 is broader and covers any theft of property valued at $950 or less. Both are misdemeanors, though the specific facts, prior record, and circumstances can affect how charges are pursued and resolved.
Yes. Charges can be dismissed through successful completion of a diversion program, civil compromise, suppression of evidence, or lack of proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Our attorneys pursue every available avenue for dismissal before considering plea negotiations.
It can. Theft offenses involving moral turpitude may trigger immigration consequences including deportation, inadmissibility, or denial of naturalization. It is critical that your defense attorney understands immigration law as it relates to criminal charges before any plea is entered.
Yes, in most cases. If you completed probation successfully and meet other eligibility requirements under PC § 1203.4, you can petition the court for expungement. Our attorneys handle expungement petitions throughout Los Angeles County.
PC § 666 elevates petty theft to a felony for individuals with prior theft convictions combined with prior convictions for certain serious offenses. This can expose you to state prison time. If you have prior theft convictions, do not attempt to handle a new theft charge without experienced legal counsel.
Absolutely yes. Even misdemeanor convictions carry lasting consequences for employment, housing, professional licensing, and immigration. An experienced defense attorney can often achieve dismissal, diversion, or charge reduction outcomes that are unavailable to those who represent themselves or accept whatever offer is initially presented.
Attorney fees vary based on the complexity of your case, your criminal history, and the courthouse where your case is pending. We offer free initial consultations and transparent flat fee arrangements so you know exactly what to expect. Contact us to discuss your specific situation.
Intent is a required element of theft. If the taking was accidental — you forgot to pay, misplaced an item in a bag, or had a genuine misunderstanding — this is a complete defense. Our attorneys investigate and present evidence of lack of intent to prosecutors and courts.
Under California Penal Code § 490.5[11], merchants have the right to detain suspected shoplifters for a reasonable time using reasonable force. However, this right has limits. If you were detained in an unlawful or abusive manner, this may affect the admissibility of evidence and give rise to other legal claims.
Do not make any statements to loss prevention officers or police beyond identifying yourself as required. Do not consent to any search. Remain calm and respectful. Then contact our office immediately. Anything you say can and will be used against you.
Remember:
Attorney Armando Josué Cespedes is rated 5.0 on Avvo, with 34 five-star reviews from clients praising his dedication, professionalism, and results. Many note how his trial skills and attention to detail led to reduced charges or outright dismissals.
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