Stealing merchandise from a store used to be considered a relatively minor crime in many cases. However, retail theft has gotten far more organized, destructive and costly to retailers.
Laws addressing “organized retail theft” have become increasingly common throughout the U.S. These laws often pertain to those who are involved in the planning of a theft and those who sell and profit from the theft, even if they weren’t the ones who stole the merchandise or even at the scene. Here we’ll look at two Mississippi laws that address those who assist or encourage people to engage in shoplifting.
“Aiding, abetting or encouraging” a shoplifter
Stealing (shoplifting) merchandise valued at $1,000 or more is considered grand larceny, which is a felony. So is helping someone commit that offense.
The law treats those who shoplift and those who assist them the same. It states, “A person convicted of shoplifting merchandise, acting in concert with, aiding, abetting, or encouraging one or more persons to commit such crime, regardless of whether such others are prosecuted for such crime, for which the total price of all items shoplifted…exceeds One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), shall be guilty of a felony…for the offense of grand larceny.” That’s for a first offense. The fines increase with subsequent offenses.
If a person over 18 encourages or assists someone under 18 to shoplift, they can be charged with an additional crime, which is a misdemeanor. They can face a $750 fine and up to 30 days behind bars for a first offense. This can apply if an older sibling or friend encourages a younger one to steal something or a parent encourages their child to do so because they think it’s less likely that a retailer will catch them or call the police.
Anyone who is facing a shoplifting-related charge needs to take it seriously because the state does. It’s smart to get legal guidance as soon as possible.
