Florida Criminal Lawyer Blog

Here's a story that made our Broward County Shoplifting Lawyers view law enforcement in a slightly different light. In Tampa, Florida, a police officer says he personally paid for almost $70 in grocery items for a woman caught shoplifting from a Sweetbay Supermarket.

The woman told police corporal Vince Sallimo that she shoplifted the items because she could not afford to buy diapers, baby formula, and food for her kids. She also said her husband was being deported and that she had been evicted. Sallimo reportedly paid for the items himself after hearing her story of hardship.

In light of the woman's situation, Sweetbay Supermarket has chosen not to press shoplifting charges against her.

Cop pays for shoplifter's grocery items, UPI.com, July 29, 2009

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Under current Florida laws, anyone who steals between $300 and $20,000 is subject to a $5,000 fine and up to five years in jail. But a new proposal which was passed by the Florida Senate last Friday would change the penalties for shoplifting items valued between $100 and $600. Rather than facing charges of felony grand theft, the person would receive a $1,000 fine and up to a year in jail.

Florida's theft laws have not changed since 1986, and one lawmaker explained that a $300 camera back then would now cost around $600 due to inflation. The new law also could mean 76 fewer people sentenced to prison next year for shoplifting, which would save the state over $700,000.

As the law stands now, persons who commit petit theft or shoplifting and have previously been convicted of theft at least twice gets charged with a felony of the third degree. If the property stolen is valued between $20,000 and $100,000, then the act is considered a second degree felony. A first degree felony charge when the property is valued over $100,000.

Fla. lawmakers providing for inflation in crime, Palm Beach Post, April 24, 2009

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Fort Lauderdale Shoplifting Lawyer, Brian S. Leifert is seeing retailers in Fort Lauderdale and Broward County taking advantage in technological advances to combat increases in shoplifting. Face recognition software is the latest weapon being utilized to prevent loss due to shoplifting. With shoplifting on the rise, Fort Lauderdale companies have found face recognition technology to be an effective tool.

The software allows the retailer to be alerted when an individual who has previously been caught shoplifting has entered the store. Retailers are also able to share information with each another regarding previous shoplifters or suspicious individuals. Retailers can even submit a file with a suspected shoplifters face to local law enforcement to cross reference the data with booking photos and mug shots on file.

Shoplifting in Fort Lauderdale and throughout Broward County is certainly on the rise as a result of recent economic difficulties. As technology advances, retailers will continue to gain new weapons to combat shoplifting.

Continue reading "Fort Lauderdale Shoplifting Lawyer Explores Changes in Shoplifting Surveillance" »