RI Shoplifting Attorney
Shoplifting Charges in Rhode Island
Have you, a family member or friend been arrested for committing the crime of shoplifting? Tom Thomasian is a criminal attorney serving Providence, Warwick, Cranston, Westerly, and all other cities in Rhode Island, as well as Massachusetts. He has been successfully defending the rights of his clients charged with shoplifting crimes for years.
The Law Office of Thomas C. Thomasian, Esq. has successfully represented hundreds of individuals charged with shoplifting in Providence and Warwick, as well as all of Kent Count, RI. The firm can work towards the same goal for you. Whether all charges against you are dismissed or you are found not guilty after trial, you can trust the firm to help you move forward with your life.
Contact our RI shoplifting lawyer and his firm to schedule your free consultation and begin crafting your defense right away.
Rhode Island Shoplifting Laws
In Rhode Island, the shoplifting laws are found in Title 11, Chapter 41 of the Rhode Island General Laws.
There are four ways a person can be found guilty of shoplifting in Rhode Island:
- Taking merchandise that is for sale, with the intent of depriving the merchant of the item's value Title 11, Chapter 41, Section 20(b)(1)
- Altering or removing the price tag from merchandise with intention to deprive the merchant of any part of the item's full value Title 11, Chapter 41, Section 20(b)(2)
- Placing merchandise in different packaging, in an attempt to purchase the item(s) at a lower cost, thereby depriving the merchant of any part of the item's full value Title 11, Chapter 41, Section 20(c)
- Removing a shopping cart from the merchant's property without their prior consent and with the intent of depriving the merchant of the cart's use Title 11, Chapter 41, Section 20(d)
What Type of Crime is Shoplifting in RI?
Our RI shoplifting attorney Tom knows that any person who commits the crime of shoplifting for the first time will be charged with a misdemeanor regardless of the amount of merchandise taken. In order to be found guilty of felony shoplifting, a person must have a previous shoplifting conviction and the amount of merchandise taken must exceed one hundred ($100.00) dollars.
In Rhode Island, a conviction results in:
- Fine
- Suspended sentence
- Any sentence including incarceration
If a person pleads guilty to misdemeanor shoplifting and receives a fine, if for their next shoplifting arrest they steal one hundred five ($105.00) dollars, they are guilty of a felony and can be punished with up to five years in prison. Do not worry if you have been charged with felony shoplifting. An experienced RI shoplifting lawyer will be able to expertly guide you through the complexities of shoplifting law, including whether there is an available defense to the shoplifting charge.
In Rhode Island, in order to be guilty of the crime of shoplifting, a person must take concealed merchandise out of a store. Further, he or she must take the merchandise beyond all points of purchase. If a person conceals merchandise but fails to leave the store passing all points of purchase, then there may be a defense to the shoplifting charge. Only an experienced shoplifting attorney knows what defenses are available to secure a dismissal or not guilty verdict.
To read about some of RI shoplifting lawyer Tom Thomasian's recent shoplifting defense victories, click here.
Contact The Law Office of Thomas C. Thomasian, Esq. Today
If you would like to see if The Law Office of Thomas C. Thomasian, Esq. can achieve these same results for you, a family member, or friend then please call the RI shoplifting defense firm or fill out a contact request form.
We serve clients throughout Rhode Island including Warwick, Cranston, Coventry, Newport, Pawtucket, Westerly, all of Providence County, Kent County, and Washington County.

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