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New York Shoplifting Lawyer
Shoplifting accusations are often charged as petit larceny or criminal possession of stolen property, but the consequences can be much larger than the value of the item. A conviction can affect employment, immigration, professional licensing, school discipline, and future background checks.
Lebedin Kofman LLP defends clients accused of shoplifting in department stores, pharmacies, grocery stores, boutiques, malls, big-box stores, and other retail settings across New York City and Long Island. The firm also helps clients respond when a store, investigator, or civil demand company contacts them after the incident.
What Is at Stake
A shoplifting case can create criminal court obligations, civil demand letters, trespass notices, employment problems, immigration risks, and pressure to make statements before a lawyer is involved. The defense should focus on both the courtroom result and the record that follows the client after the case ends.
How Prosecutors Build These Cases
Prosecutors and store security may rely on surveillance video, loss-prevention reports, alleged concealment, bag checks, receipts, recovered property, scanner or self-checkout records, and statements made in a security office. Those records are not always complete, fair, or legally obtained.
Evidence We Look For Early
- Surveillance video from entrances, aisles, registers, and exits
- Loss-prevention reports and names of store personnel involved
- Receipts, app records, payment records, and self-checkout data
- Photos of merchandise, tags, bags, strollers, carts, or fitting rooms
- Civil demand letters and store trespass paperwork
- Police body camera footage and any alleged written or oral statements
Defense Issues We Evaluate
- No intent to steal or honest mistake at checkout
- Misidentification or incomplete video review
- Wrong value or missing proof of ownership
- Improper detention, coercive questioning, or unreliable store security conduct
- Suppression issues involving statements or searches
- Dismissal, reduction, sealed outcome, restitution, or diversion strategy where available
Local Defense Strategy in New York City and Long Island
Shoplifting cases can be handled in New York City criminal courts, Nassau County courts, Suffolk County courts, or local village and district courts depending on where the incident occurred. A defense plan should account for the local prosecutor, store witness availability, video preservation, and the client-specific need to avoid a theft conviction.
How Lebedin Kofman LLP Helps
The defense may involve challenging the arrest, testing the strength of the evidence, negotiating with prosecutors, preparing motion practice, investigating witnesses and video, and positioning the case for dismissal, reduction, trial, or the best possible resolution. The firm also looks at collateral consequences, including immigration, licensing, employment, school, family, and reputation issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I speak with investigators or store security?
No one should discuss the facts of a criminal allegation with police, prosecutors, private security, employers, banks, insurers, or investigators before speaking with a defense lawyer. Statements that seem harmless can be used later.
Can these charges be reduced or dismissed?
Sometimes. The answer depends on the evidence, prior history, restitution or loss issues, witness problems, search and statement issues, and the courthouse handling the case. Early defense work often creates more options.
Related Criminal Defense Pages
Request a free consultation if you were arrested, received a desk appearance ticket, were contacted by investigators, or believe you are under investigation.