Retail theft might seem like a minor infraction, but the penalties can be severe under certain conditions. Here are the basic facts surrounding retail theft in Florida.
Definition
Pursuant to Florida Statute §812.015(1)(d), retail theft means: “the taking possession of or carrying away of merchandise, property, money, or negotiable documents; altering or removing a label, universal product code, or price tag; transferring merchandise from one container to another; or removing a shopping cart, with intent to deprive the merchant of possession, use, benefit, or full retail value.”
Consequences
Under Florida Statute §812.014, retail theft can be …