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(720) 740-3466 (720) 740-3466 Whether it happened at a high-end Pearl Street boutique or a wholesale grocery store on Central Avenue, Colorado’s theft statutes are powerfully designed to implement punishments that could threaten your freedom, disrupt your professional career, and cost up to thousands of dollars. Beyond the traditional use of security guards, stores are increasingly utilizing artificial-intelligence-driven surveillance and reporting systems that make shoplifting cases harder to fight without legal assistance.
Working with a theft attorney means having a steadfast advocate who could challenge the prosecution’s evidence, uncover Fourth Amendment violations during a search and seizure, and push for community service instead of jail time. A skilled Boulder shoplifting lawyer at Petrash Law understands the legal system and could look for the exit routes in the law that you might not know exist.
In Colorado, shoplifting is prosecuted under the theft statute. According to Colorado Revised Code §18-4-401, theft is knowingly obtaining, retaining, or exercising control over anything of value of another without authorization. Under C.R.S. §18-4-406, if someone is caught concealing an unpurchased item, the law assumes they intended to steal it even if they are still in the store. This legal shortcut for prosecutors makes it difficult to argue that someone forgot or that it was an accident.
Theft may escalate from a minor offense to a serious felony based on the dollar value of the item. However, even shoplifting items less than $300 could lead to jail time. A misdemeanor theft of items just below $2,000 carries a potential jail sentence of roughly one year, per C.R.S. §18-1.3-501(1)(a.5). A shoplifting attorney in Boulder could challenge inaccuracies in the valuation of a good to help shield you from facing the harshest consequences.
Depending on the facts of your case, a shoplifting lawyer could also prevent escalation and negotiate diversion. If an employee confronted you and there was a struggle, a simple shoplifting charge can quickly become a felony robbery under C.R.S. §18-4-301. A lawyer could prevent this type of escalation by ensuring your charges accurately reflect the incident. For first-time offenders, a lawyer often negotiates for alternative measures called diversion. Diversion allows someone to complete community service or theft-education classes in exchange for the charges being dismissed entirely.
Beyond criminal court, C.R.S. §13-21-107.5 allows retailers to pursue civil recovery of financial compensation for shoplifting incidents regardless of whether the police were called or criminal charges were filed. Under civil law, you may be responsible for damages in the amount of the item in question and additional penalties between $100 and $250.
Keep in mind that paying a civil demand is not an admission of guilt, but it also does not prevent the district attorney from filing criminal charges, per C.R.S. §13-21-107.5(5). Working with a Boulder shoplifting attorney could help protect your finances and your rights.
The professional and social repercussions of shoplifting charges can label you untrustworthy. When your career and personal reputation are threatened, an attorney could scrutinize the store’s artificial intelligence monitoring system and all evidence to find gaps in the prosecution’s story to protect your integrity.
Do not let a single shoplifting allegation define the rest of your life. If you are facing charges, the time to build your defense is now. A Boulder shoplifting lawyer understands how to negotiate with the prosecution to prevent your criminal charges or civil penalties from escalating. Call Petrash Law today for your free, confidential consultation.