A stop for shoplifting at Target can feel like it came out of nowhere. Asset protection teams watch self-checkout from several angles, alarms sound, and local police arrive fast. When you meet with a New Jersey shoplifting charge defense lawyer, we’ll turn that rush of activity into clear steps and a plan built around the evidence, not assumptions.
During your first consultation with The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall, a New Jersey shoplifting charge defense attorney will explain where the case belongs and what to expect. Lower-value matters are handled in the municipal court where the store is located; higher-value accusations are referred to the county Criminal Division. We’ll also discuss your eligibility diversion programs and how timing, paperwork, and compliance affect eligibility. Our team is ready to tell you more.
How Target Stops Turn Into Criminal Cases
Big-box stores use layered security systems: multi-camera self-checkout views, point-of-sale (POS) logs, and electronic article surveillance that records alarm events and deactivation attempts. A New Jersey shoplifting charge defense lawyer will request video with timestamps, the POS transaction data tied to your visit, and device logs so we can compare what happened in real time to what appears in a brief clip.
Loss-prevention personnel often rely on scripts and stop forms. A New Jersey shoplifting charge defense attorney will review those reports alongside surveillance and body camera footage to determine whether the record accurately reflects what actually happened on the floor. We’ll focus on who handled the items, when tags were scanned or deactivated, and whether a rushed statement was improperly taken.
Sentencing ranges rise with the degree of the charge. A New Jersey shoplifting charge defense attorney will target the pressure points that can help reduce your possible penalties. These include the value of the items and whether the State can actually prove you had a purpose to deprive the merchant of full retail value.
Target Shoplifting Defense Strategies That Work
First, we will move to lock down evidence. Your New Jersey shoplifting charge defense lawyer will demand store security video from every angle, as well as data from the store’s point-of-sale system and much more. We will compare that package with police reports and body camera footage to find timeline gaps and contradictions.
Next, we will attack the claimed value of the items in question. Stores sometimes rely on shelf tags or web listings that do not match the seized item. A New Jersey shoplifting charge defense attorney will require documentation tying the price to the precise product and date. If the supported value drops below a threshold, exposure and forum can change with it.
Challenging Arrest Procedures
When store security detains an alleged shoplifter, they must follow stringent requirements. If they questioned you, they may have done so in a manner that violated your constitutional rights. If, for example, no one advised you of your Miranda rights, we will work to throw out any statements you made. We will also seek to exclude evidence when the chain of custody is weak or when the video was overwritten before disclosure.
Our Team of Target Shoplifting Defense Attorneys is Standing By
We’re former New Jersey prosecutors and former public defenders working together across municipal and Superior Courts every week. Our statewide defense group is the largest in New Jersey, with a unified focus on criminal cases. We will give you straight talk about your case, spell out all of your legal options, and fight for your freedom and future.
Please don’t hesitate to sit down with a New Jersey shoplifting charge defense lawyer from The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall. Schedule your free consultation by contacting us online as soon as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to leave the store for it to be considered shoplifting?
No. New Jersey law allows charges based on concealment, tag-switching, or under-ringing without leaving the doors.
Can paying for the item afterward make the case disappear?
Payment or restitution won’t erase a charge on its own, but it can factor into negotiations or diversion outcomes.
Do bank statements or digital receipts help?
They can. Time-stamped proof of purchase can be matched to video and register logs to support your account.
What if loss prevention searched my bags without my consent?
Searches can be challenged if they exceed what policy and law permit; scope and timing are key considerations. A New Jersey shoplifting charge defense attorney will review how the stop unfolded and seek to suppress improper evidence.
Can I avoid missing work for court?
For many municipal hearings, counsel can appear on your behalf. Key dates, such as trials or certain pleas, usually require you.
