{"id":371843,"date":"2016-10-11T17:18:12","date_gmt":"2016-10-11T22:18:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/california-law\/california-shoplifting-laws.html"},"modified":"2018-03-16T11:34:00","modified_gmt":"2018-03-16T16:34:00","slug":"california-shoplifting-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/california-law\/california-shoplifting-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"California Shoplifting Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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California Shoplifting Laws<\/h1>\n
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Created by FindLaw’s team<\/a> of legal writers and editors<\/i><\/p>\n\n | Last updated\n

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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

With high-end shopping districts in Beverly Hills, Hollywood, and San Francisco, California is home to some of the most expensive retail stores in the U.S<\/a>. These are tempting targets when it comes to shoplifting. They may have become even more tempting following the passage of Proposition 47 in 2014<\/a>, as it reduced penalties for many crimes, including shoplifting. While California doesn’t have a specific statute for shoplifting, this crime is covered in its general theft statutes, which distinguish between petty theft and grand theft depending on the value of the property involved.<\/p>\r\n

In California, shoplifting constitutes theft<\/a> when a person feloniously steals, takes, carries away, leads, or drives away the personal property of another. So, where a person’s conduct indicates an intent to steal items in a store, such as taking an item and concealing it in one’s clothing, this can constitute theft by shoplifting. This would be considered petty theft<\/b> unless the value of the property is over $950, in which case it would constitute grand theft<\/b>. The value of stolen items is determined by their reasonable and fair market value, often the amount listed on the price tag.<\/p>\r\n

California Shoplifting Laws At A Glance<\/h2>\r\n

For more information on specific shoplifting laws in California, consult the chart below.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Statutes<\/b><\/td>\r\n
Penalties and Sentencing<\/b><\/td>\r\n

Grand Theft<\/i><\/b>: This can be a misdemeanor punishable by up to 1 year in county jail or, if it involves theft of a firearm, then a felony punishable by up to 3 years in state prison.<\/p>\r\n

Petty Theft<\/i><\/b>: This can be a misdemeanor punishable by up to 6 months in county jail and up to $1,000 in fines or, if the value of the property is $50 or less, then an infraction punishable only by a fine of up to $250.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Defenses<\/b><\/td>\r\n