It is being reported that a 19-year-old woman from Livonia and a 40-year-old man from Farmington Hills were both arrested in separate incidents of shoplifting on September 26th. Both incidents occurred at Kohl's. The woman was allegedly seen stealing jewelry of unknown value. The man, who allegedly stole unknown items, refused to stop when confronted by store security and was later detained by police in the Kohl's parking lot. It is being reported that the man's actions within his car caused police to pull their guns and order the man out of the car. Both individuals were released on bond with separate dates to appear before the 35th District Court.
While it is unknown exactly what the man and woman were charged with, a conviction for shoplifting also known as retail fraud can have serious ramifications. The potential jail time and fine amounts vary depending upon the value of the items stolen. For example, if the value of the items stolen is $1,000.00 or more, the punishment is up to 5 years in prison and/or a fine up to $10,000.00 or 3 times the value of the stolen merchandise. Regardless of the potential punishment, it is always recommended that a person charged with a crime seek qualified legal representation who can use their expertise and experience with that particular court to seek a dismissal of the charges or negotiate a resolution that will protect the client's interests.
