Stealing from a store, can result in a few different types of charges. Retail theft does not always result in a simple shoplifting charge in Massachusetts. A Plymouth County prosecution involving alleged thefts from stores in Hingham and Hanover demonstrates how allegations involving multiple people, multiple stores or coordinated activity can potentially result in significantly more serious organized retail crime charges.
According to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office, two defendants were indicted in connection with alleged thefts from Sephora stores in Hingham and Hanover. Prosecutors allege that approximately $6,850 in merchandise was taken from the Hingham location and approximately $5,097 from the Hanover store. Investigators also connected the defendants to alleged thefts at retailers in several other Massachusetts communities. Both defendants were charged with aggravated organized retail crime. The charges are allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Organized retail crime cases can be substantially different from an allegation that an individual took merchandise from a single store. Investigators may attempt to establish that multiple individuals were working together or that thefts at different stores were part of a coordinated course of conduct. Evidence can include store surveillance footage, loss-prevention reports, vehicle information, cellphone evidence, statements from witnesses and suspects, and records connecting alleged incidents at different locations.
These cases also demonstrate why someone accused of retail theft should not assume that the matter will necessarily remain a relatively minor shoplifting case. The amount and type of merchandise involved, allegations of coordinated activity, the number of incidents, and evidence connecting an individual to other alleged thefts can significantly affect how prosecutors approach a case.
If you are being investigated or have been arrested for shoplifting, larceny or organized retail crime in Hingham, Hanover or elsewhere on the South Shore, speaking with an experienced Massachusetts criminal defense attorney early in the process can be important. A defense attorney can examine surveillance evidence, identification procedures, alleged connections between defendants and incidents, and whether the Commonwealth has sufficient evidence to establish the specific offense charged.