When people think of shoplifting, they think of someone taking an item from a store without paying. Though this is certainly the most common form of shoplifting, it is not the only one. Nebraska Legislature covers all of its bases when defining shoplifting so that the courts can legally prosecute thieves for wrongdoing. You can find the exact definitions of shoplifting in Nebraska Revised Statute 28-511.01.
According to the law, shoplifting refers to the appropriation of goods or merchandise without paying for them for the sole purpose of depriving the owner of the possession of the products or its retail value. Because this definition leaves a lot of room for interpretation, the statute further details what acts constitute shoplifting.
You may be guilty of shoplifting if you conceal or take goods from a store or establishment without paying for it. The courts may also find you guilty if you alter the price tag or tags of an item or items in a retail store or establishment. If you transfer goods from one container to another for the purpose of receiving a lower price, you are guilty of shoplifting. If you swap price labels from a high-priced item to a lower priced item, you have shoplifted. If you use a device to cause the cash register or scanner to show a lower price than the actual price, you have committed a crime. Finally, if you disable, alter, bypass, shield or remove a security device that is attached to or that houses goods or merchandise prior to purchasing them, the courts may find you guilty of shoplifting.
You should not use the contents of this article as legal advice. It is for educational purposes only.
