CALL TODAY TO START
YOUR FREE CONSULTATION
Offices in Chicago, Rolling Meadows and Melrose Park
CALL TODAY TO START YOUR FREE CONSULTATION
Offices in Chicago, Rolling Meadows and Melrose Park

Retail Theft Lawyer

The National Trial Lawyers | Top 100 Trial Lawyers
Super Lawyers
Avvo Rating | 10.0 | Carlos Humberto Davalos | Top AttorneyNational College for DUI Defense | MCMXCY | 2018 | General Member
Rated By | Super Lawyers | Rising Stars | Carlos H. Davalos | SuperLawyers.com


When confronting a retail theft offense, go with a defense attorney you can trust.  Retail theft attorney Carlos H. Davalos is a seasoned litigator and skilled negotiator and we will ensure that your defense gets every opportunity at winning a positive result. Retail theft lawyer Carlos H. Davalos is cognizant of all the primary shoplifting defenses and will work with you to determine facts such as if the items were ever physcially taken outside of the store or if you didnt know the allegedly stolen items were in your bag or shopping cart.  Our retail theft attorneys have substantial experience in negotiating with the State’s Attorneys in all the major courtrooms and counties in shoplifting cases and will check if you are eligible for retail theft diversion programs or charge reducers that can help you get your arrest record quickly expunged.


The Offense Of Retail Theft



Retail Theft is found under statutory section 720 ILCS 5/16-25 and is typically charged as a Class A Misdemeanor. The offense can carry jail time up to one year and a fine upwards of $2,500 but a skilled retail theft defense lawyer will be successful in avoiding those possible consequences. Those in most need of a criminal defense lawyer are those with retail theft convictions on their background. If the client has background, the State can opt to charge the offense as a Class 4 felony. An experienced retail theft attorney will therefore investigate a client’s background to determine whether the risk of a felony upgrade exists.


Defenses To Retail Theft Charges


There are a number of factors that a seasoned retail theft lawyer can track to get you the best results. Some of those things include:

  • Ensuring that the Store Representative is following up with your case and pursuing a prosecution. Should the store ignore your case and not appear in court, it can lead to dismissal.
  • Staying updated on any diversion programs you qualify for that would lead to dismissal of your case. Different counties have different programs and they typically need to be requested to be obtained.
  • Analyzing the evidence to determine whether the State has sufficient evidence to find you guilty of retail theft. If the items never left store grounds, it may be difficult for the State to prove that you intended to permanently deprive the store of those items.

Skilled Shoplifting And Retail Theft Lawyer


For those who are non-citizens in the United States, a charge for shoplifting can be particularly problematic as it is considered a crime of “moral turpitude” by the immigration courts. For everyone else, it represents a possible conviction that you can ill afford to have on your record.  Contact the Law Offices of Carlos H. Davalos and begin your retail theft defense today at (773) 312-0234. Now with three offices in Chicago, Rolling Meadows, and Melrose Park.


NACDL | Member | National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

100 | Nation's Top Attorneys | National Association of Distinguished Counsel | NADC


The Law Offices of Carlos H. Davalos
2210 W. North Ave. Suite 6
Melrose Park, IL 60160

(773) 312-0234
Chicago Offices: 2923 N. Milwaukee Ave.,Suite 911
Chicago, IL 60618

Bridgeview Offices: 7667 W. 95th St.
Suite 203
Hickory Hills, Illinois 60457

Rolling Meadows Offices: 2260 Hicks Road, Suite 409
Rolling Meadows, IL 60008