Is theft by finding a crime?
Is theft by finding a crime? Yes there is technically a law surrounding keeping the money you find in public, known as ‘theft by finding’. This means that if you find a wad of cash on the street and don’t attempt to return it to its owner – by handing it into the shop, for example, or the police – you’re guilty of theft.
Can you attempt to handle stolen goods?
⇒ It is not necessary for the prosecution to prove who stole the goods, as long as it is clear the goods have been stolen by someone. ⇒ If the defendant believes the goods to be stolen, but in fact they are not, then the defendant may be guilty of an attempted handling offence.
Is shoplifting a recordable offence?
Ultimately, a person caught shoplifting may be arrested and put on trial. A shoplifting conviction will result in a criminal record and a sentence. A police caution may be given as an alternative to prosecution. If accepted, this caution still comes with a criminal record.
Is shoplifting a summary offence?
The significance is clear, low-value shoplifting is a summary only offence until and unless the defendant elects for trial on indictment. The technicalities of whether the offence is a summary only, or indictable can have significant ramifications for a defendant.
