New Hampshire Shoplifting Laws by Lawyer Mark Stevens 603-893-0074

RSA 644:17 (2008)

644:17 Willful Concealment and Shoplifting.

I. A person is guilty of willful concealment if, without authority, he willfully conceals the goods or merchandise of any store while still upon the premises of such store. Goods or merchandise found concealed upon the person shall be prima facie evidence of willful concealment.

II. A person is guilty of shoplifting if, with the purpose of depriving a merchant of goods or merchandise, he knowingly:

(a) Removes goods or merchandise from the premises of a merchant; or

(b) Alters, transfers, or removes any price marking affixed to goods or merchandise; or

(c) Causes the cash register or other sales recording device to reflect less than the merchant's stated or advertised price for the goods or merchandise; or

(d) Transfers goods or merchandise from the container in which such goods or merchandise were intended to be sold to another container.

III. As used in this section:

(a) "Merchant" means the owner or operator of any place of business where merchandise is displayed, held, or stored, for sale to the public, or any agent or employee of such owner or operator.

(b) "Purpose to deprive" means to have the conscious object to appropriate the goods or merchandise of a merchant without paying the merchant's stated or advertised price.

IV. Willful concealment shall be a misdemeanor. The penalty for shoplifting shall depend on the value of the property, as provided in RSA 637:11. As used in this section, "value" shall be determined in accordance with RSA 637:2, V.

Call the Law Offices of Mark Stevens today at 603-893-0074 for a free initial consultation regarding your shoplifting, theft, willful concealment or other criminal charges. Located in Salem, New Hampshire in Rockingham County.