Explaining the motivations and solutions to the potential consequences of shoplifting charges to family members and others in your community who find out about it.
Some clients do plan to tell their spouse they were charged but feel more comfortable waiting until they retain a lawyer or have the case already completed before doing so.
Our clients who choose to tell their spouse about their charges often want us to talk to their husband/wife about the situation. Nobody is in a better position to explain this situation to your spouse and answer their questions than our lawyer who will help you with this if and only if he is instructed to. Given the extremely high number of shoplifting cases he has handled he knows the answers to virtually all questions and can give examples of previous cases he has handled where clients were in a similar situation and what the outcome ultimately was (with regards to their case, job, travel, immigration applications, etc.).Oftentimes our clients are worried about their spouse reacting to the potential problems associated with their family’s immigration applications, US travel, and employment prospects, which is a large part of our practice. From snowbirds who spend the winters in Florida, IT professionals who work in or are planning to move to the US, medical physicians holding US green cards and licenced in the US, people at all stages of the Canadian immigration system, those who want to sponsor new immigrants, and everything else in between chances are that we have had other clients who were in the exact same circumstances as you or your spouse before.
We are extremely effective in helping clients explain the circumstances of their charge to their spouse if/when they choose to do so.
Our lawyer has dealt with approximately 2000 cases and perhaps nobody is in a better position to help explain that some of the most successful, well adjusted, educated, and respected members of the community have made the same mistake by shoplifting. Our clients include top medical physicians, police officers, lawyers, nurses, engineers, teachers, university professors, clergy members, those with high positions in finance, banking, government employees, etc. of all ages, religions, and ethnic backgrounds.
These are people with families and normal social lives. We can help explain just how many other good people and respected members of the community have made the same mistake because we deal with it first hand on a daily basis.
We know what to expect and exactly what proactive steps need to be taken to reduce the likelihood of potential problems. For spouses who already know about the charges, it is not unusual for them to want to take an active part in this process because it can affect them and their family’s future.
My wife or husband was caught shoplifting and I don’t understand why they would do something like this?
Some people have problems with drugs/alcohol, some people have problems with anger, some people have problems with shoplifting.We know firsthand that many people who have shoplifting abuse problems are intelligent, successful, socially well-adjusted people because virtually all of our clients fit this profile. Given that approximately half of our clients choose to tell their spouse they were charged, their significant others often come to us for answers.
Finding out your spouse was charged with a theft or fraud under $5000 shoplifting offence is shocking because it seems so out of character. Beyond the obvious legal concerns that relate to being charged with a criminal offence, they seek answers as to what psychological factors could have caused or motivated their wife/husband to shoplift.
For those who do it intentionally, most of our clients tend to shoplift for one or more of the following reasons:
- They find themselves extremely tempted and enticed by the idea of getting something for free or at a discounted price (even if they are a millionaire);
- They obtain a certain degree of a high or thrill from the experience itself, which can sometimes be addicting. This may or may not be related to relieving personal issues such as stress, boredom, anxiety, depression, or a general feeling of a lack of life satisfaction;
- For revenge because the store unjustly refused to return an item or otherwise treated them poorly. Alternatively, some people shoplift as a form of revenge against society because of the inherent unfairness of life itself.
There seem to be two, namely:
- They have a history of, or are currently experiencing issues with depression, anxiety and/or sleeping problems. This includes both non-medicated individuals and those who take medications such as Cipralex, Effexor, Wellbutrin, Ambien, and other antidepressants, sleeping pills, and anti-anxiety medications.
- Women who are pregnant or have recently given birth. We have noticed that there seems to be a correlation between pregnancy/recent child birth (roughly up to two years) and shoplifting charges.
Some clients are also new to Canada and from a country where the store security/shopkeeper watches them directly and not surreptitiously and thus are tempted by the new experience believing that nobody is watching them when shopping. In reality, most GTA stores such as Winners, The Bay, Wal-Mart, Shoppers Drug Mart, Costco, No Frills/Superstore/Loblaws/Fortinos/Zehrs, Oceans, Sephora, Metro, Canadian Tire, Sears, and Home Depot employ numerous undercover security guards to watch the customers directly and monitor them via CCTV cameras (to move, focus, zoom in on and record) suspected shoplifters.
The person standing next to you in the aisle of a store is often an undercover security guard who is watching you, not just another customer. They pretend to be shopping so they can witness, arrest and report shoplifters to the police for theft, fraud and other related charges.
Should I, or my spouse, go to counselling for shoplifting?
Part of our lawyer's job is to advise his clients of what they need to do legally to ensure their criminal case resolves in the best possible way. As a matter of practice, we do not recommend counselling to any clients unless we feel it is absolutely necessary to gain the greatest realistic chance of an advantage to the outcome of their specific criminal case.
Shoplifting can be the result of a one-time transgression, a legitimate accident or mistake, a sophisticated premeditated financially motivated crime, or a lifelong psychological urge. Regardless of the motivation, our lawyer only sends clients to counselling if it is legally advisable to do so with regards to their specific shoplifting case before the courts.
Our lawyer's sole job is to ensure the criminal case against you results in the best possible outcome and that any threats to your immigration status, US travel abilities, and employment prospects, are eliminated or reduced to the greatest degree possible.
You don't have to jeopardize your future or waste thousands of dollars on excessive legal fees. We provide effective and affordable lawyer representation for those charged with all forms of theft and fraud related offences throughout Ontario, Canada.
Have a skilled criminal lawyer who focuses on theft and fraud related charges protect you and your future from the stigma and consequences of a criminal record.
Your case will be defended by a fully licensed Practicing Lawyer of the Law Society of Ontario. For more information about our lawyer, click here.
We provide our clients with:
- Flat fee pricing
- US travel advice and information
- Employment background check advice/services
- Fingerprints and records destruction services
- Clear goals of getting charges dropped and bail conditions varied without a trial
- Help with related immigration issues
- Vulnerable Sector records suppression help
- Experienced, focused counsel
Law and Consequences
- Theft Under $5000
- Fraud Under $5000
- Toronto Shoplifting
- Shoplifting: Criminal Code
- US Travel Issues
- Shoplifting and Immigration
- First Offence Shoplifting
- Second Offence Shoplifting
- Theft from an Employer
- Resisting Arrest/Assault
- CPIC database information
- Quantity: Value, Items, Stores
- Shoplifting and Depression
- Appearance Notice
- Undertaking (Form 10)
- Self-Checkout cases
- Indian/South Asian shoplifting
- What to do if caught
- Co-Accused shoplifting cases
- Children's Aid referrals
- Keep shoplifting charges a secret
- Non-cooperation & running away
- YCJA Youth shoplifting charges
- Credit Card Fraud
- Possess property obtained by crime
- Fingerprints and Photographs
- Warnings and Cautions
- Nurse (RN), RPN, and PSW issues
- Explaining the charges to a spouse
- Doorstep mail parcel theft
- Punishments and Consequences
- Get shoplifting charges dropped
- Hiring a Lawyer
- Theft Under $5000
- Fraud Under $5000
- Toronto Shoplifting
- Shoplifting: Criminal Code
- US Travel Issues
- Shoplifting and Immigration
- First Offence Shoplifting
- Second Offence Shoplifting
- Theft from an Employer
- Resisting Arrest/Assault
- CPIC database information
- Quantity: Value, Items, Stores
- Shoplifting and Depression
- Appearance Notice
- Undertaking (Form 10)
- Self-Checkout cases
- Indian/South Asian shoplifting
- What to do if caught
- Co-Accused shoplifting cases
- Children's Aid referrals
- Keep shoplifting charges a secret
- Non-cooperation & running away
- YCJA Youth shoplifting charges
- Credit Card Fraud
- Possess property obtained by crime
- Fingerprints and Photographs
- Warnings and Cautions
- Nurse (RN), RPN, and PSW issues
- Explaining the charges to a spouse
- Doorstep mail parcel theft
- Punishments and Consequences
- Get shoplifting charges dropped
- Hiring a Lawyer
* Please note:
If you are not a paying client, we cannot answer questions and provide assistance with U.S. travel, immigration, employment background checks, and avoiding a criminal record. This includes those who have already retained other counsel and those whose cases have already been completed. We also only take calls/emails relating to Ontario, Canada area cases.
If you are not a paying client, we cannot answer questions and provide assistance with U.S. travel, immigration, employment background checks, and avoiding a criminal record. This includes those who have already retained other counsel and those whose cases have already been completed. We also only take calls/emails relating to Ontario, Canada area cases.
Are you a lawyer? If you are defending a theft or fraud related case and are looking for expert advice regarding possible defences, case strategies, and information release management call us at: 647-228-5969.
Please note: We do not accept legal aid certificate cases. All clients are handled on a private retainer only.
Law and Consequences
- Theft Under $5000
- Fraud Under $5000
- Toronto Shoplifting
- Shoplifting: Criminal Code
- US Travel Issues
- Shoplifting and Immigration
- First Offence Shoplifting
- Second Offence Shoplifting
- Theft from an Employer
- Resisting Arrest/Assault
- CPIC database information
- Quantity: Value, Items, Stores
- Shoplifting and Depression
- Appearance Notice
- Undertaking (Form 10)
- Self-Checkout cases
- Indian/South Asian shoplifting
- What to do if caught
- Co-Accused shoplifting cases
- Children's Aid referrals
- Keep shoplifting charges a secret
- Non-cooperation & running away
- YCJA Youth shoplifting charges
- Credit Card Fraud
- Possess property obtained by crime
- Fingerprints and Photographs
- Warnings and Cautions
- Nurse (RN), RPN, and PSW issues
- Explaining the charges to a spouse
- Doorstep mail parcel theft
- Punishments and Consequences
- Get shoplifting charges dropped
- Hiring a Lawyer
- Fraud Under $5000
- Toronto Shoplifting
- Shoplifting: Criminal Code
- US Travel Issues
- Shoplifting and Immigration
- First Offence Shoplifting
- Second Offence Shoplifting
- Theft from an Employer
- Resisting Arrest/Assault
- CPIC database information
- Quantity: Value, Items, Stores
- Shoplifting and Depression
- Appearance Notice
- Undertaking (Form 10)
- Self-Checkout cases
- Indian/South Asian shoplifting
- What to do if caught
- Co-Accused shoplifting cases
- Children's Aid referrals
- Keep shoplifting charges a secret
- Non-cooperation & running away
- YCJA Youth shoplifting charges
- Credit Card Fraud
- Possess property obtained by crime
- Fingerprints and Photographs
- Warnings and Cautions
- Nurse (RN), RPN, and PSW issues
- Explaining the charges to a spouse
- Doorstep mail parcel theft
- Punishments and Consequences
- Get shoplifting charges dropped
- Hiring a Lawyer
We provide:
- Flat fee pricing
- 99%+ non-conviction success rate
- U.S. travel advice and information
- Help with related immigration issues
- Employment background check advice/services
- Fingerprints and records destruction services
- A clear goal of getting the charges dropped without a trial
- Vulnerable Sector records suppression help
- Timely resolutions
- Lawyer/client privilege
- Experienced, focused counsel