Theft

Shoplifting in Oregon carries serious consequences, including potential fines and jail time. In addition to facing criminal charges, shoplifters can be sued by the victim in civil court to recover damages.

In Oregon, the crime of Shoplifting falls under the umbrella of Theft and is committed when property or merchandise is taken intentionally from the owner or merchant without being paid for. Shoplifting becomes Theft by Deception when a person changes price tags to a lower retail value.

Petty Theft occurs when the value of the item taken is less than $100. Shoplifting is a type of Petty Theft, or Third-Degree Theft (Theft III), which is a Class C Misdemeanor. Taking a $20 item from a store would likely be considered Petty Theft; whereas taking $100,000 in items would be considered Major Felony Theft. The total value of the property stolen must be less than $100 in order for it to qualify. The punishment for theft in the third degree in Oregon is a maximum of 30 days in jail and a fine not to exceed $1,250.

Adult shoplifters or the parents or legal guardians of juvenile shoplifters can be sued in civil court by their victims for:

Certain individuals charged with first-time and low-level crimes are often offered alternatives to prosecution called Diversion or Deferred Adjudication Programs. Once the program requirements are met, which may include activities like undergoing a substance abuse evaluation, taking educational courses, and paying restitution, the criminal charges will be dropped.

In situations where Diversion or Deferred Adjudication Programs are not available, your attorney may be able to arrange a plea bargain with the prosecutor assigned to the case. Plea bargains usually involve reduced charges or reduced sentencing in exchange for a guilty plea.

Embezzlement is a type of Property Theft which occurs when a person, who is trusted to manage or monitor someone else’s money or property, takes all or part of it. The defining factor is that the accused had legal access to the other person’s money or property but did not legally own it.

In Oregon Embezzlement crimes are punished based on the value and the type of property stolen.

In Oregon, Motor Vehicle Theft, Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, Failing to Return a Rental Car, and Carjacking are all Theft crimes. Under most circumstances these crimes are punishable by up to five years in prison.

Motor Vehicle Theft is a type of Property Theft which occurs when a person uses a master key to open and start another person’s car and takes the car with the intent to sell it. Additionally, a person who knowingly buys a stolen car has also committed a crime of Theft.

A person is guilty of the crime Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle when they drive, ride in, or use someone else’s vehicle without permission. For example, a mechanic who uses a vehicle in their possession in a way that is not related to repair.

It a crime to not return a rented or leased car within three days of being given a written request to return the car.

Carjacking occurs when a person uses or threatens physical force to take a car while committing or attempting to commit Theft or Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle.

You are guilty of the crime of Identity Theft when you use someone else’s personal identification information to your benefit. Personal identification information is anything which could be used to identify someone, such as their name, address, Social Security number, or date of birth. Identity Theft is a Class C felony, punishable by up to $125,000 in fines and 5 years in prison.

Anyone in Oregon who possesses, obtains, creates, transfers, or otherwise uses another person’s personal identifying information with the intent to deceive or defraud commits the crime of identity theft.

Aggravated Identity Theft is a more serious form of Identity Theft and considered a Class B Felony. A person commits Aggravated Identity Theft when they commits Identity Theft: