Texas and Theft Laws

Stealing is not an acceptable act in our society. A thief is labeled by the community as untrustworthy and dishonest. The truth of the matter is that it happens too often and by people you may never suspect. The majority of the time, the thief is not even stealing out of need.
Some examples of theft are armed robbery, burglary, forgery, unauthorized use of a vehicle, identity fraud, shoplifting and the list goes on. The consequences for each of these offenses differ based on the monetary value of what was stolen, ranging from a Class C misdemeanor to a felony. Circumstances differ from case to case and if the accused has any prior record of criminal activity, this can also affect sentencing.
In Texas, stealing in general is considered a “Crime of Moral Turpitude”. This means that it is not considered a favorable act in community standards of justice, honesty or good morals. The consequences are harsh because they have to be. If a person is caught and charged, they will have a criminal record that will follow them for the rest of their life. This can have negative effects on offender’s character personally, legally and in the future with employment opportunities.
Shoplifting is defined as the deliberate act of taking an unpaid item out of a place of business and is one of the most common forms of stealing. Although, today’s Laws state that if you are caught with hidden merchandise, even if you have not left the business’ premises, you can be convicted of shoplifting. In Texas, we have established a “Law of Parties” meaning that if you are with your friend and they are caught stealing you can also be charged. An average of $10 billion dollars’ worth of merchandise is stolen each year and this is why the Laws are strict. We all suffer the consequences when retail establishment pad their prices in order to recuperate their losses from people who choose to steal.
Bottom line, stealing will land you in a world of trouble. It has negative effects on the convicted person and members of the community. The Laws are harsh for a reason. People may think they can steal from others and get away with it, but eventually they will get caught and will be forced to pay severe consequences.