Can I Still Be Charged With Theft Even if I Didn’t Leave The Store Before I Was Arrested?
In Dallas and the surrounding areas, you can be charged with theft even if you never leave the store. There is no requirement that an item be removed from the store to be considered theft.
The law only requires intent to take the item. Many people come to me and bring this point up believing that they should not be charged with shoplifting because they were still in the store.
There are even cases where a person takes an item and feels bad about it and before they leave the store, they put the item back. Under the law this is considered theft because at the time the item was concealed is what the law looks at.
If you need help defending your theft case in the Dallas area, call me at 214-296-2770.
Mike Goolsby
A veteran in both civil court cases and criminal defense, Mike Goolsby is a respected lawyer with more than 16 years of experience practicing law. He received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of North Texas in 1990, followed by his J.D. from the prestigious Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 1994.
After earning his law degree, Mr. Goolsby worked as an Assistant District Attorney for the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office. As a trial lawyer, he was able to gain exceptional access to the criminal court system in this major metropolitan area, giving him immeasurable, distinct experience that helped him build a solid foundation for his own private legal practice.
Mr. Goolsby went on to practice civil law for Maverick Acceptance Group, a venture capital company. Here, he gained invaluable knowledge of the civil side of the law, adding to his already diverse portfolio of legal expertise.
In 1999, he opened the doors of The Goolsby Law Firm and has been successfully serving the residents of North Texas ever since. As an attorney, Mr. Goolsby combines his experience in both the civil and criminal fields to offer unmatched legal representation to his clients. With a long list of satisfied clients, Mr. Goolsby continues to build his practice through fair and aggressive legal defense.