Located at the intersection of Route 4 and Route 17 near the Garden State Parkway, the Westfield Garden State Plaza is not just the largest mall in New Jersey (more than 2 million square feet of retail space) it’s also consistently ranked as one of the most popular in the state. With its many high-end stores and heavy foot traffic, shoplifting is a common but heavily policed issue.
Anyone caught shoplifting at the Westfield Garden State Plaza can find themselves charged with a criminal offense. This is a serious situation that should not be taken lightly. Here’s what anyone charged with shoplifting should know.
Types of Shoplifting in New Jersey
Under N.J.S.C. 2C:20-11 there are several specific acts that are classified as shoplifting. This includes:- Purposely taking merchandise without paying for it.
- This is “classical” shoplifting where a person takes something out of the store without paying for it by concealing or hiding the merchandise or wearing it.
- Altering or transferring a price tag so as to conceal the true value of the item
- This is when a person takes a price tag from a less expensive item, transfers it to a more expensive item, then proceeds to the cashier and pays the lesser amount. Even though the item was paid for, the amount paid was less than it should have been so a crime has been committed.
- Under-ringing merchandise (i.e. issuing unauthorized discounts).
- When a store employee intentionally undercharges himself or a customer this is also considered shoplifting under NJ law.
- Removing a shopping cart from the premises
- Shopping carts are property of the store or mall that provides them. Taking one off store property is considered shoplifting.