Shoplifting" generally refers to the theft of merchandise from a store or place of business. Shoplifting is a type of larceny, which simply means taking the property of someone else without their permission, and with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of the property taken.
Though states may punish shoplifting under their general larceny or theft statutes, many states have enacted statutes to specifically address shoplifting. States may refer to the crime by different names, including "retail theft" and "concealment of merchandise.
These state laws vary widely, but generally, shoplifting offenses includes two elements:
1. willfully concealing or taking possession of items being offered for sale; and
2. the intent to deprive the items' rightful owner (typically the store) of possession of the items, without paying the purchase price.
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