A defendant charged with shoplifting / petit larceny in Brooklyn, Bronx, Manhattan, Queens or Staten Island, New York is often given a Desk Appearance Ticket, if this represents their first arrest. Even if given a Desk Appearance Ticket, an individual accused of shoplifting / petit larceny has been arrested. However, rather than making the accused spend the night in jail and appear before the judge for arraignment, the officer who arrested you is trusting that you will appear on the date indicated on the Desk Appearance Ticket for your arraignment. Many times, I have been successful in getting an ACD for clients accused of shoplifting, where it is their first arrest, and the dollar amount in question is relatively small.

Do not take a shoplifting charge too lightly. Shoplifting is a crime and if you are convicted, you will have a criminal record which most background checks will reveal. Most employers consider this a sign of dishonesty, and such a conviction may limit your ability to obtain employment in the future. Shoplifting is a Misdemeanor and New York does not allow for the expungement of Misdemeanors.

Macy's, Sephora, American Apparel and Duane Reade, to name a few, are known to employ plain clothes security personnel within their stores to look for shoplifters.