Shoplifting and larceny are closely related but live in different sections of RI law. Shoplifting is prosecuted under RIGL § 11-41-20 and covers the retail context of concealing merchandise, altering price tags, or removing items from a store with intent to deprive. Larceny is the broader crime of taking any property from any owner. In practice, a shoplifting case and a petty larceny case often look similar and can resolve through the same diversion and filed-disposition paths. We cover retail-specific defenses on our Rhode Island shoplifting lawyer page. If you were arrested in or near a store, tell your lawyer which statute you were charged under - the wording matters.
