California Penal Code Section 490.5 contains information about the state’s shoplifting legislation. Shoplifting is defined by law as going into a business with the intention of stealing anything.
Penalties
Misdemeanor: Generally speaking, stealing is a misdemeanor for things under $950. Penalties could consist of:
Crime:
Should the amount surpass $950, it could be prosecuted as a crime, carrying the following penalties:
Because California has special statutes focusing on the intent to steal, in order to secure a conviction, police enforcement must establish intent.