The Law Office of Patrick T. Donovan

Massachusetts Criminal Attorney

617.479.1800 24/7
  • Home
  • Profile
  • Criminal Defense
    • Restraining Orders
      • Restraining Orders FAQs
    • Harassment Orders
    • Domestic Violence
      • Domestic Violence Case Wins
      • Assault and Battery on Family or Household Member
      • Restraining Order Violation
      • Assault on Family Member
      • Witness Intimidation
      • Strangulation Suffocation
      • Stalking
      • Threats to Commit a Crime
      • Mass Law About Hitting Your Kids
    • Drunk Driving
      • OUI DUI WINS
      • First Offense
      • How Much Does an OUI Cost?
      • CHILD ENDANGERMENT WHILE OUI
    • Motor Vehicle
      • Motor Vehicle Crime Case Wins
      • LEAVING THE SCENE OF PERSONAL INJURY
      • LEAVING THE SCENE OF PROPERTY DAMAGE
      • OPERATING AFTER LICENSE SUSPENDED
      • NEGLIGENT OPERATION
      • Reckless Operation
      • Uninsured Motor Vehicle
      • MASSACHUSETTS UNLICENSED OPERATION
      • Attaching Wrong Plates Massachusetts
      • Massachusetts Road Racing
      • Failure to Obey Police Officer
      • Use of Motor Vehicle Without Authority
      • IGNITION INTERLOCK DEVICE
    • Encore Boston Harbor Criminal Attorney
    • Theft Crimes
      • Theft Crimes Wins
      • LARCENY UNDER $1200
      • Larceny Over $1200
      • LARCENY BY CHECK
      • Identity Fraud
      • Larceny By Embezzlement
      • Credit Card Fraud
      • Receiving Stolen Property
    • Drug Crimes
    • Sex Crimes
      • Statutory Rape
      • OPEN AND GROSS LEWDNESS AND LASCIVIOUS BEHAVIOR
      • Annoying and Accosting Persons
      • Indecent Assault and Battery
      • Indecent Exposure
      • Enticing a Child Under 16
    • College Students
      • Fake ID
      • Fake ID Case Wins
      • Disorderly Conduct
      • MINOR IN POSSESSION OF ALCOHOL MASSACHUSETTS
      • Disturbing the Peace
    • Criminal Harassment
    • Violent Crime
      • Assault and Battery Wins
      • Threats
      • Aggravated Assault and Battery
      • Mayhem
      • Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon
      • Assault and Battery
        • Shoplifting
          • Shoplifting Case Wins
      • Assault
      • Resisting Arrest
    • Clerk’s Hearings
    • Weapons Crimes
    • Warrants
    • Speeding Tickets
      • Massachusetts Surchargeable Infractions
      • Massachusetts Speeding Ticket Recent Victories
      • How to Appeal a Massachusetts Speeding Ticket
      • Massachusetts RMV and Board of Appeals
      • Massachusetts Speeding Tickets FAQ
      • Massachusetts Drivers Suspensions
  • Case Wins
  • Client Reviews
  • Contact Us

Shoplifting in Massachusetts

Shoplifting in Massachusetts can have serious consequences. Shoplifting charges can go on your criminal record. Also, you can face fines, probation, and possibly jail. However, many times a deal can be reached to avoid any of those consequences.


Recent Victories

The client, a 20-year-old college student, was caught by loss prevention for stealing over $500 of makeup. Also, this happened at a well-known department store. Then the client admitted to stealing the makeup. And, the client also told loss prevention and the police that she did it before. Attorney Donovan negotiated a pretrial diversion. The case was dismissed. The incident will not go on her record.

The client was alleged to have shoplifted clothes. It happened at a national department store. She was summonsed to an arraignment. Attorney Donovan negotiated with the prosecutor to dismiss the case for $100 in court costs.

Read More Recent Shoplifting Victories Here

What are the Massachusetts Shoplifting Laws?

Massachusetts General Law chapter 266 section 30a governs shoplifting.

  • any person who intentionally takes possession of, carries away, transfers or causes to be carried away or transferred
  • any merchandise displayed, held, stored or offered for sale by any store or other retail merchant establishment
  • with the intention of depriving the merchant of the possession, use of benefit of such merchandise or converting the same to the use of such person
  • without paying to the merchant the value of

Read All Client Reviews Here

Shoplifting FAQs

What is the Penalty for Shoplifting in Massachusetts?

Where the goods are under $100 a First offense shall be punished by a fine of not more than $250. The second offense of not less than $100 nor more than $500. Third or subsequent offense up to two years in jail

Where the goods are $100 or more the penalty may be a fine of not more than $1000 or in prison in the house of correction for not more than 2 1/2 years or both.

Shoplifting by Concealment of Merchandise

Massachusetts General Law chapter 266 section 30s

  • any person who intentionally conceals upon his person or otherwise
  • any merchandise offered for sale by any store or other retail establishment
  • with the intention of depriving the merchant of the proceeds, use or benefit of such merchandise or converting the same to the use of such person
  • without paying the merchant the value of

What is the Penalty for Shoplifting by Concealment of Merchandise in Massachusetts?

Woman shoplifting from a store.
Woman shoplifting

Where the goods are under $100 the penalty for a first offense is a fine of not more than $250 for the second offense a fine of $500 and for a third offense a fine of not more than $500 or jail for up to two years

Where the goods exceed $100 the punishment shall be a fine of not more than $1000 or imprisonment in the house of correction for not more than 2 1/2 years

Shoplifting by Altering or Removing Label or Tags in Attempting to Purchase

Massachusetts general law chapter 266 section 30A

  • any person who intentionally alters, transfers or removes any label, price tag or marking of value or any other marking that aid in the determining of value
  • the fixed to any merchandise displayed, held, stored, or offered for sale by any store or other reach retail establishment
  • and to attempt to purchase such merchandise personally or with another at less than full retail value
  • with the intention of depriving the merchant of all or some part of the retail value

Where the goods are under $100 the penalty is a fine of not more than $250. Then for a second offense, the penalty is a fine of not more than $500. Finally, for a third or subsequent offense, the penalty is a fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment in jail for not more than two years.


Where the goods are valued at over $100 the penalty may be a fine of not more than $1000. or imprisonment in the house of correction for not more than 2 1/2 years or both.

Massachusetts general law chapter 266 section 30a

Shoplifting by Transferring Merchandise into Different Container

  • any person who intentionally transfers any merchandise displayed, held, stored or offered for sale by any store or retail establishment;
  • Or, from the container in or on which the same shall be displayed to any other container
  • with the intent to deprive the merchant of all or some part of the retail value

Where the goods are under $100 the penalty is a fine of not more than $250. Then for a second offense a fine of not less than $100 and not more than $500. Finally, for third offense jail for not more than two years and fine

Where the goods exceed $100 the punishment shall be a fine of not more than $1000 or imprisonment house of correction for not more than 2 1/2 years or both.


Massachusetts Shoplifting Attorney

Massachusetts Shoplifting Attorney Patrick Donovan is a former prosecutor. As an Assistant District Attorney Patrick Donovan prosecuted many shoplifting cases. As a Massachusetts shoplifting attorney Patrick Donovan uses that experience to help each of his clients. Attorney Donovan has represented clients in over fifty courts in Massachusetts. Massachusetts Defense attorney, Patrick Donovan fights for the best result for people charged with all shoplifting.

If you or someone you know has been charged with shoplifting contact Massachusetts Shoplifting Attorney Patrick Donovan at (617) 479-1800.

Areas Served

Massachusetts Shoplifting Attorney Patrick T. Donovan represents clients in:

Suffolk County

Boston, Dorchester, South Boston, East Boston, Roxbury, West Roxbury, Jamaica Plain, North End of Boston, South End of Boston, Chinatown, Chestnut Hill, Roslindale, Hyde Park, Mattapan, Mission Hill, Beacon Hill, Charlestown, Allston, Brighton

Norfolk County

Avon, Dover, Brookline, Cohasset, Dedham,  Foxborough, Holbrook, Mansfield, Milton, Norwood, Quincy, Randolph, Westwood, Weymouth,  Sharon, Stoughton, Walpole, Wareham, Wellesley, Needham, Medfield, Norfolk, Wrentham

Plymouth County

Abington, Bridgewater, Brockton, Carver, Duxbury, East Bridgewater, Easton, Freetown, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Hingham, Hull, Kingston, Lakeville,  Mattapoisett, Marion, Marshfield, Middleborough, Norton, Norwell, Pembroke, Plymouth, Plympton,  Raynham, Rochester, Rockland, Scituate, West Bridgewater, Whitman,

Middlesex County

Arlington, Ashland, Ayer, Bedford, Belmont, Beverly, Billerica, Bolton, Boxborough, Boxford, Carlisle, Burlington, Chelmsford, Chelsea, Concord, Dunstable, Danvers, Dracut, Essex, Everett, Framingham, Franklin, Georgetown, Gloucester, Groton, Groveland, Hamilton, Harvard, Holliston, Haverhill, Hopkington, Hudson, Ipswich, Lawrence, Lexington, Lincoln, Littleton, Malden, Natick, Newton, Sherborn,

Essex County

Acton, Amesbury, Lynn, Lynnfield,  Andover Manchester, Marblehead, Marlborough, Maynard, Medford, Medway, Melrose, Merrimac, Methuen, Middleton, Milford, Millis, Nahant, Newbury, Newburyport,  North Andover, North Reading, Northborough, Peabody, Pepperell, Plainville, Reading, Revere, Rockport, Rowley, Salem, Salisbury, Saugus, West Newbury

Middlesex County

Somerville, Southborough, Stoneham, Stow, Sudbury, Wakefield, Waltham, Watertown, Wayland, Wenham, , Westborough, Westford, Weston, Wilmington, Winchester, Winthrop, Woburn,

Cape and Islands

Bourne, Sandwich, Falmouth, Barnstable, Yarmouth, Dennis, Brewster, Harwich, Chatham, Orleans, Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro, Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard,

Just Arrested?

Everything you need to know if you were arrested in Massachusetts.

Arrest Information

Court Process

Everything you need to know about the Massachusetts Court Process

Court Process Explained

Criminal Record

See how a criminal case impacts your criminal record.

Info about Criminal Records

Practice Areas

  • Criminal Defense
  • Drunk Driving
  • Domestic Violence
  • Motor Vehicle
  • Drug Crimes
  • Sex Crimes
  • College Students
  • Disturbing the Peace
  • Criminal Harassment
  • Theft Crimes
  • Violent Crimes
  • Disorderly Conduct
  • Warrants
  • Record Sealing
  • Probation
  • Weapons Crimes
  • Magistrate Hearing
  • Personal Injury
  • Speeding Tickets

Menu

  • Criminal Defense
  • Drunk Driving
  • Domestic Violence
  • Motor Vehicle Crimes
  • Drug Crimes
  • Sex Crimes
  • Theft
  • Contact Us
  • Make a Payment

Office Location

Law Office of Patrick Donovan
Law Office of Patrick Donovan logo
234 Copeland Street Suite 230
Quincy, MA 02169
Phone: (617) 479-1800
Fax: (617) 622-1531

Court Information

Everything you need to know about criminal courts in Massachusetts.

Court Info

Copyright © 2023