The penalties for shoplifting are graded (full grading and penalties are shown below) depending on the price of the merchandise. The price is determined based on its reasonable market value at the time the merchandise was shoplifted. A skillful Ocean County attorney at Riviere Advocacy Group LLC may attempt to defend a shoplifting case is by proving to the jury or making the argument to the prosecutor that the reasonable value of the merchandise was less than is alleged in the criminal complaint and therefore warrants a lower charge.