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CRIMINAL OFFENSES
(720 ILCS 5/) Criminal Code of 2012.

720 ILCS 5/Art. 16, Subdiv. 10

 
    (720 ILCS 5/Art. 16, Subdiv. 10 heading)
SUBDIVISION 10. RETAIL THEFT
(Source: P.A. 97-597, eff. 1-1-12.)

720 ILCS 5/16-25

    (720 ILCS 5/16-25)
    Sec. 16-25. Retail theft.
    (a) A person commits retail theft when he or she knowingly:
        (1) Takes possession of, carries away, transfers or
    
causes to be carried away or transferred any merchandise displayed, held, stored or offered for sale in a retail mercantile establishment with the intention of retaining such merchandise or with the intention of depriving the merchant permanently of the possession, use or benefit of such merchandise without paying the full retail value of such merchandise; or
        (2) Alters, transfers, or removes any label, price
    
tag, marking, indicia of value or any other markings which aid in determining value affixed to any merchandise displayed, held, stored or offered for sale in a retail mercantile establishment and attempts to purchase such merchandise at less than the full retail value with the intention of depriving the merchant of the full retail value of such merchandise; or
        (3) Transfers any merchandise displayed, held, stored
    
or offered for sale in a retail mercantile establishment from the container in or on which such merchandise is displayed to any other container with the intention of depriving the merchant of the full retail value of such merchandise; or
        (4) Under-rings with the intention of depriving the
    
merchant of the full retail value of the merchandise; or
        (5) Removes a shopping cart from the premises of a
    
retail mercantile establishment without the consent of the merchant given at the time of such removal with the intention of depriving the merchant permanently of the possession, use or benefit of such cart; or
        (6) Represents to a merchant that he, she, or another
    
is the lawful owner of property, knowing that such representation is false, and conveys or attempts to convey that property to a merchant who is the owner of the property in exchange for money, merchandise credit or other property of the merchant; or
        (7) Uses or possesses any theft detection shielding
    
device or theft detection device remover with the intention of using such device to deprive the merchant permanently of the possession, use or benefit of any merchandise displayed, held, stored or offered for sale in a retail mercantile establishment without paying the full retail value of such merchandise; or
        (8) Obtains or exerts unauthorized control over
    
property of the owner and thereby intends to deprive the owner permanently of the use or benefit of the property when a lessee of the personal property of another fails to return it to the owner, or if the lessee fails to pay the full retail value of such property to the lessor in satisfaction of any contractual provision requiring such, within 10 days after written demand from the owner for its return. A notice in writing, given after the expiration of the leasing agreement, by registered mail, to the lessee at the address given by the lessee and shown on the leasing agreement shall constitute proper demand.
    (b) Theft by emergency exit. A person commits theft by emergency exit when he or she commits a retail theft as defined in subdivisions (a)(1) through (a)(8) of this Section and to facilitate the theft he or she leaves the retail mercantile establishment by use of a designated emergency exit.
    (c) Permissive inference. If any person:
        (1) conceals upon his or her person or among his or
    
her belongings unpurchased merchandise displayed, held, stored or offered for sale in a retail mercantile establishment; and
        (2) removes that merchandise beyond the last known
    
station for receiving payments for that merchandise in that retail mercantile establishment,
then the trier of fact may infer that the person possessed, carried away or transferred such merchandise with the intention of retaining it or with the intention of depriving the merchant permanently of the possession, use or benefit of such merchandise without paying the full retail value of such merchandise.
    To "conceal" merchandise means that, although there may be some notice of its presence, that merchandise is not visible through ordinary observation.
    (d) Venue. Multiple thefts committed by the same person as part of a continuing course of conduct in different jurisdictions that have been aggregated in one jurisdiction may be prosecuted in any jurisdiction in which one or more of the thefts occurred.
    (e) For the purposes of this Section, "theft detection shielding device" means any laminated or coated bag or device designed and intended to shield merchandise from detection by an electronic or magnetic theft alarm sensor.
    (f) Sentence.
        (1) A violation of any of subdivisions (a)(1) through
    
(a)(6) and (a)(8) of this Section, the full retail value of which does not exceed $300 for property other than motor fuel or $150 for motor fuel, is a Class A misdemeanor. A violation of subdivision (a)(7) of this Section is a Class A misdemeanor for a first offense and a Class 4 felony for a second or subsequent offense. Theft by emergency exit of property, the full retail value of which does not exceed $300, is a Class 4 felony.
        (2) A person who has been convicted of retail theft
    
of property under any of subdivisions (a)(1) through (a)(6) and (a)(8) of this Section, the full retail value of which does not exceed $300 for property other than motor fuel or $150 for motor fuel, and who has been previously convicted of any type of theft, robbery, armed robbery, burglary, residential burglary, possession of burglary tools, home invasion, unlawful use of a credit card, or forgery is guilty of a Class 4 felony. A person who has been convicted of theft by emergency exit of property, the full retail value of which does not exceed $300, and who has been previously convicted of any type of theft, robbery, armed robbery, burglary, residential burglary, possession of burglary tools, home invasion, unlawful use of a credit card, or forgery is guilty of a Class 3 felony.
        (3) Any retail theft of property under any of
    
subdivisions (a)(1) through (a)(6) and (a)(8) of this Section, the full retail value of which exceeds $300 for property other than motor fuel or $150 for motor fuel in a single transaction, or in separate transactions committed by the same person as part of a continuing course of conduct from one or more mercantile establishments over a period of one year, is a Class 3 felony. Theft by emergency exit of property, the full retail value of which exceeds $300 in a single transaction, or in separate transactions committed by the same person as part of a continuing course of conduct from one or more mercantile establishments over a period of one year, is a Class 2 felony. When a charge of retail theft of property or theft by emergency exit of property, the full value of which exceeds $300, is brought, the value of the property involved is an element of the offense to be resolved by the trier of fact as either exceeding or not exceeding $300.
(Source: P.A. 97-597, eff. 1-1-12.)

720 ILCS 5/16-25.1

    (720 ILCS 5/16-25.1)
    Sec. 16-25.1. Organized retail crime.
    (a) An individual is guilty of organized retail crime when that individual, in concert with another individual or any group of individuals, knowingly commits the act of retail theft from one or more retail mercantile establishments, and in the course of or in furtherance of such crime or flight therefrom:
        (1) knowingly commits assault as defined under
    
Section 12-1 or battery as defined under Section 12-3(a)(2) on the premises of the retail mercantile establishment;
        (2) knowingly commits a battery under Section
    
12-3(a)(1) on the premises of the retail mercantile establishment; or
        (3) intentionally destroys or damages the property of
    
the retail mercantile establishment.
    (b) An individual is guilty of being a manager of the organized retail crime when that individual knowingly recruits, organizes, supervises, finances, or otherwise manages or directs any other individual or individuals to:
        (1) commit the act of retail theft from one or more
    
retail mercantile establishments, if the aggregate value of the merchandise exceeds $300, and the manager or the individual has the intent to resell the merchandise or otherwise have the merchandise reenter the stream of commerce;
        (2) commit theft of merchandise, the aggregate retail
    
value of which exceeds $300, while the merchandise is in transit from the manufacturer to the retail mercantile establishment, and the manager or the individual has the intent to resell the merchandise;
        (3) obtain control over property for sale or resale,
    
the aggregate retail value of which exceeds $300, knowing the property to have been stolen or under such circumstances as would reasonably induce the individual to believe that the property was stolen; or
        (4) receive, possess, or purchase any merchandise or
    
stored value cards, the aggregate retail value of which exceeds $300, obtained from a fraudulent return with the knowledge that the property was obtained in violation of this Section or Section 16-25.
    (c) If acts or omissions constituting any part of the commission of the charged offense under the Section occurred in more than one county, each county has concurrent venue. If the charged offenses under this Section occurred in more than one county, the counties may join the offenses in a single criminal pleading and have concurrent venue as to all charged offenses. When counties have concurrent venue, the first county in which a criminal complaint, information, or indictment is issued in the case becomes the county with exclusive venue. A violation of organized retail crime may be investigated, indicted, and prosecuted pursuant to the Statewide Grand Jury Act.
    (d) Sentence. A violation of paragraph (1) or (3) of subsection (a) is a Class 3 felony. A violation of paragraph (2) of subsection (a) is a Class 2 felony. A violation of subsection (b) is a Class 2 felony.
(Source: P.A. 102-757, eff. 5-13-22.)

720 ILCS 5/16-25.2

    (720 ILCS 5/16-25.2)
    Sec. 16-25.2. Retail loss prevention report and notice requirements.
    (a) A retail mercantile establishment that is a victim of a violation of Section 16-25, 16-25.1, 17-10.6, or 25-4 shall have the right:
        (1) to timely notification of all court proceedings
    
as defined under subsection (e) of Section 3 of the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act. Timely notice shall include 7 days' notice of any court proceedings. Timely notice shall be sent to the location of the retail mercantile establishment where the violation occurred and to the point of contact as provided by the retail mercantile establishment. The point of contact may be any employee of the retail mercantile establishment or representative as provided by the retail mercantile establishment;
        (2) to communicate with the prosecution;
        (3) to be reasonably heard at any post-arraignment
    
court proceeding in which a right of the victim is at issue and any court proceeding involving a post-arraignment release decision, plea, or sentencing;
        (4) to be notified of the conviction, the sentence,
    
the imprisonment, and the release of the accused; and
        (5) to have present at all court proceedings subject
    
to the rules of evidence an advocate of the retail mercantile establishment's choice.
    (b) Unless a retail mercantile establishment refuses to file a report regarding the incident, the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction shall file a report concerning the incident with the State's Attorney. No law enforcement agent shall discourage or attempt to discourage a retail mercantile establishment from filing a police report concerning the incident. Upon the request of the retail mercantile establishment, the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction shall provide a free copy of the police report concerning the incident, as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 5 business days after the request. The Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board shall not consider any allegation of a violation of this subsection that is contained in a complaint made under Section 1-35 of the Police and Community Relations Improvement Act.
(Source: P.A. 102-757, eff. 5-13-22.)

720 ILCS 5/16-26

    (720 ILCS 5/16-26)
    Sec. 16-26. Detention; affirmative defense.
    (a) Detention. Any merchant who has reasonable grounds to believe that a person has committed retail theft may detain the person, on or off the premises of a retail mercantile establishment, in a reasonable manner and for a reasonable length of time for all or any of the following purposes:
        (1) To request identification;
        (2) To verify such identification;
        (3) To make reasonable inquiry as to whether such
    
person has in his possession unpurchased merchandise and to make reasonable investigation of the ownership of such merchandise;
        (4) To inform a peace officer of the detention of the
    
person and surrender that person to the custody of a peace officer;
        (5) In the case of a minor, to immediately make a
    
reasonable attempt to inform the parents, guardian or other private person interested in the welfare of that minor and, at the merchant's discretion, a peace officer, of this detention and to surrender custody of such minor to such person.
    A merchant may make a detention as permitted in this Section off the premises of a retail mercantile establishment only if such detention is pursuant to an immediate pursuit of such person.
    A merchant shall be deemed to have reasonable grounds to make a detention for the purposes of this Section if the merchant detains a person because such person has in his or her possession either a theft detection shielding device or a theft detection device remover.
    (b) Affirmative defense. A detention as permitted in this Section does not constitute an arrest or an unlawful restraint, as defined in Section 10-3 of this Code, nor shall it render the merchant liable to the person so detained.
    (c) For the purposes of this Section, "minor" means a person who is less than 19 years of age, is unemancipated, and resides with his or her parent or parents or legal guardian.
(Source: P.A. 97-597, eff. 1-1-12.)

720 ILCS 5/16-27

    (720 ILCS 5/16-27)
    Sec. 16-27. Civil liability.
    (a) A person who commits the offense of retail theft as defined in subdivision (a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(3), or (a)(8) of Section 16-25 shall be civilly liable to the merchant of the merchandise in an amount consisting of:
        (i) actual damages equal to the full retail value of
    
the merchandise; plus
        (ii) an amount not less than $100 nor more than
    
$1,000; plus
        (iii) attorney's fees and court costs.
    (b) If a minor commits the offense of retail theft, the parents or guardian of the minor shall be civilly liable as provided in this Section; however, a guardian appointed pursuant to the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 shall not be liable under this Section. Total recovery under this Section shall not exceed the maximum recovery permitted under Section 5 of the Parental Responsibility Law. For the purposes of this Section, "minor" means a person who is less than 19 years of age, is unemancipated, and resides with his or her parent or parents or legal guardian.
    (c) A conviction or a plea of guilty to the offense of retail theft is not a prerequisite to the bringing of a civil suit under this Section.
    (d) Judgments arising under this Section may be assigned.
(Source: P.A. 97-597, eff. 1-1-12.)

720 ILCS 5/16-28

    (720 ILCS 5/16-28)
    Sec. 16-28. Delivery container theft.
    (a) A person commits delivery container theft when he or she knowingly does any of the following:
        (1) Uses for any purpose, when not on the premises of
    
the owner or an adjacent parking area, a delivery container of another person which is marked by a name or mark unless the use is authorized by the owner.
        (2) Sells, or offers for sale, a delivery container
    
of another person which is marked by a name or mark unless the sale is authorized by the owner.
        (3) Defaces, obliterates, destroys, covers up or
    
otherwise removes or conceals a name or mark on a delivery container of another person without the written consent of the owner.
        (4) Removes the delivery container of another person
    
from the premises, parking area or any other area under the control of any processor, distributor or retail establishment, or from any delivery vehicle, without the consent of the owner of the delivery container. If a person possesses any marked or named delivery container without the consent of the owner and while not on the premises, parking area or other area under control of a processor, distributor or retail establishment doing business with the owner, the trier of fact may infer that the person removed the delivery container in violation of this paragraph.
    (b) Any common carrier or private carrier for hire, except those engaged in transporting bakery or dairy products to and from the places where they are produced, that receives or transports any delivery container marked with a name or mark without having in its possession a bill of lading or invoice for that delivery container commits the offense of delivery container theft.
    (c) Sentence. Delivery container theft is a Class B misdemeanor. An offender may be sentenced to pay a fine of $150 for the first offense and $500 for a second or subsequent offense.
(Source: P.A. 97-597, eff. 1-1-12.)