Shoplifting, not paying and property damage

Some minor offences are known as ‘regulatory offences’.

There are 3 types of regulatory offences:

1. Unauthorised dealing with shop goods (where the value of the goods is $150 or less).
2. Leaving restaurants or hotels without paying for food, drink, accommodation, goods or services (where the value is $150 or less).
3. Unauthorised damage to property (where the damage is $250 or less).

Regulatory offences

Regulatory offences are minor offences where the value of the property damaged or the goods taken is less than a certain amount.

There are 3 types of regulatory offences:

1. Unauthorised dealing with shop goods where the value is $150 or less. Includes:
   • shoplifting.
   • eating or drinking something in a shop without paying.
   • changing price tags (eg by swapping them).
   • removing price tags.
   • crossing out the price.
2. Leaving restaurants or hotels without paying for food, drink, accommodation, or goods and services where the value is $150 or less. Includes:
   • leaving without paying.
   • using bad cheques.
   • unauthorised use of a credit card.
3. Unauthorised damage to property where the cost is $250 or less.

The Magistrates Court deals with regulatory offences, you cannot choose to go to a higher Court. As they are minor offences you cannot be sent to jail.

If you are convicted of regulatory offence, it will be part of your criminal history. You can ask for the conviction not to be recorded.

For more serious offences, the police may charge you with:

• stealing instead of shoplifting.
• fraud instead of leaving without paying.
• wilful damage instead of unauthorised damage to property.

The penalties for these types of offences may be more serious

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