The line is $1,000. If the value of the goods taken is less than $1,000, the charge is petit larceny under Va. Code § 18.2-96, a Class 1 misdemeanor punishable by up to twelve months in jail and a fine of up to $2,500. If the value is $1,000 or more, the charge becomes grand larceny under Va. Code § 18.2-95, a felony punishable by one to twenty years in prison, although courts have discretion to impose lesser jail time.
In a shoplifting case the charge usually comes through Va. Code § 18.2-103, which treats concealing merchandise or altering price tags as larceny of the goods involved. Concealment matters because you can be charged before ever leaving the store. The statute treats willful concealment while still inside the store as evidence of intent to steal.
The practical difference between the two charges is enormous. A felony conviction means the loss of civil rights, disqualification from many jobs and professional licenses, and a permanent felony record. With retail prices where they are today, a single armload of merchandise, a laptop, or a phone can cross the $1,000 threshold, so students are sometimes shocked to find themselves facing a felony over a single incident.
Valuation is also a genuine battleground. The Commonwealth must prove value, and a lawyer can challenge inflated numbers or negotiate a felony down to a misdemeanor. If you are facing either version of this charge, call Joel at 540-961-5297, and read more about defending shoplifting charges in Blacksburg.