Load theft: When will mail arrive?

Load theft is one of the most common offenses that courts in Germany have to deal with. However, anyone who has been reported for shoplifting

When do you have to expect mail for shoplifting?

Ahead of time: there is no clear answer to this question.

• The processing time of criminal offenses in a court depends on both the current workload of the authority and the severity of the offense.
• Until mail arrives after a reported shoplifting, several weeks to over a year can pass.
• It is advisable to call in a lawyer at an early stage to help with ambiguities and the further procedure.

Possible penalties for shoplifting

The basis for the assessment of the penalty for shoplifting is § 242 of the Criminal Code. Depending on the extent, the punishment ranges from a small fine to imprisonment of five years. In the case of an item of value up to 50 euros, a low-value threshold often applies. This does not protect against a penalty, but often makes it more lenient. However, a ban from the premises is usually unavoidable. On the other hand, in the case of predatory theft or the theft of valuable items, for example a car, a custodial sentence is to be expected.