Shoplifting is more than just leaving a store with something you did not pay for. Shoplifting is also obtaining goods by charging the purchase price of an item to a fictitious person; paying less than the purchase price of the item by changing the labels in some way; moving the item to a different container; and hiding the item in some way from view (A.R.S. § 13-1805).
If you are minor, your parents or legal guardian can be held responsible for any damages that you caused (A.R.S. § 12-661) by being required to pay for the damages. Shoplifting property with a value of $1,000 or more is a class 6 felony or higher depending on the value. Shoplifting with a value of less than $1,000 is a class 1 misdemeanor. Shoplifting can be a felony regardless of value if it involves an artifice/device (using tools like foil bags) or prior convictions.
If you are found guilty of shoplifting, you could be fined, have to perform community service, or be placed on probation with up to one year in detention (A.R.S. § 13-1805). Adults could face up to 6 months in jail (misdemeanor). If found guilty of shoplifting you might also be required to pay a penalty often higher than $100 in addition to the actual damages to the owner (the price of what you took) (A.R.S. § 12-692). A conviction can lead to a permanent record, especially for felony shoplifting.
Laws may have changed since the last time this article was updated. The current and most up-to-date laws can be accessed here.