Simon v. State

OPINION

MANNHEIMER, Judge.

The earliest, most classic definition of theft is laying hold of property that you know belongs to someone else and carrying it away without permission, with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of the property. 1 The present case requires us to examine how this general notion of theft applies to modern retail stores-stores where customers are allowed to take merchandise from the shelves or display cases, and walk around the store with these items, until they ultimately pay for the items at a checkout station.

The State contends that if a person intends to take…