Find out how to report a crime and your rights as a victim. Contents. Free Consultation - Powers Law Firm PA - Charlotte Criminal Defense Lawyers - Mecklenburg County, NC Crime Lawyers.Shoplifting, which is also known as misdemeanor larceny, is a crime that involves taking goods from a retail store or concealing items while still in the store. Concealment of merchandise in mercantile establishments. You can file some reports online through the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department's online reporting platform. Find more about criminal law and the criminal court process. Contents. Charlotte Criminal Lawyer Brad Smith answers the question: "Do I need to hire an attorney if I have been falsely accused? When someone simply conceals the item in the store and does not leave, he or she may be charged with a misdemeanor. The law as written is broad and casts a wide net. These 15 offenders account for a total of 576 arrests in Mecklenburg County and 1,390 charges- including 248 felonies.