Texas Basic Peace Officer Certification Practice Exam

What offense is committed if a person alters a price tag to pay a lower amount for a retail item?

1. Fraudulent destruction, removal, or concealment of writing

2. Misapplication of fiduciary property

3. False statement to obtain property or credit

4. Securing execution of document by deception

The correct answer is: Fraudulent destruction, removal, or concealment of writing

The act of altering a price tag to pay a lower amount for a retail item constitutes an offense that is best categorized as fraudulent destruction, removal, or concealment of writing. This is because the price tag serves as a written document that indicates the legitimate price of the item. By altering this tag, the individual is essentially manipulating or destroying the original terms of sale, which constitutes fraud. In this context, the focus is on the act of changing the price to deceive the retailer, which falls directly under the umbrella of fraudulent activities related to written documentation, as the altered price tag misrepresents the true cost of the item. This action is not merely a form of theft; it specifically involves the provisions that protect the integrity of written information in commercial transactions. The other options represent different types of offenses that do not accurately describe the specific act of altering a price tag within a retail environment. For example, misapplication of fiduciary property pertains to the improper management of property for which one has a trust obligation, rather than an act of price manipulation. Additionally, making a false statement to obtain property or credit would involve verbally misrepresenting information rather than altering written documentation. Securing execution of a document by deception relates more to obtaining signatures under false