Anytime you intentionally take, use or steal another person's property without their consent, you technically have committed the crime of theft. In addition, if you accept property that you are aware has been stolen, you have also committed the crime of theft. Theft is a crime that California lawmakers take seriously—meaning that a conviction of a theft crime anywhere in the state could result in serious penalties. As any experienced Los Angeles theft attorney will attest, while even a petty theft charge does not sound bad, a conviction of a petty theft crime can damage not only your reputation but your future job prospects as well.

Petty Theft and Grand Theft

According to California Penal Code 484, petty theft is a misdemeanor crime that encompasses the unlawful taking of another's property that has a threshold value of $950 or less; and grand theft is the unlawful taking of another's property that is valued over $950. Examples of theft include offenses like:

•The taking of another's property under false pretenses –meaning the making of a false representation to wrongfully steal a service or item from another.

•The taking of another's property through embezzlement—meaning the taking of property that has been entrusted to you by another; embezzlement usually involves an employee stealing from their employers.

•The taking of another's property through an act of larceny—meaning the taking of property without the owner's consent, as in shoplifting.

•Trickery—theft by deception

The difference between a petty theft charge and a grand theft charge is enormous in that the penalties for the two carry significantly different consequences. Only able to be charged as a misdemeanor in California, petty theft has a maximum punishment of three years of probation, up to $1,000 in fines, and up to six months in county jail.

Grand theft, on the other hand, is a felony best handled by a qualified Los Angeles theft attorney. Governed by California Penal Code 487 PC, grand theft is a crime that is often committed by sophisticated criminals and frequently involves a weapon. Some of the most common items stolen that qualify as a grand theft include the taking of a firearm, automobile, plane, horse, or farm products. Penalties for grand theft are much harsher than those for petty theft and include up to three years in state prison and a maximum $10,000 fine.

As any experienced Los Angeles theft attorney will tell you, the standards for proving grand theft are high, with prosecutors required to provide evidence that shows that you (as the defendant) intended to steal the property of another (called specific intent to steal). The intent is usually proven by the prosecutor having solid evidence that shows the manner in which you tried to conceal the stolen property and what you did with the property once you had it in your possession.

Defenses for Grand Theft in California

Defenses for grand theft in California include proof that the property you took was rightfully yours, proof that you did not intend to take the property you were accused of taking, or proof that the property you took was taken in error or by mistake.

Arrest for theft, both petty and grand is a serious matter best handled by a Los Angeles theft attorney with ample experience and success in the defense of those accused of theft in Los Angeles. Any criminal arrest in Los Angeles puts you in a vulnerable position. Your best defense in any criminal case is one that is backed by the advice and representation of an experienced Los Angeles criminal defense attorney with a solid record of reasonable outcomes in Los Angeles criminal courts.

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