California Shoplifting and Theft Defense Attorneys

What is Theft?

California Penal Codes §484 and §487 define Theft as taking the personal property of another with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of that property.
Under California Law, petty theft (or shoplifting) PC §484 is charged when the value of the property taken is $950 or less. In cases where the value of the stolen property is $950 or more or under other circumstances, the crime is charged as Grand Theft PC §487.

What must the prosecution prove to convict someone of Theft?

Petty Theft

In order to be found guilty of petty theft, the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant:

1. Unlawfully took the personal property of another person
2. Specifically intended to deprive the owner of his/her property permanently

Grand Theft

In order to be found guilty of grand theft, the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant:

1. Unlawfully took the personal property of another person
2. Specifically intended to deprive the owner of his/her property permanently, and

3. The property is worth more than $950,

the property was an automobile of any value,

the property was taken from the person (off of the body) of the property’s owner, Or

the property was a firearm

Theft takes on many forms and often times the line between taking, using, and borrowing someone’s property and theft may not be entirely clear. Please do not try to be your own theft defense attorney. Contact our lawyers to set up a FREE confidential consultation to protect your freedom and reputation against unjust prosecution!

Defenses to Theft Charges

Mistake

If you did not intend to steal or shoplift the item then you are innocent of the crime of petty theft. Often times, absentmindedly people can place an object in their pocket or bag without thinking about it. If you did not intend to steal, you did not steal

Your Belongings

If the item that you are accused of stealing is actually yours, then you are innocent of theft.

False Accusation

Sometimes the private security at stores is sloppy in their investigation of the theft. They may have confused you with someone else and there is no evidence of your guilt.

Pre-file Defense

A pre-file defense will be prepared by your attorney and will employ a unique defense strategy developed for your individual case. This strategy will involve investigations and preparing a presentation for the District Attorney to be presented before the District Attorney has made a decision to file charges. The goal of the pre-file defense is to convince the District Attorney that there is a complete defense to the theft charges.

Pre-Trial Defense

In the event, the District Attorney does file petty theft charges against you, your attorney’s swift actions to collect evidence of a strong defense will enable your attorney to try to get the charges dismissed. Additional investigation may commence by our team of experienced criminal defense attorneys in order to prove your innocence and get your charges dismissed before trial.

Trial Defense

In the event, the District Attorney is unreasonable or fails to dismiss the theft charges, your attorney has prepared a rock-solid defense which will enable him to go to trial with a winning hand.

The attorneys at My Criminal Defense successfully defended numerous clients who have been falsely accused of theft crimes by conducting a thorough investigation of the facts of each of our clients’ cases. Our criminal defense attorneys have extensive experience handling such cases and, with our defense team of investigators and experts, our attorneys can help defend your legal rights and protect you against wrongful and unjust prosecution.

With more than 100 combined years of experience serving as a legal defense team in Southern California, we pride ourselves in our ability to create successful strategies that will protect your life and freedom.

TAKE IMMEDIATE STEPS TODAY to protect your life and freedom. Call to set up a FREE confidential consultation with one of our attorneys.