Los Angeles Attorney Defends You Against Petty Theft Charges

Under common law, there are two basic categories of theft: Petty theft or grand theft. Petty theft, which is the crime of intentionally and fraudulently taking another person’s property, is a misdemeanor punishable by probation, six months in jail and a $1,000 fine. Petty theft in California is any theft crime that does not qualify as grand theft. Depending on your criminal record, your charge may be subject to enhancements and the prosecution may charge a subsequent petty theft as a felony.

The two essential facts or elements of theft that must be proven in order to convict you of petty theft in California are:

  • The defendant permanently deprived another person of money or their personal property, labor or services
  • The value of the stolen property was $950 or less

If you are arrested for petty theft, you should immediately retain a defense lawyer who understands the importance of minimizing the damage to your future. For more than 12 years, we at the Law Offices of Arash Hashemi have fought aggressively to protect the rights of Los Angeles residents.

Petty Theft

Difference between petty theft, robbery and burglary

Petty theft involves stealing something not directly from a person. Shoplifting is the most common example. Robbery is a felony that occurs when you use force or fear to steal someone’s property from his or her person.

You commit burglary when you unlawfully enter a building or other structure with the intent to commit a felony or theft once inside. When you shoplift from a store, you are guilty only of petty theft and not burglary because you did not enter the premises unlawfully.

Fraud charges

Fraud is another form of theft where one person makes an intentional misrepresentation of fact that the second person relies upon as the truth and suffers damages or loss as a direct result of the fraudulent statement.

Get experienced help if you’re charged with petty theft

We at the Law Offices of Arash Hashemi have handled a wide range of theft cases over the course of our decades of practicing defense law. If you would like to schedule an initial consultation with a lawyer at our firm, contact us online or by phone at (310) 448-1529. Our office is conveniently located in the Westside Towers in Los Angeles, within minutes of Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Westwood, and steps away from the Expo/Bundy Station. We have flexible hours and weekend appointments, and we will visit you in jail to discuss your case.