There are multiple categories of theft crimes under California law. Different penalties may apply depending on what exactly was stolen, the value of the stolen items, who they were stolen from, if a business or other individual was involved, and if the offense was committed in concert with another person – in other words, a “conspiracy.”

Shoplifting, defined as the willful concealment or theft of merchandise worth $950 or less, is a misdemeanor offense punishable by up to six months in county jail and a fine of up to $1,000. However, if the value of the stolen goods exceeds $950, the crime can be charged as grand theft, a more serious offense discussed below.

Recently, California law enforcement agencies have been cracking down on shoplifting as more organized groups have begun “smash and grab” shoplifting operations that you may have seen on the news.

Grand theft, which involves the theft of property or money worth more than $950, can be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the circumstances. Felony grand theft can result in up to three years in state prison and fines of up to $10,000.

While shoplifting is an offense against a store or other business, stealing a personal item from another person is also a violation of the theft statutes. These more personal offenses are not taken lightly by the courts and can result in jail, community service, fines, and other penalties.

In addition to potential jail time and fines, those convicted of theft offenses may also be required to pay restitution for anything that was stolen and not recovered, or damaged during the theft, and may be subject to stay-away orders, prohibiting them from returning to a store – it could be one single location, or the whole chain of stores. This can have significant implications for daily life.

How Can Farris Law Firm Help?

In California, theft charges can qualify for diversion under Penal Code § 1001.95. This is a process that allows a defendant the opportunity to have their case fully dismissed if they complete certain requirements. Additionally, if pleading guilty or no contest is the best option, we pursue unsupervised probation, anti-theft classes, and very minimal terms to make the process as easy as possible.

Many times, if the stolen items are returned and a client is cooperative, we can get excellent results with minimal obligations to our clients.

Finally, you always have the option of going to trial. Farris Law Firm will fight your case out in open court, in front of a jury, and hold the prosecutor to their burden. The prosecutor must prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, every element of an offense before you can be convicted and sentenced.

Your attorney at Farris Law Firm knows the ins and outs of this part of our legal system and can help you at every step of the way with your theft-related case.