One person stealing another person’s property without permission is a criminal offense called theft. In New York City, or state theft crimes are categorized as either petty theft or grand theft. Petty theft involves the theft of property with a lower value and is considered a lesser crime than grand theft. Grand theft is usually a felony because the value of the stolen property is generally higher.
In New York criminal law larceny is the same as theft. The degree to which a defendant is charged in a theft crime is determined by an estimate of the property value. Grand larceny and petit larceny are two common theft charges.
The crime of theft covers a wide variety of offenses ranging from fraud to shoplifting and can involve anyone from a wealthy executive to a juvenile. A theft conviction can carry stiff penalties which can include jail time, probation and fines. A theft conviction can also have an impact on your ability to obtain credit, gain employment or admission to school.
Our experienced New York City Theft attorneys represent clients facing a wide range of theft crimes and related charges, including:
- Burglary
- Embezzlement
- Larceny
- Robbery
- Trespassing
- Shoplifting
- Fraud
Some of the theft crimes defended by my firm include:
- Petit Larceny (value of $1,000 or less)
- 4th Degree Felony Larceny (value of over $1,000 or credit card theft)
- 3rd Degree Felony Larceny (value of over $3,000)
- 2nd Degree Felony Larceny (value of over $50,000 or by using extortion)
- 1st Degree Felony Larceny (value of over $1,000,000)
Theft Crime Penalties in New York City
Penalties for theft in New York range from fines and probation to prison time. Each theft case that we represent is unique. Harsher penalties are given for the use of weapons in a theft crime and for any resulting injuries or deaths.