Fort Lauderdale Theft Crime Attorney

Offenses Against Property

Have you been contacted by the police in regards to an investigation for a theft crime? Have you been arrested for shoplifting or another theft crime? When you are dealing with criminal charges involving theft, it is important to have the strong defense of an attorney from the very outset. The penalties in Florida can be very severe and you could face extended periods of time in jail or prison if you are convicted of the more serious theft crimes.

Theft is defined under the law as the taking of another's property without their consent or knowledge with the intent of depriving the owner of its possession or use. This crime may be committed in a number of ways, and usually involves the use of deception, force or violence. It is these three factors that will determine the severity of your charges and the penalties that you will be given. For example, robbery charges are considered to be a violent crime because they are committed using physical force or with the aid of a deadly weapon.

Types of Charges

Burglary
This is a crime of breaking and entering. It always involves the forced entry (any type of illegal entry) into a building owned by another. This is usually for the purpose of stealing.

Carjacking
This crime is committed when an individual steals a motor vehicle. It may involve forced entry while people are in the vehicle or away from the vehicle.

Grand Theft
Also called "grand larceny," this is a theft crime that differs depending on what state it is committed in. In Florida, any property stolen that values more than $300 is considered grand theft.

Robbery
This is a crime of stealing something by force by coercion of fear. There are different degrees of robbery, such as armed robbery and aggravated robbery.

Shoplifting
This is the most common type of theft crime, and involves stealing an item or items from a retail store.

Fight back!

At our Fort Lauderdale defense firm, we handle all charges for all types of theft crimes, including those charged in both state and federal courts. From matters of petty shoplifting to burglary and grand theft, we have the insider knowledge to defend your rights both in and out of the courtroom. With over 50 years of combined experience, we understand the nature of your charges and the laws that can be used to build a strong defense case against them.

If you are convicted of a theft crime like carjacking, you may face penalties such as jail or prison time, community service, restitution, probation and more. The prosecution will utilize key factors in your case, such as the value of the property involved and the manner in which the offense was committed, to try and raise your penalties to the fullest extent of the law. When you hire our firm, we go to bat for you to ensure that the evidence used against you is thoroughly investigated and challenged.