It is understandable why a person would confuse various theft crimes: They are often discussed as though theft, robbery, and burglary are all the same thing. The truth is that they are quite different – and the consequences of a conviction for them can be quite different.

Keep reading to find out more about the difference between theft crimes and robbery. If you are charged with any crime, or believe that you may be, then it is wise to contact a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. You can reach Law Office of Michael L. Fell at (949) 585-9055 now for a free legal consultation.

There is one big difference between theft and robbery

California Penal Code holds that there is one major difference between robbery and theft: Theft does not necessarily involve person to person interaction while robber does. In order for a person to be arrested for and convicted of robbery, they must have taken something directly from someone. For them to be guilty of theft, one only has to have taken property that belongs to another person and it does not matter where the owner of the property was at the time the property was taken.

There are two main types of theft in California

Theft is broken down into two main types in California: Petty theft and grand theft. The main difference is in the value of what was stolen. Petty theft involves items valued below $950 and grand theft involves property valued higher. That said, some specific types of items are always cause for grand theft charges if stolen, even if they are valued under $950. One common example is a car – it is always grand theft even if the car is not worth $100.

Potential penalties for theft

A person convicted of petty theft can receive a fine of up to $1,000 and could spend as long as six months in county jail. If the item was not worth $50 then the prosecutor has the option of charging the crime as either a misdemeanor or an infraction. If it is charged as an infraction, then the maximum punishment is a fine of $250.

Grand theft can be charged as either a felony or a misdemeanor. The prosecutor will get to decide how it is charged based on several factors. They will look at the specifics of the crime, the criminal history of the defendant, and more. One of the ways a criminal defense attorney can help is by working to have felony charges reduced to misdemeanor charges.

Now that you have a better understanding of theft versus robbery charges and the potential consequences of a conviction for theft, it is time to reach out to Law Office of Michael L. Fell at (949) 585-9055 for a free consultation. We can go over your options and give you the information and assistance you need to move forward. Call now and let us start right away.