Tampa Theft Crime Attorney

Contact Taracks & Associates for the Defense You Need

By contacting a Tampa theft crime lawyer as soon as an accusation or incident occurs, they can contact the State Attorney's Office and speak with the prosecutor to try and have the charges dropped before a warrant is ever obtained. An experienced Tampa theft crime defense lawyer at Taracks & Associates can help guide you through the legal process during your criminal case and ensure you receive the best possible outcome.

Call (813) 990-0599 today to discuss your case with the skilled Tampa theft crimes attorney from Taracks & Associates!

The penalties you are up against will depend on the nuances of your situation. Regardless, a theft crime conviction can permanently damage your future and restrict your options for a job. Don't allow a mistake you made or a false accusation damage your future freedom.

Avoid Serious Consequences

Regardless of whether you are charged with a misdemeanor or felony, any theft crime is considered a "crime of dishonesty." Once convicted of any crime of dishonesty, that conviction can be damaging to your reputation, it can affect your ability to obtain a job, it can appear on a background check, or it can be used against you when you testify in a court of law. Even if you are not convicted of a theft crime, your name may appear in a national database used by employers when they conduct background checks for open positions. In addition, once you are convicted of a theft crime, if you are ever convicted again, the charges may be enhanced due to your prior conviction.

If you have been accused of any kind of theft offense, it is important to contact a Tampa theft crime attorney as soon as possible so you can discuss your options prior to the State Attorney's Office making a filing decision. Florida law has various degrees of theft charges with a range of penalties. Theft crimes include: petit theft, burglary, employee theft, obtaining property for a worthless check, dealing in stolen property, giving false information to a pawnbroker, uttering a forged instrument, and scheming to defraud.

Types of Theft Offenses

The following are types of theft crimes and may be prosecuted as misdemeanors or felonies:

• Burglary
• Carjacking
• Dealing in Stolen Property
• Employee Theft
• False Info to Pawnbroker
• Petit Theft
• Robbery
• Robbery by Sudden Snatching
• Scheme to Defraud
• Shoplifting
• Uttering a Forged Instrument
• Worthless Checks

Petit Theft Penalties in Florida

The penalties for the crime of Petit Theft or Shoplifting depend on the value of the items taken.

• If the item taken was valued at less than $100, then the offense will be charged as petit theft in the second degree which is punishable by a maximum of sixty (60) days in jail along with a $500 fine and court costs.
• If the item taken was valued at more than $100 and less than $300, then the offense will be charged as petit theft in the first degree which is punishable by a maximum of twelve (12) months in jail along with a $1,000 fine and court costs.
• If the item taken was valued at more than $300, then the offense can be charged with Felony Petit Theft which is a third degree felony that is punishable by up to five (5) years in prison along with a $5,000 fine and court costs.
• Additionally, if you have been convicted of more than one theft offense, you can be charged with Felony Petit Theft which is a third degree felony that is punishable by up to five (5) years in prison along with a $5,000 fine and court costs.

Grand Theft Penalties in Florida

Similar to petit theft crimes, the penalties for Grand Theft depend on the value of the items taken.

• If the item taken was valued at more than $300 but less than $20,000, then the offense can be charged with a Grand Theft in the Third Degree which is punishable by a sentence of up to 5 years in prison and a maximum fine of $5,000.
• Additionally, if the property taken is valued at less than $300, the offense may still be charged as a third degree felony if the item is a stolen gun, firearm, rifle, or stop sign. This is punishable with a sentence of up to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.
• If the item taken is valued at more than $200,000 but less than $100,000, the offense will be charged as Grand Theft in the Second Degree which is punishable by a sentence of up to 15 years in prison and a maximum fine of $10,000.
• If the item taken is valued at $100,000 or more, the offense will be charged as a Grand Theft in the First Degree which is punishable by a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and maximum fine of $10,000.

If you are facing charges for a theft offense, contact our Tampa theft crimes attorneys at (813) 990-0599 today!