Petty Theft and Grand Theft

Although petty theft can sometimes be considered a minor offense, it is still recognized as a crime by the courts and can end up on your permanent criminal record. Petty theft is defined as theft of an item under the amount of $500 from a residence when the offender is lawfully permitted on the property.

If the offender is not permitted to be on the property, the case would be considered burglary. Stealing an item from a store or stealing other items of low monetary value can constitute a petty theft charge.

First & Repeated Offenses

First time offenses are usually dealt with more lightly than repeat offenses. Someone who has committed the same kind of crime before may receive the maximum penalty.

Grand Theft

Theft of items above the $500 value will receive a grand theft charge when the property was taken against the victim’s will. Property can be a personal property or money lawfully belonging to someone.

The charge of grand theft is usually determined by the value amount of stolen property. Vehicle and firearm theft are considered grand thefts and can be punishable to a high degree. Certain white collar crimes can be grounds for grand theft such as credit card, identity, and Internet fraud.

Contact Us

If you or someone you know has been charged with petty theft or grand theft, you owe it to yourself to contact the Milwaukee criminal lawyers of Kohler & Hart LLP at 888-565-7597 to discuss your legal options