Petty Theft in California
In August 2019, the Santa Rosa Police Department received 100 petty theft crime reports, making it the highest reported crime of the month. Now that we’re in August 2020, it’s an optimal time to use this information to better understand what petty theft offenses are and how they may impact you.
First, it’s important to learn what theft means. California Penal Code Section 484 defines theft as the following:
- “Every person who shall feloniously steal, take, carry, lead, or drive away the personal property of another; or
- who shall fraudulently appropriate property which has been entrusted to him or her; or
- who shall knowingly and designedly, by any false or fraudulent representation or pretense, defraud any other person of money, labor or real or personal property; or
- who causes or procures others to report falsely of his or her wealth or mercantile character and by thus imposing upon any person, obtains credit and thereby fraudulently gets or obtains possession of money, or property or obtains the labor or service of another is guilty of theft.”
In California, petty theft is defined as knowingly, intentionally and wrongfully stealing someone else’s property. For a crime to be petty theft, the value of the allegedly stolen property must be $950 or less. If convicted, you may suffer a misdemeanor charge punishable by up to 1,000 fines and/or up to 6 months in the county jail.
Fighting Petty Theft Charges Throughout Sonoma
Don’t be fooled by the word “petty,” as it doesn’t accurately reflect the severity of petty theft charges in California. Petty theft is a serious accusation that must be tackled at all costs, or else you might end up with a criminal record, jail time, fines and humiliation.
To best prevent suffering the effects of your petty theft charges, do yourself an important favor and contact our proven Santa Rosa defense attorney as soon as possible. When you put the Law Offices of Evan E. Zelig, P.C. on your side, your case will receive the attention, priority and strategy you need to come out on top.
Please don’t hesitate to contact (707) 418-5352 to get started on your defense today!