The Blanch Law Firm defends against all theft crimes, and specializes in “grand theft” crimes, such as grand larceny and Grand Theft Auto.  Most state and federal agencies prosecute grand theft as a felony, and as a result it comes with serious penalties, fines and a minimum of jail time.  The criminal defense attorney team at The Blanch Law Firm effectively defends all grand theft crimes by utilizing a results driven approach to defense, assigning five or more defense lawyers to every case.  This assures our clients of a comprehensive case review and the best results possible.  To learn more, contact The Blanch Law Firm at (646) 706-7722.

Grand Theft Defined

Grand theft is defined as taking someone’s property against their will with the intent of depriving them of their property permanently.  Property can be defined as money, labor, real estate, personal property, or any other item or substance that lawfully belongs to another individual or group of individuals.

What makes a Theft Crime “grand theft” is the total value of the alleged items stolen.  Theft crimes can be broken up into petty theft and grand theft.  Petty theft refers to such crimes as shop lifting and other small theft crimes.  In New York, if the value of the amount stolen is only a few hundred dollars, you will most likely be charged with petty theft. 

However, if the amount stolen is in the thousands or tens of thousands, then you will be charged with grand theft.  Petty theft is a misdemeanor and carries with it fines and minor jail time; however, grand theft carries a much harsher penalty as it is a felony.

Grand Theft Penalties

The penalty for Grand theft will be severe as it is a felony, and felonies have a minimum amount of jail time for convictions.  Grand theft penalties include:

• Prison Time – This will range upon the value of the items stolen, but can reach up to ten years or more for serious or repeat offenses
• Probation
• Fines and Restitution – Not only could you be subject to serious fines for a grand theft conviction, but you could also face having to repay the dollar amount you stole, which could lead to years of garnished wages.

If you or someone you love has been charged with grand theft, contact The Blanch Law Firm today at (646) 706-7722.

Grand Theft Degrees

Grand theft is considered a felony, but not all felonies are considered equal.  The different financial amounts involved in theft crimes will determine how serious the courts will take the crime.  For example, a fourth degree grand theft charge may involve a total value of $1,000, but a first degree grand theft crime may involve stolen property valued at $100,000. 

Example of Grand Theft Crimes

• Vehicle Theft – Since just about any vehicle on the round is worth at least three or four thousand dollars, vehicle theft is considered a form of grand theft.  This includes car-jacking.
• Serious shoplifting – If you are charged with taking large amounts of clothing or goods from a store, or if you are charged with a “serial shoplifting” charge, you can be convicted of grand theft.
• Credit Card Fraud, Internet Fraud and Identity Theft – Grand theft crimes have grown more complex in the last fifteen to twenty years as the Internet has led to new forms of grand theft.  If you are charged with using the Internet for a theft crime, the dollar amount will most likely lead to a grand theft charge.  Identity theft and credit card fraud are also crimes that have very high dollar values and lead to grand theft charges.

If you or someone you love has been charged with grand theft, Contact The Blanch Law Firm today at (646) 706-7722.