Burglary & Theft Attorneys in Orlando, Florida

Burglary and theft may sound like similar crimes, but they are substantially different in regards to the facts that surround them. What they do have in common, however, is that each of them carries significant consequences for anyone who’s convicted of either burglary or theft in Florida.

As a result, you need to act immediately to begin building your defense. The best way to begin this process is by contacting skilled criminal defense attorneys, like the ones at Scott & Medling, PA, and scheduling a consultation. The firm has years of experience representing clients who’ve been charged with these crimes, and our clients have been both Florida residents and visitors to the Orlando area who have run into problems while they were here.

Types of Burglary and Theft Charges We Handle:

Embezzlement

Embezzlement may technically be a non-violent crime, but it is not treated as such when judges in Florida hand out prison terms for a conviction under this charge. Embezzlement is defined as the taking of another’s money and property through abuse of an official job or position of trust. This can occur in many circumstances but generally happens in a business setting.

Credit Card Fraud

Credit card fraud is when someone uses another person’s private information in order to either obtain new credit cards or to spend on existing ones for the purpose of personal financial gain. The Internet has caused rapid growth in these types of charges, and “identity theft” is another term that’s often used to describe this situation.

Petty Larceny and Grand Larceny

Larceny is defined as the unlawful taking of the personal property of another without proper consent. The defendant must also have the intent to deprive the victim of this property. Florida defines the line between “petty” and “grand” larceny at the value of $300. Grand larceny is a felony that carries more severe penalties.

Shoplifting

A person commits retail theft in several ways. A defendant does not necessarily need to remove items from a store to be charged with retail theft. All someone needs to do is remove a label, a universal product code, or a price tag, transfer merchandise from one container to another or remove a shopping cart. The defendant must also intend to deprive the merchant of the possession, use, benefit, or “full retail value” of the item or items in question.

Property Theft

Property theft is a charge that can also occur in several situations. Again, whether a crime is a misdemeanor or a felony depends on whether the value of the property taken exceeds $300. There are additional degrees of property theft, as the taking of anything worth $20,000 or more is considered a second-degree felony, and the taking of $100,000 or more is considered a first-degree felony.

Possession of Stolen Property

Possession of stolen property in Florida is defined as any person who traffics in or endeavors to traffic in property that he or she knows or should know was stolen. This crime is considered a felony of the second degree.

If any of these situations apply to you or someone you love, the worst thing you can do is nothing. Contact Scott & Medling, PA, today to schedule a consultation. The earlier you begin to build your defense, the better your chances of moving past this will be.