Theft

A theft accusation will affect your career and your chances of securing a new job or better pay. Theft cases have wide-ranging and long-lasting effects. Theft convictions are considered crimes of moral turpitude, which means theft crimes suggest a person is untrustworthy and “not to be believed.” Theft crimes can range from shoplifting to corporate embezzlement of millions of dollars. The range of punishment for a theft offense will be based on the amount of money or the value of the property that was stolen.

Don’t go it alone. If you are accused of theft, the first thing you need to do is contact an attorney. A criminal attorney will protect your rights and ensure an equal playing field with the complainant/accuser. Do not speak to the police on your own. If you took the property by accident or there was some mistake, you have not committed a crime. However, police officers are trained to interrogate suspects and get people to make statements that may be against their interests. Once you have been accused of theft, you need to immediately began preparing a defense. Your defense will likely rely upon records and information that can be lost or deleted if it is not gathered soon after an incident occurred. Any delay in hiring a defense attorney could result in the loss of evidence that could be favorable to you.