Theft

The crime of theft consists of the crimes of larceny, embezzlement, and taking under false pretenses (also known as fraud). There are two degrees of theft: petty theft and grand theft. This is determined by the amount of the item or service that is taken.

While all three types of crimes listed above have been combined under the California Penal code as theft, each has different acts that may be committed to accomplish them. Each involves an unlawful taking, but the crimes vary in the method used for the unlawful taking.

Grand Theft

Grand theft can be any of the following:

(1) The value of the item, labor or services taken exceeds $400
 
(2) The property is taken directly from another person
 
(3) The property taken is a firearm or several other items as specified by statute
 
(4) The property taken is a vehicle

Anything that is not a grand theft is a petty theft.

Forms Of Theft

Larceny - Larceny is the unlawful taking and carrying away of the personal property of another without the owner's consent with the intent to permanently deprive the person of it

False Pretenses - Taking under false pretenses is inducing someone to part with property by making a false statement with the intent of depriving a person of both the title and possession of the property. The victim must rely on the false statements and actually have been defrauded by it.

A false or fraudulent statement may consist of any act, word, symbol, or token that is made with the intent to deceive another person. It may be expressed or implied from words or the conduct of a person.

Embezzlement - Embezzlement is the fraudulent appropriation of property by a person to whom it has been entrusted, with the intent to deprive the owner of the property

Please contact our Los Angeles theft attorneys.