Gwinnett County Theft Crimes Lawyers

Theft is the illegal taking of another person’s property without their freely-given consent. While the consequences of a conviction will vary depending on the value of the property in question and whether or not you have criminal history, having a theft crime on your record can severely hurt your chances of obtaining a job, housing, or loans. Get help from experienced Gwinnett County criminal defense lawyers by calling Crawford and Boyle, LLC, today. We offer free consultations to help you understand what to do next and protect your future.

Dial (678) 726-5400 now and schedule your free consultation. 

Types of Theft Crimes

While it can be easy to generalize theft crimes as simply running off with another’s property, the truth is those crimes can also happen unwittingly. You may have been charged with theft for something you either did not steal at all or were given as a gift. Making a clear case will provide you the best chance at a favorable outcome.

Types of theft include:

• Burglary
• Embezzlement
• Larceny
• Looting
• Robbery
• Shoplifting
• Fraud
• Theft by taking
• Theft by receiving stolen property
• Identity theft

Intent is an important element of proving any crime. Theft crimes in particular require the state to prove that you either intended to steal or, in certain cases, should have known that items in your possession were stolen. Obviously, this is not always the case, but you can be sure that the prosecutor will do everything in his or her power to make it seem that you had criminal intent.

Let Crawford and Boyle, LLC, Help

Prosecutors will often use your own statements against you. This is why it is important to never talk to the police, answer their questions, or volunteer any information. You have the absolute right to remain silent. Anything you tell an officer while they are investigating you, even if it is a complete denial of any wrongdoing, can and will be used against you. Most people become very nervous when being questioned by the police and the natural result is often a desire to answer questions so that the encounter will end as quickly as possible.

The important thing to know is that even if you did make statements, there may be a way to keep them out of evidence. Sometimes, police fail to inform you of the necessary Miranda rights before questioning you, or they ignore your request for an attorney. Any of these mistakes by law enforcement can lead to your statements being thrown out of court, seriously damaging the state’s case. Crawford and Boyle has an aggressive motions practice that seeks to keep out as much evidence as possible, including statements and physical evidence.

Get help with your case. Call (678) 726-5400 today or contact us online.