Larceny and theft are sometimes considered to be the same under law, but some states still keep them separated. Larceny itself is the unlawful taking of someone else’s property when he or she hasn’t given you permission and with the intention to keep the property from the owner permanently. Theft is more broadly the taking of another person’s property without his or her permission and with the intent to prevent the person from regaining his or her property permanently.
There are different types of theft that a person can be charged with depending on the amount of money the property is worth. For example, stealing a car may be considered grand theft, while stealing a small toy is simply theft. Petty theft, also called petit theft, is when the property stolen is worth less than $500 to $1,000, for instance. Usually, a petty theft is a misdemeanor. Grand theft, on the other hand, refers to the theft of goods over the value of a petty theft’s limits. If the limit is $500, for example, then stealing a laptop worth $1,000 would be grand theft, but stealing a notebook worth $150 would be petit theft.
There are also other categories for thefts that simply break them down by type. For instance, grand theft auto refers to a stolen vehicle, whereas other categories would apply to other types of assets.
As with any kind of theft, it’s the prosecution’s job to prove that you committed a crime. As a defendant, you need to take time to develop a story about what happened and be prepared in case you need to go to court. A strong defense helps you protect yourself and others around you. Our website has more information.
