Theft & Property Crimes

The criminal courts have been overburdened for years. That is one reason that plea bargaining has reached epidemic proportions. When someone turns up at court and says, “I’m guilty,” it allows judges to cut through their workload far quicker than if they had to hold a...

When considering shoplifting, we tend to think about the assailant who has deliberately concealed goods and bolted from the store. However, it’s not always that straightforward. People find themselves facing shoplifting charges all the time when they had no intention...

Burglary is a form of theft that also involves trespassing. Compared with shoplifting, burglary is a somewhat less common form of theft and also one subject to more serious penalties. People get arrested and charged with burglary offenses for several different kinds...

You know that there are cases in which lying to the police is a criminal offense. You could be charged with something like obstructing justice or hampering a criminal investigation. Does that mean it works both ways? Is it also illegal for the police to lie to you,...

You’re sitting in a restaurant enjoying a lovely meal with your friends. You were their guest, so you didn’t even think about the bill when you stepped outside for a minute to grab a smoke.  A few minutes later, your friends come out the door and quickly hustle you...

As you do your holiday shopping this year, you may notice an increased presence of armed security guards positioned strategically on the property, including inside the store. What you may not notice is the fleet of loss prevention officers who wear regular clothing...

You’re not just angry -- you’re furious. You just found a pile of messages between your boyfriend and another woman, and you feel like you were played for a fool. You have half a mind to “key” his car all the way down to the metal so that he gets a very big message...

Theft is one of the most common criminal offenses, and it involves many kinds of criminal activity. Some people steal food from a store to feed their families. Other people steal items from friends and neighbors to feed an addiction. There are even teenagers who...

You’ve never been in trouble with the law before, but the charges are serious. You’re worried about the effect that a trial may have on your family, your reputation and your future -- so you’re hoping for a plea deal. Is that really in your best interest? Maybe. Every...

Few things will sway a jury like a confident witness. This is someone who didn’t know they were going to see a crime happen, who has no reason to lie and confidently states that they saw the defendant at the scene. The defendant may adamantly say that this is not the...