Payment PlansLos Angeles Theft Defense Lawyer
In Los Angeles, taking another person's property can result in theft charges. You could face fines, jail time, and a criminal record. The Law Offices of David S. Chesley are expert Los Angeles theft defense lawyers who have successfully defended numerous clients in criminal court.
If you've been arrested for a theft charge, request an attorney right away before speaking with police. Our team is available 24/7 and ready for your case — call now at (800) 755-5174 or contact us online for a free consultation.
Reviewed by Attorney David S. Chesley, September 2026. California criminal defense since June 2005, SBN 236611.
Key Points
- Stolen property with a value of $950 or less is considered petty theft, while anything valued above $950 is considered grand theft.
- Penalties range from misdemeanor charges of up to 6 months' jail time to felony charges with potential penalties of up to 9 years' imprisonment, plus enhancements
- After being charged with theft, you should invoke your right to remain silent and request to speak with your attorney immediately.
- Defenses against theft charges include lack of intent, true ownership, and claim of right.
What Should You Do if You Are Facing Theft Charges in Los Angeles?
When accused of theft in Los Angeles, you need to act fast to protect your freedom. Don't speak to police, request an attorney, and try to secure your release before moving forward with your case.
- Stay Silent — If brought into an interrogation, invoke your Fifth Amendment right to remain silent.
- Request an Attorney — A Los Angeles theft crimes lawyer can help you avoid pitfalls and build a defense.
- Secure Release — Part of what sets Los Angeles theft crimes apart is the "zero-bail policy." Under it, charges are separated into categories of cite-and-release, book-and-release, or magistrate review. The first two categories contain most non-violent theft charges, allowing for release without bail.
- Don't Discuss Your Case — Besides your attorney, you should not talk about your case with others.
- Build Your Defense — Collaborate with your theft defense lawyer to gather evidence and create an effective strategy.
Common Theft Charges in Los Angeles
California's grand theft threshold sits at $950. Anything below that is considered petty theft, a misdemeanor, while anything above that is classified as grand theft. Grand theft itself is a wobbler and could be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony.
California has experienced shoplifting epidemics in the past. However, Los Angeles in particular has worked to combat this, particularly through police crackdowns on organized theft rings. This has made LA a tumultuous location to deal with theft charges.
Below, we've outlined general categories of common theft charges in Los Angeles and examples of each:
General Larceny
| Charge | Statute | Description | Penalties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petty Theft | PC § 484(a) | Petty theft is a catch-all term for taking another person's property without permission, or through fraudulent means. | Misdemeanor: Up to 6 months in jail and/or up to $1,000 in fines. |
| Petty Theft With a Prior | PC § 666 or PC § 666.1 | Petty theft charges when the defendant has a prior conviction on their record, increasing the potential penalties. | Misdemeanor: Up to 1 year in jail. Felony: 16 months, 2 years, or 3 years in county jail. |
| Receiving Stolen Property | PC § 496 | Buying, selling, or holding onto property that you know was stolen (whether or not you were the one to steal it). | Misdemeanor: Up to 1 year in jail. Felony: 16 months, 2 years, or 3 years in county jail. |
| Shoplifting | PC § 459.5 | Theft of merchandise from a store, during normal business hours, valued at $950 or less. Proposition 47 separated this from commercial burglary. | Misdemeanor: Up to 6 months in jail, and/or up to $1,000 in fines. |
| Grand Theft | PC § 487 | Theft of items over the value of $950, or firearms (regardless of their value). Grand theft auto falls under this. | Misdemeanor: Up to 1 year in jail. Felony: 16 months, 2 years, or 3 years in county jail. |
Vehicle Theft and Related
| Charge | Statute | Description | Penalties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joyriding | VC § 10851 | Taking another person's vehicle without permission, but not intending to permanently keep it from them. | Misdemeanor: Up to 1 year in jail and/or up to $5,000 in fines. Felony: 16 months, 2 years, or 3 years in county jail and/or up to $10,000 in fines. |
| Carjacking | PC § 215 | Taking another person's vehicle while they are present, using threats or violence. | Base Felony: 3 years, 5 years, or 9 years in county jail and up to $10,000 in fines. Enhancements can apply. |
| Possession of a Stolen Vehicle | PC § 496d | Buying, selling, or holding onto a vehicle when you know it was stolen, regardless of whether you were involved in the theft. | Misdemeanor: Up to 1 year in jail and/or up to $1,000 in fines. Felony: 16 months, 2 years, or 3 years in county jail and/or up to $10,000 in fines. |
White Collar Crimes
| Charge | Statute | Description | Penalties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Embezzlement | PC § 503 | Illegally taking money or property that you were given access to, but weren't supposed to keep for yourself. | Treated as either petty theft or grand theft, depending on the amount stolen. |
| Money Laundering | PC § 186.10 | Using financial transactions to try to disguise money that came from an illegal source. California targets transactions that exceed $5,000 within 7 days, or $25,000 within 30 days. | Standard Penalty: Up to 1 year in jail and/or a fine of up to $250,000 or double the amount taken. Up to four more years can be added for higher amounts of money laundered. |
| Identity Theft | PC § 530.5 | Using another person's identifying information for illegal purposes, including financial gain. | Misdemeanor: Up to 1 year in jail and/or up to $1,000 in fines. Felony: 16 months, 2 years, or 3 years in county jail and/or up to $10,000 in fines. |
Violent Theft Offenses
| Charge | Statute | Description | Penalties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robbery | PC § 211 | The use of force or threats to take someone else's property. | First Degree: 3 years, 4 years, or 6 years in county jail. Second Degree: 2 years, 3 years, or 5 years in county jail, and/or up to $10,000 in fines. Weapon use can increase jail sentences. |
| Extortion (Blackmail) | PC § 518 | Using some kind of threat to coerce someone into giving you their money, property, or anything else of value. | 2 years, 3 years, or 4 years in county jail, and/or up to $10,000 in fines. |
Burglary
| Charge | Statute | Description | Penalties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential Burglary (First Degree) | PC § 459 | Breaking into someone's home with the intent to commit theft or any felony. | Felony: 2 years, 4 years, or 6 years in county jail, and/or up to $10,000 in fines. |
| Commercial Burglary (Second Degree) | PC § 459 | Breaking into private, non-residential property with the intent to commit theft or any felony. | Misdemeanor: Up to 1 year in jail, and/or up to $1,000 in fines. Felony: 16 months, 2 years, or 3 years in county jail, and/or up to $10,000 in fines. |
| Burglary of a Vehicle | PC § 459 | Breaking into a locked vehicle with the intent to commit theft or any felony. | Misdemeanor: Up to 1 year in jail, and/or up to $1,000 in fines. Felony: 16 months, 2 years, or 3 years in county jail, and/or up to $10,000 in fines. |
Other Theft and Related Charges Our Lawyers Defend
Collateral Consequences of a Theft Crime Conviction in Los Angeles
In addition to the penalties listed above, after a theft crime conviction, you may face several collateral consequences. These can include long-lasting effects that will persist even after release from jail:
- Barriers to citizenship applications
- Deportation, in more serious cases
- Career setbacks and roadblocks
- Housing application denials
- Loss of professional licenses
How a Los Angeles Defense Lawyer Helps You Fight Theft Charges
Your theft defense lawyer is your most important asset in defending your innocence. And at the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, we use our combined over 50 years of courtroom experience to fight for clients' rights.
An attorney can help you understand the justice process, navigate challenging interrogations, and mount a defensive strategy on multiple fronts:
- Understanding the Court Process — If you haven't been accused of a crime before, it's easy to get lost in the process. Your lawyer will help explain everything as it happens.
- Handling Interrogations — Beyond advice to stay silent, your attorney will advise you on when it's a good idea to talk and what to say in those circumstances.
- Evidence Review — For theft cases, this often includes looking at surveillance video.
- Developing a Defense — There are several possible defense strategies that can be used against theft charges. Your criminal defense attorney will help you pick the right one.
- Filing Pre-Trial Motions — Before the trial, your lawyer will review evidence and file motions to improve your case.
- Negotiate Plea Deals — Many Los Angeles theft cases end in plea bargains. A skilled negotiator can help you get a favorable deal.
- Defending You at Trial — If your case does go to trial, your attorney will present your defense in front of a jury while challenging the state's narrative.
Without an attorney, the odds are stacked against you. With the right law firm, you set your case up for a positive outcome.
Strong Defenses Against Theft Allegations in Los Angeles
There are many possible theft charges in Los Angeles, and different strategies are more or less useful on different ones. Below are some of the strategies that our attorneys may use in your case:
- Lack of Intent — For some cases like shoplifting, it's possible to have accidentally taken property without realizing it.
- Actual Ownership — If the property in question was rightfully yours, you could not have stolen it.
- Consent — Consent applies if you had permission to take or use property at the time.
- Claim of Right — A claim of right can be effective if you honestly believed you owned property or had a right to use it, but were mistaken.
- Mistaken Identity — Sometimes the wrong person is identified, and the theft was committed by someone else.
- Insufficient Evidence — If the prosecution fails to prove the case against you beyond a reasonable doubt, our lawyers will highlight that.
- Unlawful Search and Seizure — Any evidence that was obtained unlawfully can be challenged in an attempt to suppress it.
- Challenge Valuation — Your lawyer can help reduce grand theft charges to petty theft by showing the value allegedly stolen was less than $950.
Selecting the right defense is the first step. After that, you need to collaborate with your theft crimes lawyer to tailor the strategy for your unique case.
Why Choose Our Lawyers for Theft Defense in Los Angeles?
The Law Offices of David S. Chesley is known for its staunch defense of Los Angeles residents. As a former Los Angeles County prosecutor, Mr. Chesley has insights into the way the state builds its case and is prepared to use that knowledge to protect you.
In addition to Mr. Chesley, the firm's team is made up of former judges and police officers with deep relationships in the California court system. Your attorney can use these relationships in negotiations to find a favorable plea deal.
Your theft defense lawyer should be someone who is available for your questions, has a track record of success, and is always honest with you. We aim to embody these qualities in every case we take.
How Theft Cases Move Through Los Angeles Courts
There are several different courthouses in Los Angeles, but they all fall under the Los Angeles County Superior Court system. Depending on your charges, you could be going anywhere from the Airport Courthouse on South La Cienega to the Governor George Deukmejian Courthouse down in Long Beach. The majority of courts handle cases between 8:30 A.M. and 4:30 P.M., Monday through Friday.
You should be able to find your case information using the Los Angeles court's self-help page, but the full process will involve more than just showing up for hearings:
- Investigation — Often before you realize it, the state is conducting an investigation on you.
- Pre-Filing Investigation Conference — In some cases, before charges are formally filed, your lawyer can mount a pre-emptive defense.
- Arrest and Arraignment — Most cases officially begin with an arrest. After you've been booked, you'll be formally charged at an arraignment.
- Pre-Trial Motions — Motions to suppress evidence, reduce bail, and dismiss charges can all be crucial in shaping your theft case.
- Negotiations — Using connections with the prosecutor, a skillful theft defense attorney may be able to reduce the charges against you.
- Preliminary Hearing (Felony Cases Only) — In felony cases, the court holds a preliminary hearing to determine if a trial is necessary.
- Trial — If a trial is deemed necessary and no plea deal is reached, your theft lawyer will fight against the charges before a jury.
It's important to know that steps 4-6 often can occur in any order, and often simultaneously. The timeline of the total process can vary greatly. Simple misdemeanors like petty theft often take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, while felonies like armed robbery often take months to years.
Los Angeles Theft Charge FAQs
What is the difference between petty theft and grand theft in California?
California divides petty and grand theft depending on the value of the allegedly stolen property. If it was $950 or less, the charge would fall under petty theft (a misdemeanor). Above $950, it counts as grand theft (a wobbler).
Is shoplifting a felony or a misdemeanor in Los Angeles?
Most Los Angeles shoplifting cases are considered misdemeanors. The main exception is for repeat offenses: Proposition 36 made it so that shoplifting with at least two prior theft-related convictions on your record can be elevated to a felony. It also allows the state to combine the value of multiple stolen items, and if the total value is above $950, charge shoplifting as a felony.
What are the penalties for theft in Los Angeles?
The penalties for theft in Los Angeles vary widely depending on the exact charge. Penalties for petty theft, a common charge, include up to 6 months in jail and/or up to $1,000 in fines. Grand theft penalties vary depending on whether it's charged as a misdemeanor, with up to 1 year in jail, or a felony with up to 3 years in county jail.
Can a theft charge be dismissed or reduced?
Many theft charges can be dismissed or reduced, depending on the circumstances and negotiation skills of your lawyer. Your attorney will help you explore strategies by examining the evidence and speaking with the prosecutor.
Will a theft conviction show up on my record, and can it be cleared?
Theft convictions will generally show up on your criminal record in Los Angeles. Expungement is often an option after enough time has passed.
If possible, it's best to avoid having a conviction on your record entirely. Diversionary programs and probation are often successful strategies to this end.
Do I need a lawyer for petty theft?
Yes — a lawyer can help argue for probation or diversionary programs, give you insights into the statutes in question, and ensure that your rights are protected against violations.
Can I be arrested days after a shoplifting incident?
You can be arrested several days after a shoplifting incident. Under current California law, there is a one-year statute of limitations on misdemeanor charges and a three-year statute of limitations on felony charges.
Can theft affect immigration status or my professional license?
A theft conviction can have significant consequences for immigration status and professional licenses, particularly if it is a violent felony conviction. This can appear on background checks, prevent the approval of professional licenses, and be used as a basis for deportation.
Accused of Theft in Los Angeles? Get Help From a Defense Attorney Today
The Law Offices of David S. Chesley is a reputable criminal defense law firm in Los Angeles and is ready to defend your freedom against the prosecution. We will advocate for your rights, build a defense strategy, and fight for you in court.
Call now at (800) 755-5174 or reach out online to get started today.
