Defending Californians Accused of Theft, Burglary and Robbery
If you've been charged with stealing or attempting to steal someone's property, you may be confused about what exactly the charges against you mean and why the prosecutors think they can convict on you based on the evidence.
An experienced criminal defense lawyer can help you understand the charges and fight for your rights in the justice system. I'm Jim Pokorny, a San Diego attorney with more than 30 years of criminal defense experience. If you've been charged with theft, burglary or robbery, contact me for a free phone consultation about what I can do to defend you.
Understanding Different Types of Property Crimes
While many people use terms like theft, burglary and robbery interchangeably, these are in fact three distinct types of crimes. The general differences between them are as follows:
- Theft: You can be charged with theft if you allegedly stole something from someone else. You can be charged with theft for allegedly stealing money or any other thing of value. Theft charges may be brought in conjunction with burglary or robbery charges, or on their own. Embezzlement is also considered a type of theft.
- Burglary: Burglary refers to entering someone else's property with the intent to commit a crime. The property in question could be a house, motor home, trailer, shed or garage, or it could be a department store or other business. You do not have to follow through on the intended crime to be charged with burglary.
- Robbery: Robbery is considered a type of violent crime because in order to be convicted of robbery, you need to have used force or the threat of force to try to take property from someone. You can be charged with this crime even if you were not successful with the alleged theft. Robbery can occur anywhere, such as a bank, someone's home, or on public property.
There are wide-ranging consequences if you are convicted of theft or another of these charges. For instance, robbery with a deadly weapon is a more serious offense than another robbery. Burglary of a residential home can result in a "strike" on your California criminal record.
I am highly experienced at defending clients against theft charges and other property charges. If you've been charged with burglary, theft, robbery or any other property crime, don't hesitate to contact me to discuss your options.
