Tampa Theft Crime Lawyer

Petit theft, also known as petty theft, is charged when the value of the stolen property is less than $750. If the property is valued at less than $100, the offense is charged as a second-degree misdemeanor. If the property is valued between $100 and $749, the charge is elevated to a first-degree misdemeanor. Depending on the degree of the offense, a conviction can result in anywhere from 60 days to up to a year in jail and between $500 and $1,000 in fines. If you’ve been accused of taking someone else’s property that is valued less than $750, our Tampa petit theft lawyers can help you understand your options.

Grand theft involves property valued at $750 or more and is classified as a felony offense. There are three degrees of grand theft: third, second, and first degree. 

• Third-degree grand theft (a third-degree felony) applies when the property stolen is valued between $750 and $19,999. 
• Second-degree grand theft (a second-degree felony) applies when the property is valued between $20,000 and $99,999. 
• First-degree grand theft (a first-degree felony and the most serious grand theft offense) applies when the value of the property stolen is $100,000 or more. 

Depending on the degree of the charge, a conviction can carry a prison sentence ranging anywhere from 5 to 30 years. Our Tampa grand theft defense attorneys at Buda Law regularly represent clients facing these serious felony allegations.

Carjacking and grand theft of a motor vehicle in Florida are treated as especially serious offenses, particularly when the alleged theft involves the use of force or a weapon. Even if the value of the property would typically classify as petit theft, stealing an automobile is always considered to be grand theft and will be charged as a felony offense.

A conviction for either offense can carry lengthy prison time and a permanent felony record. Our grand theft auto and carjacking attorneys in Tampa, FL, work to challenge the evidence in these cases, including whether the prosecution can actually establish that the accused intended to permanently deprive the owner of their vehicle.

Retail theft and shoplifting allegations are among the most common theft charges we see in Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties. These cases often originate with accusations from loss prevention officers at a retail store, and the evidence (or lack of it) can vary significantly from case to case. If you’re facing retail theft or shoplifting charges in Florida, our attorneys at Buda Law will carefully examine how the alleged theft was observed and documented before building a defense strategy based around the facts of the case. 

When an employer accuses a current or former employee of stealing money, merchandise, or other property, the resulting charges can carry consequences that extend well beyond the courtroom, including the loss of a career and professional reputation. Our legal team works to identify weaknesses in these allegations, which are often based on internal audits or incomplete recordkeeping rather than solid evidence.

Theft by deception involves allegedly obtaining property or money through fraud, false pretenses, or misrepresentation. These cases often hinge on whether the prosecution can prove that a defendant knowingly and intentionally deceived another person for financial gain, which can be difficult to establish beyond a reasonable doubt.

Organized retail theft charges apply when multiple parties involved are accused of working together to steal merchandise for resale or other financial gain. These cases often carry enhanced penalties and can result in felony charges, even when the actions of a single individual might otherwise be treated as a misdemeanor.

A person may face dealing in stolen property charges in Florida for trafficking in or endeavoring to traffic in property they knew or should have known was stolen. This offense is treated separately from the underlying theft and can carry its own significant penalties, even for someone who wasn’t involved in the original theft itself.

When an alleged theft involves the use of force, intimidation, or a weapon, the charge escalates to robbery or armed robbery in Florida, which are among the most serious theft-related offenses under state law. A conviction can carry decades in prison and significant fines, along with other long-lasting and life-changing consequences. Our Tampa robbery defense attorneys provide aggressive representation for clients facing these allegations, working to dismantle the state’s case from any and every angle.