Theft is a criminal offense in Florida and can be charged as either a misdemeanor or felony, depending on the circumstance of your case. Petit theft, known commonly as “petty theft,” is the lowest level of a theft offense and is considered a misdemeanor, while a grand theft charge is prosecuted as a felony.
If you face any type of theft charge in Florida, you risk paying fines, serving jail time, having a criminal record, serving probation, facing a temporary driver’s license suspension, and offering restitution.
You shouldn’t face these accusations alone. With a criminal defense lawyer by your side, you might minimize the consequences of your conviction or have the charges dropped. Here is what you should know about theft charges in Florida.
What Is Considered Theft in Florida?
Theft in Florida is the act of unlawfully taking, using, or attempting to obtain someone else’s property with the intent to permanently or temporarily deprive them of said property or covert it to unauthorized use, such as in the case of embezzlement or misappropriation.
Theft is charged based on the value of the property stolen, the type of property stolen, and how said property was stolen. Various factors contribute to how a theft is classified, but generally, if the stolen goods were worth less than $750, then it’s most likely that the theft will be classified as a misdemeanor.
Stolen property that is valued at $750 or above is generally charged as a felony. Criminal penalties also vary based on your case’s circumstances and the degree of the crime.
Theft Classifications and Punishments in Florida
In Florida, the lowest theft charge is petit theft of the second degree, which is a second-degree misdemeanor. This occurs when the property stolen is valued at less than $100. If you are convicted of a petit theft of the second degree, you might face up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine.
If the offender stole property valued above $100 but less than $750, then they might face a petit theft charge of the first degree, which is prosecuted as a misdemeanor of the first degree. In this situation, the offender might face up to one-year imprisonment and a $1,000 fine.
Things take a different turn once the offender is charged with grand theft. Grand theft of the third degree is the lowest grand theft charge one can face in Florida, and it is usually considered a felony of the third degree.
You can be charged with grand theft of the third degree if the stolen property is valued at $750 or more but doesn’t exceed $20,000. If you steal property between $100 and $750 from inside someone’s home or around it, you can also face a grand theft charge.
Property stolen from construction sites, stop signs, controlled substances, and firearms are also classified as grand theft of the third degree and can mean up to five years imprisonment and a fine of up to $5,000. Grand theft of the second and third degrees are the highest theft charges one can face in Florida and can carry a sentence of 15 to 30 years imprisonment and $10,000 fines.
