Theft is never legal, but there are more types of theft crimes than most people realize. In Colorado, convictions for very minor misdemeanor thefts may result in a small fine and no jail time. A felony theft can mean thousands of dollars in fines and years in prison. But no matter the severity of the offense, a theft conviction can carry lifelong consequences — and hiring an experienced criminal defense attorney can help you reduce the risk that a charge will follow you for the rest of your life. Here’s a look at the most common types of theft crimes in Colorado.
Charges of theft — no matter how serious or how minor — can threaten your freedom, your reputation, and your finances. They can even impact your ability to find or keep a job. The right defense attorney can help you understand your charges and formulate a customized defense strategy.
What Are the Most Common Types of Theft Crimes in Colorado?
There May Be More Kinds of Colorado Theft Than You Realize
There are many kinds of theft crimes in our state — and the penalties are just as wide-ranging as the potential charges. Here are some of the most common.
Shoplifting
You may have guessed that shoplifting is one of the most common Colorado theft crimes. Shoplifting might sound like something teenagers do after school, but it can have very serious consequences. There are many reasons people shoplift, but judges rarely care about the reasons behind the crime. The penalties increase with the value of goods stolen:
- Under $300 (Petty Offense): A fine and/or up to 10 days in jail
- $300 to Less Than $2,000 (Misdemeanor): A fine and/or up to 364 days in jail
- $2,000 or More (Felony): A fine and/or 1 to 24 years in prison.
Notably, Colorado statutes don’t require you to actually leave the premises of the store to be arrested for shoplifting. If you intentionally hide items you haven’t purchased (by putting them in your pocket, hiding them under your shirt, concealing them in a purse, etc.), you’re guilty of shoplifting under state law.
Embezzlement
Many businesses and non-profit organizations have employees who are trusted with significant amounts of money. When these employees violate that trust by secretly stealing that money, they commit embezzlement, one of Colorado’s common theft crimes. An employee who steals actual items (as opposed to funds) entrusted to them can also be charged with embezzlement.
Like many kinds of fraud, embezzlement is what’s known as a “white-collar” crime, but that doesn’t mean it comes with lenient penalties. For example, anyone who embezzles public property — regardless of the value of that property — is automatically guilty of a Class 5 felony and barred from holding an office of public trust.
Even if you are charged with embezzlement of private property (like funds belonging to a private company), a conviction can still have a tremendously negative impact on your career. Many employers don’t want to hire someone with a history of stealing, especially if that history involves stealing from an employer.
Burglary and Robbery
Many people confuse burglary and robbery because both are crimes involving theft or attempted theft. However, robbery is considered to be a violent crime because it involves stealing (or attempting to steal) by using violence, threats of violence, force, or intimidation. Burglary involves unlawfully entering a building with the intent to steal or otherwise commit a crime.
Even though robbery is generally a violent crime and burglary isn’t, both of these crimes are felonies in the state of Colorado. Felonies come with harsher penalties than misdemeanors, and they also tend to have greater ramifications for the rest of your life. If you’ve been charged with either crime, finding an experienced criminal defense attorney is crucial.
Facing theft charges can be extremely stressful. If you’ve just been arrested, the most important thing is to retain an experienced criminal defense attorney. The Law Office of Kevin Cahill is here for you — call 720-445-9887 now. Your first consultation is free!
Identity Theft
This might not be the first crime you think of when you imagine types of theft in Colorado. And while identity theft might not be quite as common as shoplifting, the rise of technology has made committing this offense much easier than it used to be.
“Identity theft” is also a much broader crime than many people realize. To many, stealing an identity means impersonating someone else. However, any time you use someone else’s name and/or financial information without permission, you commit identity theft. These are some examples:
- Taking and using someone’s checkbook
- Using someone’s debit card and PIN without permission
- Using someone’s name and/or Social Security number to open a new account
- Using someone’s insurance information to fraudulently obtain healthcare services.
Some of these actions might seem minor, but even seemingly small actions can result in serious consequences. However, in some cases, a skilled attorney can help you craft a strong, convincing defense.
Grand Theft
“Grand theft” might sound like stealing something extremely valuable. However, in Colorado, you only have to steal an item (or collection of items) worth $2,000 or more to be guilty of grand theft.
Grand theft is a felony, and depending on the total value of what you steal and other circumstances, you could be facing a fine of up to $1 million and up to 24 years in prison. It’s always critical to have strong legal representation when you’ve been charged with a crime, but when the consequences are this severe, it’s more important than ever. If you’re arrested for grand theft (or any other crime), don’t talk to the police — ask for a lawyer and call our office right away.
Have You Been Accused of Theft in Colorado?
Securing an Experienced Defense Attorney Is the Next Step
Whether you’re facing a petty misdemeanor charge, or you have been accused of a felony punishable by significant jail time, theft charges are something to take seriously. While you can’t go back in time and erase your arrest, you can do the next best thing — and that’s finding a criminal defense attorney who will take the time to craft a personalized defense.
The right attorney can mean the difference between incarceration and seeing all charges dismissed, and founding attorney Kevin Cahill has helped countless clients emerge victorious. Mr. Cahill has nearly two decades of experience defending clients from nearly every type of criminal charge.
If you’ve been arrested and charged with a theft crime, call the Law Office of Kevin Cahill at 720-445-9887 to set up a free consultation today.