There are four main types of theft. The first is larceny. It refers to taking or carrying away an item without the owner’s consent. However, unauthorized borrowing of another person’s property does not constitute larceny if the borrower has the intent to return it.
Another type is embezzlement. This is when a person takes money from an account and tries to hide it or resell it without authorization. Also, there is identity theft. When someone obtains another person’s personal information, such as Social Security numbers, they can use that information to gain access to bank accounts or other information relating to their finances. Generally, this is considered to be the most common form of theft.
If you decide to take a crack at theft, it’s important to know exactly what you’re up against. Different jurisdictions have different definitions and penalties for different types of theft. As such, you may want to consult with a criminal defense attorney to find out what you can expect from the court. Ultimately, you will need to prove that you committed the crime – but that does not mean you cannot be acquitted if you are unable to do so.
Depending on the laws in your state, a few common defenses can help you avoid the wrath of the law. These include alibi, entrapment, and defenses related to the size of the stolen item. For example, a person who steals a $900 television has a much more serious offense than a person who steals $15 earrings. Even though they are not the same crime, the penalties can be comparable.
Among the lesser crimes is petty larceny, which is stealing an item valued under $500. Petty larceny is handled by the local town courts. A person convicted of this offense may be fined as little as $1,000 or as much as three years in jail. On the other hand, the penalty for armed robbery is far more severe. While petty larceny is usually a misdemeanor, a person who is caught red-handed stealing a gun or a vehicle may face a felony charge, including murder.
One of the most common kinds of fraud is check fraud. Check fraud, or check forgery, involves altering or forging a document in order to defraud a bank. In some jurisdictions, the penalty for this crime is a maximum of 10 years in prison.
Computer fraud, or cybercrime, is a more modern variant of the same. With cybercrime, the thief uses a computer to carry out an act of fraud, such as deleting a program or inserting data. Additionally, some jurisdictions have added a special category of fraud for intellectual property, such as patents or trade secrets.
While these are the most common, there are many other types of theft. Many people steal for reasons such as needing the money or because they are desperate. Other forms of theft, such as burglary and carjacking, involve violence. Some states even classify a carjacking as a grand theft – regardless of the value of the stolen automobile.
