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If you or a loved one has been charged with shoplifting or another theft crime, a qualified Phoenix theft attorney at Stone Rose Law can assist you. We are here to help you protect your legal rights and reach the best possible outcome on various types of theft offenses that you can be charged with, including:

• Shoplifting or petty theft
• Petty theft with a prior
• Theft of means of transportation (i.e. grand theft auto)
• Burglary
• Robbery
• Armed robbery
• Vehicular theft
• Embezzlement
• Credit card fraud
• Identity theft

Arizona theft crimes and their legal penalties will depend on the items stolen, the property’s value, and the criminal history of the person charged. Most of our clients are responsible people who face criminal charges for the first time and are very concerned about the impact the charges will have on their lives.

When you learn an Arizona theft crimes case has been filed against you, contact a Phoenix criminal lawyer at Stone Rose Law by calling (480) 498-8998. Every theft case is different. As your theft attorneys, we can help you understand your options.

What Is Considered Theft in Arizona?

Theft is an offense as old as humankind, and everyone implicitly understands what it is. Theft in Arizona is defined by A.R.S. § 13-1802(A) and (B). Subsection (A) states that a person commits theft if, without lawful authority, the person knowingly:

• Controls the property of another with the intent to deprive the other person of it; or
• Converts for an unauthorized term or use services or property of another entrusted to the defendant or placed in the defendant’s possession for a limited, authorized term of use; or
• Obtains services or property of another by means of any material misrepresentation with intent to deprive the other person of such property or services; or
• Comes into control of lost, mislaid, or misdelivered property of another under circumstances providing means of inquiry as to the true owner and appropriates such property to the person’s own or another’s use without reasonable efforts to notify the true owner; or
• Controls property of another knowing or having reason to know the property was stolen; or
• Obtains services known to the defendant to be available only for compensation without paying or an agreement to pay compensation or diverts another’s services to the person’s own or another’s benefit without authority to do so; or
• Controls the ferrous metal or nonferrous metal of another with the intent to deprive the other person of the metal; or
• Controls the ferrous or nonferrous metal of another knowing or having reason to know that the metal was stolen; or
• Purchases within the scope of the ordinary course of business the ferrous metal or nonferrous metal of another person knowing that the metal was stolen.

This is important because Arizona’s Courts have held that, while a defendant is entitled to a unanimous jury verdict on whether the criminal act charged has been committed, the defendant is not entitled to a unanimous verdict on the precise manner in which the act was committed. State v. Cotton, 228 Ariz. 105 (App. 2011). Thus, a defendant can be convicted of a single count of theft if the jury is unanimous that it occurred but disagrees about which subsection it occurred under. Learn more about what constitutes theft in Arizona by speaking with a knowledgeable Phoenix theft attorney.

Penalties for Theft Crimes in Arizona

Theft of property valued at under $1,000 is a class 1 misdemeanor unless the property is a firearm in which case it is a class 6 felony. Theft of property over $1,000 is always a felony, with the class of felony being dependent on the value of the property. The more the property is worth, the more serious the offense. Regardless of whether it is considered a misdemeanor or a felony, theft is a serious charge that can result in the loss of your good name, freedom, and money.

Schedule a Free Consultation With a Phoenix Theft Lawyer Today

If you have been investigated for, arrested for, or charged with theft, you need an experienced theft attorney to protect your rights. Call Stone Rose Law now at (480) 546-5262 for a free consultation.