Theft, burglary and robbery solicitors you can trust

Everyone has the right to free legal advice when interviewed under caution at a police station. You should not answer any questions without a solicitor present.

Interviewed Under Caution

Theft can be a complicated area of law as it is not limited to one specific act, it can be committed in a variety of ways.

Most theft offences can be found in the Theft Act 1968. This is an important set of laws, which outlines the penalties for each type of crime.

Firstly, you might find it useful to know which criminal acts are classed as theft. These include, but are not limited to, the following:

Shoplifting – This is committed if you were to walk out of a shop with items that you haven’t paid for. This could be a genuine mistake, but if it is proven that you did this deliberately and dishonestly then you could face prosecution.

Theft by finding – This is committed if you find an item which seems to have been discarded and you choose to keep it for yourself. This is most commonly money which has been found in the street. If you choose to keep this for yourself rather than handing it in to the police, then you may be prosecuted for ‘theft by finding’.

Taking a vehicle – This is committed if you take a vehicle without the owner’s consent. This is most commonly known as ‘joy riding’ or ‘TWOC’. If the car was driven dangerously or damaged before it was recovered, it would then become an ‘aggravated’ TWOC, which means that any potential punishment is likely to be harsher.

Identity theft – You’re committing identity theft if you try to pass yourself off as somebody else in order to obtain property. This might be done by stealing someone’s bank cards and then seeking to use them for gain. Once this has been achieved, the charge of any product/service will be billed to the victim of the identity theft. Depending on the circumstances, this will be viewed as a serious crime, which could lead to a prison sentence.

Handling stolen goods – This is committed when you buy or acquire property which is stolen. The prosecution must prove that you knew or believed the items were stolen, however mere suspicion will not be enough. Instead, you could be charged with possession of criminal property and this does not require the same level of knowledge. Courts view handling stolen property very seriously, thinking that disposing of stolen property encourages the original theft.

When it comes to sentencing, the courts have detailed guides, and the outcome of your case will depend on a number of factors. For example:

The value involved – stealing over £10,000 can attract long sentences of imprisonment at the Crown Court.
The nature of the victim – stealing from someone who is vulnerable will always mean a higher sentence.

Evidence of pre-planning or organisation will make matters more serious.

If the theft happens to fund an addiction or is an impulsive isolated act it may provide an explanation to allow sentencing for a community order.

In order for you to be found guilty of theft, it must be proved that you acted dishonestly and took something which belonged to somebody else. If you have been accused, it is therefore essential that you seek professional legal representation as soon as possible so you can build a strong and properly presented defence.

Theft Act 1968

If your child (under the age of 18) is accused of theft, the police must tell you as soon as possible. They should not interview your child until you are present.

Your child has the same right to legal advice as an adult. You should speak to a theft solicitor as soon as possible and advise your child not to answer questions until a legal expert is present.

A child under the age of 10 cannot be taken to Court and charged with a criminal offence. However, once they are 10 or over, they are treated in the same way as any young person under 18 and will be dealt with by the Youth Justice System.