Theft, Burglary And Robbery Solicitors You Can Trust
If you’re accused of theft, robbery or burglary, you could face severe penalties, including a prison sentence. Cartwright King’s specialist Solicitors will do everything they can to clear you of any wrongdoing, offering you legal advice you can trust and sure guidance throughout your case.
Get in touch with Cartwright King now to speak to a specialist theft, burglary and robbery Solicitor.
How Cartwright King can help you
Conviction for theft can damage your reputation and relationships, result in loss of employment, income and your home. Cartwright King’s specialist theft solicitors work to help you avoid punishment for theft in the UK to keep your reputation and your livelihood intact. We can help you with:
- Allegations of theft – commercial and residential
- Commercial and residential robbery allegations
- Allegations of burglary – commercial and residential
- Blackmail allegations
- Allegations of handling stolen goods
- Vehicle theft allegations
- Allegations of identity theft
Unique advocacy services
Our unique advocacy services give you constant and consistent legal representation. Cartwright King can represent you at every stage of your case, giving you reliable, professional and effective legal guidance whenever and wherever you need us.
We can provide legal representation from the police station through to the Higher Courts. When you need us most, we will be there with the legal know-how and calm head to guide you through your case.
What Is Theft And What Is Required To Secure A Conviction?
Under Section 1 of the Theft Act 1968, an individual is guilty of theft if they “dishonestly appropriate property” that is owned by another person, with an intention to deprive the victim of their property permanently. In practice, the scope of this charge is wide, it can be applied to taking property from individuals, shops or businesses as an employee.
To be convinced of theft, the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that all of the below apply to your case:
- Property has been taken
- Dishonesty has been used to appropriate said property
- The property taken belongs to someone else
- You intended to take the property away from its owner
If you are found guilty of theft, you could be facing a fine, a community sentence or a maximum sentence of seven years.
Corporate Theft
Corporate theft is a white-collar crime which involves intentionally using dishonesty to illegally appropriate business assets.
In some cases, false allegations are made by employers or coworkers to have an employee dismissed immediately. However, if a corporate theft charge is made against you and you are found guilty of a theft from an employer at trial or you plead guilty to reach a quicker resolution, a guilty verdict will inevitably result in a Criminal Record. Such a verdict can have a significant negative impact on your life and your professional future.
At Cartwright King, we have represented numerous clients who have faced theft allegations made by an employer or colleagues. Get in touch with our team today to get legal advice and decide what the best solution is in your specific circumstances.
Benefit From Free Legal Advice At A Police Station
If you’re arrested on suspicion of theft, robbery or burglary, Cartwright King’s professional solicitors are available day and night to offer free legal advice at the police station. Our priority is to ensure that your position is protected and your defence is properly presented.
You have the right to choose who you want to represent you legally. Tell the police you want to be represented by Cartwright King, and one of our specialist Theft Solicitors will be able to speak to you, no matter where you are in the UK.
Voluntary Police Station Interview
If you are a professional who has committed no previous criminal offences and this is your first experience with the Criminal Justice System, the police may invite you to attend a Voluntary Police Interview Under Caution at an agreed date and time.
If you are offered to attend an interview under caution voluntarily, you are not technically under arrest which makes the situation less inconvenient for you. In addition to that, attending the voluntary interview has its benefits. It is likely to be perceived as showing cooperation with the investigation which can, later on, be used in your favour if the case goes to trial.
If you are invited to a Voluntary Police Interview Under Caution, get in
However, you must remember that even if you have gone to the police station voluntarily, you are still a suspect in a criminal investigation and anything you say during that interview can be used against you in your case. If you refuse to attend, you will likely still be arrested and questioned by the police.
If you are invited to a Voluntary Police Interview Under Caution, get in touch with our criminal defence team and theft solicitors to ensure you have legal advice and representation during the interview.
A Criminal Trial: What Does A Theft Trial Involve?
If you have been charged with a criminal offence, such as theft, burglary or robbery, and you decide to plead “not guilty”, your case will go to a contested Court hearing, commonly referred to as “trial”.
During the trial, you will be represented by our professional theft solicitors. All evidence regarding the case will be examined to determine whether the allegations are true. If reasonable doubt is established, then you are likely to be found “not guilty”. However, if the prosecution successfully proves their case, the Court will give you a sentence deemed appropriate to the offence you’ve been found guilty of.
Cartwright King’s criminal defence solicitors have a proven track Cartwright King’s criminal defence solicitors have a proven track record of success in representing clients at trial for theft, robbery and burglary. With our expert theft solicitors by your side, you can rest assured that your rights are protected during Court hearings and you have the best chance of success in your trial.
The Purpose of A Trial
Criminal trials are an incredibly important step in the Criminal Justice System. By ensuring all Defendants are tried for the crime they are committed, the saying innocent until proven guilty comes into force. The main purpose of a trial is to determine whether the person or company is being prosecuted as guilty of their crime. With a theft solicitor to speak on their behalf, a Defendant can plead their case alongside all evidence, allowing the Court to decide their verdict.
Why Choose Cartwright King?
Criminal defence is our specialism that’s why our lawyers are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We can represent you at short-notice, which is often crucial to your defence.
70% of our cases involve defending against criminal charges, including theft, burglary and robbery offences. Our reputation is built on successfully clearing people accused of criminal activity.
We’re trusted, resourceful and calm under pressure, giving you defence counsel that you can count on. That’s why we’re recognised by Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners as specialists in Criminal Defence.
Legal Fees
If you find yourself arrested on suspicion of burglary, robbery or theft offences and taken to a police station, remember you have the right to free and independent legal advice.
Instructing Cartwright King means you’re choosing the leading provider of Legal Aid for criminal defence services. Any representation and advice we provide you in the police station is entirely free.
To receive calm, collected legal representation, and an immediate, 24/7 response, please call us, or email your enquiry.
The Difference Between Theft, Robbery and Burglary
Colloquially, you may find that the terms theft, robbery and burglary are used interchangeably; however, within the criminal justice system, there is a very distinct difference. You may require a specialist burglary lawyer, depending on what category below you have been accused of.
As we now know, theft is when someone takes another’s property dishonesty, with no intention of returning the stolen possessions. But, how does this differ from robbery and burglary?
Robbery
Within UK law, robbery is defined as when a person steals property via the use of force immediately before or at the time of the theft occurring. In such a circumstance, it is enough that the actions of the accused made the victim reasonably believe that force may be used, whether through words or actions.
As robbery is an inherently violent crime, the maximum sentence is far more severe, in that a guilty person can potentially face life imprisonment.
Burglary
A crime of burglary is committed when a person either:
- Enters a building as a trespasser with the intention to steal property, cause unlawful damage or inflict grievous bodily harm on another person; or,
- When entering a property as a trespasser, they steal/attempt to steal, or attempt to inflict grievous bodily harm
The law recognises three categories of burglary:
Domestic Burglary
Burglary of a home in which people live – typically houses or flats, though it can include boats or vehicles in which people live. The maximum sentence for this charge, if found guilty, is 14 years imprisonment.
Non-Domestic Burglary
This charge refers to the burglary of a building that is not a dwelling, such as offices, shops or barns. The maximum sentence for non-domestic burglary is 10 years in prison.
Aggravated Burglary
Aggravated burglary is committed when the offender has on their person a firearm, imitation firearm, weapon or explosive device at the time of a burglary.
Should the weapon be used to attack another person at the time of the burglary, an offender will commonly be charged with an assault offence or robbery.
If found guilty of aggravated burglary, the maximum sentence is life.
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Frequently asked questions.
What are my rights if I’m accused of theft, burglary or robbery?
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.
What sentence could I face?
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.
What can I do if my child has been accused of theft?
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.
What is the difference between theft, robbery and burglary?
When somebody is charged with theft, it means that the party in question has been accused of taking property that does not belong to them, but without the use of force.
On the other hand, robbery is a charge that involves the accused stealing from another person using actual force or acting in a way that leads the victim to believe that force will be used against them.
Burglary is a charge that means somebody has been accused of entering a property illegally via trespassing, in order to steal property: you may need to seek guidance from a specialist burglary lawyer in such an instance.
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