Charged With Theft in Los Angeles? Your Defense Starts Here
Misdemeanor and Felony Theft Defense Across Los Angeles County
Los Angeles Theft Crimes Attorney
If you have been accused of a theft crime in Los Angeles, you are facing criminal charges that carry the potential for jail or prison time, a permanent criminal record, and lasting damage to your reputation, your career, and your future. At The Law Offices of Arash Hashemi, our theft crimes attorney has spent over 20 years defending Los Angeles residents against theft charges at every level. We know how prosecutors build these cases, where the evidence breaks down, and how to fight back to protect everything you have worked for. Call our firm today for a free, confidential case review with a theft crimes attorney who will fight for you every step of the way.
Theft Crimes We Defend: Comprehensive Representation in Los Angeles
Theft offenses in California span a wide range of conduct, from shoplifting a single item to large-scale embezzlement schemes. The severity of the charge and the consequences of a conviction depends on the value of the property taken, the method used, and the defendant’s prior criminal history. Our Los Angles theft crimes attorney defends clients against all of the following charges in Los Angeles:
Petty Theft (Penal Code § 484 / § 488)
Petty theft involves the taking of property valued at $950 or less and is generally charged as a misdemeanor. Common examples include shoplifting, theft from an employer, and theft of services. While a misdemeanor may seem minor, a petty theft conviction creates a permanent criminal record that can follow you for decades — affecting employment, housing, and professional licensing. Our firm fights petty theft charges with the same commitment we bring to felony cases.
Grand Theft (Penal Code § 487)
Grand theft involves property valued above $950 and is a wobbler offense — meaning prosecutors can charge it as either a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the circumstances and your prior record. Grand theft of a firearm is always a felony. Felony grand theft carries 16 months, 2 years, or 3 years in state prison. Our theft crimes attorney analyzes every factor that bears on how the charge is filed and fights to keep felony charges from being filed or to reduce them at the earliest possible stage.
Shoplifting (Penal Code § 459.5)
Under California law, shoplifting is defined as entering a commercial establishment during business hours with the intent to steal property valued at $950 or less. Shoplifting is a misdemeanor under Proposition 47 for most first-time offenders, but it becomes a felony for defendants with prior convictions for certain serious offenses. Even a misdemeanor shoplifting conviction can have serious professional consequences, and our firm works aggressively to resolve these cases without a conviction on your record.
Burglary (Penal Code § 459)
Burglary — entering a structure with the intent to commit theft or a felony inside — is one of the more serious theft-related charges in California. First-degree burglary (residential burglary) is always a felony and a strike offense, carrying 2, 4, or 6 years in state prison. Second-degree burglary (commercial burglary) is a wobbler. The consequences of a burglary conviction are severe, and our firm brings 20 years of experience to the defense of every burglary case.
Robbery (Penal Code § 211)
Robbery — taking property directly from another person by force or fear — is always a felony and always a strike under California’s Three Strikes law. First-degree robbery carries 3, 4, or 6 years in state prison; second-degree robbery carries 2, 3, or 5 years. Because robbery is classified as a violent crime as well as a theft offense, the stakes are exceptionally high. Our firm defends robbery charges with the full resources and experience that cases of this gravity demand.
Embezzlement (Penal Code § 503)
Embezzlement involves the fraudulent taking of property entrusted to you by another person — most commonly in an employment or fiduciary context. Charges can range from misdemeanors to serious felonies depending on the amount involved. Embezzlement accusations are particularly damaging to professionals, executives, and anyone in a position of financial trust. Our theft crimes attorney builds a thorough defense that challenges intent, authorization, and the prosecution’s characterization of the financial transactions at issue.
Fraud and Identity Theft (Penal Code § 530.5)
Identity theft — using another person’s personal information without authorization for fraudulent purposes — is a wobbler offense carrying up to 3 years in state prison for a felony conviction. Related fraud charges, including credit card fraud, check fraud, and insurance fraud, carry their own significant penalties. Our firm defends identity theft and fraud charges at both the state and federal level, where penalties are substantially more severe.
Receiving Stolen Property (Penal Code § 496)
You do not have to be the person who committed the original theft to face criminal charges. Knowingly buying, receiving, concealing, or selling stolen property is a wobbler offense in California, punishable by up to 3 years in state prison if charged as a felony. Our firm challenges the prosecution’s ability to prove the knowledge element of this offense — often the weakest link in the prosecution’s case.
Grand Theft Auto (Penal Code § 487(d)(1))
Theft of a vehicle is charged as grand theft auto under California law and is a wobbler offense. It is distinct from carjacking and joyriding, carrying its own set of penalties. A felony grand theft auto conviction carries up to 3 years in state prison and the full collateral consequences of a felony record. Our theft crimes attorney examines consent, ownership disputes, and the circumstances of the alleged taking in every grand theft auto case.
Felony vs. Misdemeanor: Avoiding the Long-Term Consequences of a Theft Conviction
One of the most critical early decisions in a theft case is whether charges will be filed as a misdemeanor or a felony. For wobbler offenses — those that can be charged either way — this determination is made by the prosecutor and can often be influenced by effective early intervention from an experienced theft crimes attorney.
Misdemeanor Theft Convictions:
- Up to 1 year in Los Angeles County Jail
- Fines and court fees
- Probation and possible community service or restitution
- A permanent misdemeanor conviction visible on background checks
- Potential impact on professional licenses and employment
Felony Theft Convictions:
- 16 months to 3 years or more in California state prison (varies by charge)
- Substantial fines and mandatory victim restitution
- Felony probation with strict conditions
- A permanent felony record affecting employment, housing, and licensing
- Loss of firearm rights under California and federal law
- Potential strike under California’s Three Strikes law (robbery and residential burglary)
- Severe immigration consequences for non-citizens
Our firm works from the very beginning of your case to prevent felony charges from being filed where misdemeanor treatment is appropriate, and to reduce charges already filed whenever the law and the facts support it.
How We Fight Back: Challenging the Evidence in Los Angeles Theft Cases
Theft prosecutions in Los Angeles rely on a predictable set of evidence types. Our theft crimes attorney has spent 20 years identifying the weaknesses in each of them.
- Surveillance Footage — Video evidence is a cornerstone of most retail theft and burglary prosecutions. Our firm scrutinizes the quality, completeness, and chain of custody of all surveillance footage, and challenges identifications made from low-resolution or partial recordings.
- Witness and Loss Prevention Testimony — Retail loss prevention officers and civilian witnesses are not infallible. Our firm cross-examines these witnesses rigorously, exposing errors in observation, inconsistencies between their statements and the physical evidence, and any motivations that may color their testimony.
- Digital and Financial Records — In embezzlement, fraud, and identity theft cases, prosecutors rely heavily on financial records, electronic transactions, and digital communications. Our firm works with forensic accountants and digital evidence experts to challenge the prosecution’s interpretation of complex financial data.
- Statements and Admissions — Law enforcement frequently questions theft suspects before they have had an opportunity to speak with an attorney. Statements made under pressure, without proper Miranda warnings, or obtained through deceptive interrogation techniques may be suppressible. Our firm examines every client’s interaction with law enforcement for constitutional violations.
- Physical Evidence — Merchandise, tools, vehicles, and other physical items seized during a search must have been lawfully obtained. If police conducted an unlawful search or exceeded the scope of a warrant, that evidence may be suppressed — often leaving the prosecution without a case.
Legal Defenses Against Theft Charges in Los Angeles
Challenging Criminal Intent
Every theft offense requires proof that the defendant intended to permanently deprive the owner of their property. Absent that intent, there is no theft. Our firm challenges intent in cases involving honest mistakes, disputed ownership, misunderstandings over payment, or situations where the defendant believed they had a legal right to the property.
Claim of Right
Under California law, a person who takes property under a good-faith belief that they have a legal right to it — even if that belief turns out to be incorrect — cannot be convicted of theft. The claim of right defense is particularly powerful in disputes between business partners, co-owners, family members, and employer-employee relationships where property ownership or entitlement is genuinely contested.
Unlawful Search and Seizure
If the evidence against you was obtained through an unlawful search — without a valid warrant, without your consent, or outside the scope of an authorized search — our firm files targeted motions to suppress that evidence. Removing unlawfully obtained physical evidence or digital records from a theft case often leaves the prosecution unable to proceed.
Establishing Misidentification
Misidentification occurs in theft cases, particularly where surveillance footage is low quality, witnesses observed events briefly or from a distance, or law enforcement used suggestive identification procedures. Our firm presents alibi evidence, challenges identification reliability, and where appropriate brings in expert testimony on eyewitness memory to establish that our client was not the person responsible.
Insufficient Evidence
The prosecution must prove every element of the theft charge beyond a reasonable doubt. In many cases, the evidence — particularly in shoplifting, receiving stolen property, and embezzlement cases — is circumstantial and subject to alternative interpretations. Our firm challenges the sufficiency of the evidence at every stage, from pretrial motions through closing argument.
Diversion and Alternative Sentencing
For eligible first-time offenders, theft diversion programs — including civil compromise for minor shoplifting offenses and deferred entry of judgment — can result in charges being dismissed without a conviction. Our firm evaluates every client’s eligibility for diversion and advocates strongly for these outcomes, understanding that keeping a theft
Why Los Angeles Clients Choose The Law Offices of Arash Hashemi
Theft charges in Los Angeles move fast. From the moment you are accused, the prosecution is building its case — and every day without an experienced theft crimes attorney on your side is a day you cannot get back. Our firm brings 20 years of Los Angeles courtroom experience, direct personal representation, and a track record of results to every client we take on.
20 Years of Theft Defense Experience in Los Angeles Courts Our theft crimes attorney has handled cases at every level — from first-time misdemeanor shoplifting to complex embezzlement prosecutions and federal fraud matters. We have seen every strategy the prosecution uses and we know exactly how to dismantle it.
One Attorney Handling Your Case From Start to Finish At The Law Offices of Arash Hashemi, Attorney Hashemi works your case personally from the first call through the final resolution. You will never be handed to a junior associate or left without answers. When you call, he picks up. When you walk into court, he is standing next to you.
We Move Early — Before Charges Are Set in Stone The most important work in a theft case often happens before charges are formally filed. Our firm contacts the prosecuting agency early, challenges the basis for the arrest, and presents exculpatory evidence before the prosecution’s position hardens — frequently securing diversion, charge reductions, or dismissal before the case ever reaches a courtroom.
Record Protection Is the Goal For most theft clients — particularly first-time offenders — keeping a conviction off their record is the most important outcome we can achieve. Our firm pursues every available diversion program, civil compromise option, and deferred entry of judgment pathway with that objective driving every decision we make.
Contact a Los Angeles Theft Crimes Attorney Today
If you have been accused of a theft crime in Los Angeles, do not wait. The prosecution is already building its case, and the decisions made in the earliest stages of your defense will shape everything that follows. A theft conviction, even a misdemeanor can cost you your career, your professional license, and your reputation for years to come.
At The Law Offices of Arash Hashemi, we have spent over 20 years defending Los Angeles residents against theft charges at every level. Call our firm immediately or schedule a confidential consultation with Attorney Hashemi using our secure online system. We will review the facts of your case, explain your options, and build a defense strategy focused on protecting your record and your future.
Schedule a Free Consultation:
- Phone: (310) 448-1529
- Email: Info@hashemilaw.com
- Address: 11845 W Olympic Blvd #520, Los Angeles, CA 90064
- Office Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM, with flexible scheduling options available, including weekend appointments.
We are conveniently located in the Westside Towers, serving clients accused of sex crimes across Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, the San Fernando Valley, Long Beach, Pasadena, and all surrounding communities. Contact our theft crimes attorney today. Your defense starts the moment you call.