Get Years of Experience on Your Side
If you are facing a theft crime charge in Glendale, Englewood, or anywhere else in Colorado – regardless of the type of theft or the monetary value allegedly stolen – you are facing a number of potentially grave, life-changing consequences. Not only is there the immediate danger of penalties like imprisonment, but there’s also the risk of the long-term drawback of having a permanent stain on your record. A criminal record can keep you from landing jobs, securing housing, and getting loans. To keep your theft crime charge from resulting in both immediate and long-term consequences, enlisting the aid of a seasoned theft crimes attorney in Denver is essential.
The legal team at the Law Office of Kevin Cahill has been defending the rights of those accused of theft crimes in Colorado for nearly a decade. Mr. Cahill’s years of work for a large Denver-area law firm have given him time to hone his craft, and today he is one of the leading authorities in criminal justice in South Denver and beyond.
Kevin Cahill has protected the rights of countless clients, helping them secure optimal outcomes for their cases – and he can help you, too.
What is considered a theft crime in Colorado?
Though mistakenly dismissed by many as a victimless offense, theft is considered to be a very serious crime by Colorado courts. In South Denver and beyond, theft crimes are penalized harshly, with sentences ranging from fines to house arrest to imprisonment. Depending on the nature of the crime, theft can be considered either a felony or a misdemeanor in Colorado, and the severity of the penalty is typically determined by the value of what has been stolen.
The term “encompasses a wide range of criminal offenses associated with taking another’s property or money without permission.” Theft crimes can be conducted through coercion or other deceptive means. Unlike robbery, however, theft typically occurs without another person being present or threatened. If violence or force is used to take something from another individual, it becomes a robbery crime.
There are many different ways that someone can commit theft in Colorado, and each one can be classified as its own specific crime. Let’s take a look at some of the most common types of theft:
- Too often, South Denver residents disregard shoplifting as a minor crime – a victimless offense committed by delinquent kids or bored housewives. But the truth is, people of many different ages and backgrounds steal from stores for a variety of different reasons, costing businesses billions of dollars each year. Because of this, Colorado law takes a very stern approach to shoplifting crimes, doling out punishments that range from fines to up to 12 years of prison time. What’s more, you can be arrested for this type of crime even if you are doing something you didn’t realize was shoplifting, such as opening an item in a grocery store before paying for it. Regardless of what behavior has earned you a shoplifting charge, you’ll need a tough defense if you want to avoid harsh penalties.
- Pickpocketing may seem like a dated and or even silly type of crime, but being convicted of it can get you into some serious trouble. Stealing something from the body of another person is considered a Class 5 felony in Colorado, regardless of how much the item is worth. That means even if someone takes a quarter from another person’s pocket, they could be convicted of a felony. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you won’t face serious consequences because the item you allegedly stole was small or insignificant. A Glendale pickpocketing charge requires an aggressive and strategic defense.
- Theft of motor vehicles. Theft of a car or truck, or aggravated or grand theft auto, refer to the theft of a vehicle that is powered by something other than muscles. This is a broad category that includes cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles, snowmobiles, and scooters. Theft occurs when you knowingly obtain possession or control of someone else’s vehicle without permission. Consequences range from thousands of dollars in fines to up to 24 years in prison.
- Theft of rental property. This type of theft generally occurs when someone rents a vehicle, tools, furniture, or other equipment or goods and neglects to return it at the completion of the agreed rental period. The penalties for theft of a rental property in Englewood can include hefty fines and up to 18 years imprisonment.
- Identity theft. Identity theft occurs when someone’s identity is used by another without permission to gain a benefit. Most commonly, identity theft is used to obtain credit cards, cell phones, rental goods, and loans in someone else’s name. Identity theft offenders often obtain personal information by stealing mail, trash, or wallets, or by hacking into email accounts. People in Denver who are convicted of identity theft are often charged with accompanying crimes, such as forgery or theft of personal property.
- Theft of trade secrets. Trade secrets are something that gives a business an economic advantage over its competitors that is kept confidential from outside parties, such as a recipe, process, design, or instrument. Theft of trade secrets crimes occur when someone tries to deprive the owner control of the secret or tries to use it to gain some benefit. In Colorado, this type of crime is considered to be a Class 1 misdemeanor if it is your first offense, and a Class 6 felony if you have a prior conviction within the last five years.
These are only some of the many different crimes that can qualify as theft in our state. Regardless of what type of theft crime you have been charged with, you are facing large fines and possibly even heavy prison sentences. To protect your rights and freedoms, you’ll need a top Denver theft crimes attorney with experience in this unique area of the law.
Don't Wait to Get Help with Your Case
Theft crimes attorney, Kevin Cahill, has years of experience assisting clients in Glendale, Englewood, and other areas of Denver facing a wide variety of theft crime charges. His goal is always to help them understand their options and secure the best possible results for their case. Mr. Cahill employs a comprehensive range of defense strategies and techniques, fighting for his clients’ freedom with aggression and passion.
When you contact our Denver theft crimes attorney, you bring one of Colorado’s finest criminal defense attorneys into your corner. Don’t risk your personal freedoms and future – contact Kevin Cahill today and set up your free consultation by going here or calling us at (720) 548-2990.