The law does discriminate between thefts, although thefts of any kind are punishable by law. In terms of the value of the stolen goods and the circumstances that led to theft, the type of theft is the prime considerations to determine its seriousness and confirm whether it is petty theft or Grand theft. Although there may be many kinds of thefts based on stealing, there are mainly two types of theft – petty theft and Grand theft.

Petty Thefts Are Rampant

The severity of punishment for theft depends on the seriousness of the charges that the offender faces.  Whenever there is any incident of theft, how serious it is and the place of occurrence determines whether to enforce the law and punish the offender or allow the offender to go away after reprimanding.  From the definition of theft, it is clear that theft can happen at any place and involve people of all ages, including kids and teens. It is common among school-going children to lose a pencil, pen or sharpener or some fancy stickers or a stylish water bottle. Later they may find that some friend might have taken it without informing and kept it with him until the victim discovers it. As you can understand, this is a classic example of petty theft that does not call for any legal action.

All Petty Thefts Are Not Alike

While it is possible to escape punishment for most petty cases committed by people whose action might be only an aberration without any specific intention of stealing, there are numerous other instances when stealing can invite legal action. In such cases, handing down some punishment to the offender becomes inevitable. For example, suppose someone is caught shoplifting a pair of socks, which might cost only a dollar or two. In that case, the clothing store’s management, despite knowing that it is petty theft, will not hesitate to take legal action to make it exemplary and prevent recurrence in the future.

Now consider a situation when a jewelry store manager catches someone red-handed while stealing jewelry worth $150,000. The incident exemplifies a severe crime that amounts to a high-level felony, also known as a Grand theft, and would invite considerable penal action, which can even result in the offender landing in jail.

What to Do When Facing Any Charge of Theft

If you ever face any charge of theft, waste no time and consult a lawyer because it needs ample legal explanation to understand how serious the crime is and what it can lead to from a legal perspective. Theft crimes are so many types that only a lawyer can clearly understand its gravity and advise accordingly to fight the case. The outcome will depend on how the case plays out in the court, and there are instances when people committing grand thefts can escape punishment while others caught in some petty case can face the music.

Depending on a lawyer is your best chance to escape with some minor punishment, but it depends on several factors that must work in your favor.