Larceny, theft, robbery, burglary: many people use these terms interchangeably. In reality, they are different crimes that carry vastly different charges. It can seem confusing, but it is important to be able to differentiate between these terms and know what they refer to. Read on to learn more about larceny, robbery, and the charges they carry.
New York’s Larceny Charges:
Larceny refers to when an individual steals the property of another individual. The charges for larceny vary greatly, depending on the value of the items stolen. Larceny can be broken into the following categories: petit larceny, grand larceny in the fourth degree, grand larceny in the third degree, grand larceny in the second degree, and grand larceny in the first degree. Below defines what constitutes each crime and what the penalties may entail:
Petit larceny
- Property valued at $1,000 or less
- Class A misdemeanor
- Fines up to $1,000
- Up to 1 year in prison
Grand larceny in the fourth degree
- Property valued between $1,000 and $3,000
- Class E felony
- Fines up to $5,000 or double the offender’s gain from the crime
- Up to 4 years in prison
Grand larceny in the third degree
- Property valued between $3,000 and $50,000
- Class D felony
- Up to 7 years in prison
Grand larceny in the second degree
- Property valued between $50,000 and $1 million
- Class C felony
- Up to 15 years in prison
Grand larceny in the first degree
- Property valued at $1 million or more
- Class B felony
- Up to 25 years in prison
How are Charges Upgraded?
When you commit a crime in a certain way, charges can become even more severe. For example, if you commit larceny but you utilize a weapon, your charges will be upgraded to armed robbery. A larceny crime is upgraded to robbery when there is any sort of weaponry, threats, or force used in the process of stealing property. Robbery will result in even more severe penalties. Some things that may impact the charges include committing or threatening to commit a crime of the first or second-degree, using a weapon, if the weapon in use has been stolen, etc.
If you or a loved one is facing a larceny or robbery charge in New York, you will need the help of a skilled criminal defense attorney. If you have any questions or concerns regarding a case, reach out today.
Contact our Firm
Criminal matters can change the course of your life forever. This is why you need an experienced attorney who will aggressively combat your charges to help mitigate their long-term effects. If you are in need of experienced legal counsel for a criminal defense matter on Long Island or throughout New York State, please contact Grunwald & Seman, P.C. to schedule a consultation. We would be happy to assist you.
