Theft & Larceny – 484 – 502.4
Theft, sometimes called larceny, is the taking of something that doesn’t belong to you without the permission of the owner. Based on the value or type of property stolen, the crime can be categorized as petty or grand theft. Each also can be charged as a misdemeanor or felony.
In California, forgery, embezzlement, identity theft, receiving stolen property, and robbery are all under the umbrella of theft.
Petty Theft
If the value of the items stolen is less than $950, it is categorized as petty theft, charged generally as a misdemeanor. However, if the defendant had at least one prior petty or theft-related conviction, and had been imprisoned as a result; and has a prior conviction for a serious or violent offense, for any registerable sex offense, or for embezzlement from a dependant adult or anyone over the age of 65, the charge can be a felony.
Petty theft can be punished by up to six months in county jail and/or a fine up to $1,000.
Grand Theft
And if the value is over $950, it is grand theft. Automatically a felony, grand theft is punishable by a state prison term of 16 months up to three years.