Most people know that mail theft is a federal crime. In fact, it’s a felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison. This applies whether a letter or package is sent via UPS, USPS or FedEx. What most people don’t know is that anyone who steals mail sent through USPS can also be charged […]
California Strengthens Its Laws Against Organized Theft
Back in 2017, California enacted new theft laws that ensured those who shoplifted could only be charged with a misdemeanor or infraction, whereas prosecutors often filed felony burglary charges against shoplifters prior to that, arguing that they entered the store with the intent to steal. Most first-time offenders could even enter a diversion program, allowing […]
Wedding Crashing is a Crime, But Charges Are Rare
While people have been crashing weddings for probably about as long as people have had weddings, the idea of “wedding crashing” really entered the popular consciousness when the Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn film Wedding Crashers was released in 2005. Since then, many more people have tried their hands at crashing weddings in order to […]
Possession of Burglary Tools, California Penal Code Section 466 (PC)
The mere possession of a crowbar, or even a set of lockpicks, does not make someone a criminal. But if prosecutors can prove the person in possession of these items intended to use them to , then that person could be found guilty of violating California Penal Code Section 466 (PC), aka possession of burglary […]
What to Know About Dognapping Laws in California
One of the most increasingly common crimes is that of dognapping. Perhaps one of the most surprising things about this crime is the fact that is usually only charged as petty or grand theft and a good portion of people accused of the crime only face misdemeanor charges. Here’s what you should know about this […]
Bank Error in Your Favor? Monopoly’s Rules Could Leave You Busted
Monopoly may have introduced most of us to the idea of a “bank error in your favor,” but while it accounts to a nice, unexpected windfall in the board game, in real life, using this money could leave you facing criminal charges. In fact, if you find unexpected money in your bank account, the best […]
The Most Common Crimes Committed On Social Media
For all the good social media has done in helping to connect people, it has also helped people commit crimes in a number of ways. While the most obvious recent example was the planning far-right agitators did before storming the capitol, there are many other ways social media can be used for criminal acts. Here […]
If You Return Someone’s Property, Can You Avoid Criminal Charges?
As a child, everyone learns that borrowing without asking and borrowing without returning an item are both considered stealing the item from the owner. But from a legal perspective, things aren’t so clear cut. That’s because California’s theft laws require someone to intend to either permanently take an item or at least take it long […]
Determining the Value of Items in a Theft or Vandalism Case
In California, the severity of some crimes, particularly charges for theft and vandalism, are based on the value of property affected by the criminal act. In fact, if a theft involves property valued at over $950 it may be filed as a felony or misdemeanor, or if the property damage in a vandalism case is determined […]
Tampering With a Vehicle is a Crime in California
In California, it is illegal to tamper with another person’s vehicle, whether you mess with the car as a whole or just a part of the vehicle or the contents. The good news is that in many cases, this is a reduced charge used in some vehicle burglary cases and carries a much lighter sentence. […]
