Brooklyn Theft Lawyer

Theft charges in New York are called larceny, and the dollar amount controls everything. A shoplifting case and a million dollar embezzlement are charged under the same article of the Penal Law, separated only by value. Spahija Law defends the full range in Brooklyn, from desk appearance ticket shoplifting cases to grand larceny indictments in Kings County Supreme Court. If you are facing this charge in Brooklyn, call 646-453-4001 for a free, confidential consultation, available 24 hours a day.

New York Larceny Charges by Dollar Amount

Article 155 of the Penal Law sets the degrees by value:

PL §155.25, Petit Larceny: Class A misdemeanor. Property valued at $1,000 or less. Most shoplifting cases.
PL §155.30, Grand Larceny 4th: Class E felony. Over $1,000, or a credit card, or property taken from a person.
PL §155.35, Grand Larceny 3rd: Class D felony. Over $3,000.
PL §155.40, Grand Larceny 2nd: Class C felony. Over $50,000.
PL §155.42, Grand Larceny 1st: Class B felony. Over $1 million.
Related charges: criminal possession of stolen property under Article 165 mirrors the larceny degrees.

What Is at Stake

Felony larceny convictions carry state prison exposure and restitution orders. But for most clients the record is the real damage. Theft is a crime of dishonesty, which means employers, licensing boards, and immigration authorities treat even a misdemeanor conviction harshly. Keeping the record clean is usually the entire objective.

Defenses to Brooklyn Theft Charges

Valuation challenges. The degree depends on value, and prosecutors routinely overstate it. Knocking value down changes a felony into a misdemeanor.
Claim of right. A genuine belief that the property was yours defeats larcenous intent.
Lack of intent. Forgetting to scan an item, accounting disputes, and misunderstandings are not larceny.
Identification issues. Retail theft cases often rest on grainy video and cross racial identifications.
Civil compromise positioning. Repayment does not end a criminal case, but structured correctly it materially changes the outcome.

What Happens After the Arrest

Most first arrest shoplifting cases in Brooklyn arrive as desk appearance tickets returnable at 120 Schermerhorn Street. First offenders are frequently eligible for adjournments in contemplation of dismissal, which end with sealed records. Felony larceny cases proceed to Kings County Supreme Court, where restitution posture and valuation litigation drive the outcome.

Related Charges We Defend

Brooklyn cases rarely involve a single charge. Prosecutors stack counts, and this one often travels with burglary, white collar matters and sealing a criminal record. When a case carries several counts, the defense has to answer all of them at once rather than one at a time. You can see every charge we defend in Brooklyn or read how felony and misdemeanor levels differ.

Why a Former Prosecutor Matters

As a former Assistant District Attorney in Brooklyn and Staten Island, Amel Spahija evaluated cases exactly like yours from the other side of the table. He knows how the DA's office weighs the evidence, when it reduces charges, and where its cases break. Read about the former prosecutor advantage, then see our recent Brooklyn case results.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is shoplifting a felony in Brooklyn?

Not usually. Property valued at $1,000 or less is petit larceny, a misdemeanor. Over $1,000 becomes grand larceny in the fourth degree, a felony.

I got a desk appearance ticket for shoplifting. Is that serious?

It is a real criminal charge with a real court date. Handled correctly, many first offense DAT cases resolve with an ACD and a sealed record. Handled badly, you get a permanent conviction.

If I pay the money back, does the case go away?

Not automatically. Restitution helps enormously in negotiation, but the DA controls the charge. The order and framing of repayment matter, which is why it should go through counsel.

Will a theft conviction affect my job?

Very likely. Theft is a crime of dishonesty that employers and licensing boards weigh heavily. The defense goal in most theft cases is a disposition that leaves no criminal record.

Free Consultation

The earlier we get involved, the more options exist. Call 646-453-4001 for a free consultation with a Brooklyn criminal defense lawyer, or book 30 minutes with Amel directly.