Attorneys for Vehicle Burglary
Criminal Defense Attorneys
In the State of California, crimes involving vehicle burglary, also known as vehicle theft, carry very serious penalties. Sometimes people believe that being caught stealing from a vehicle is a minor offense that can be resolved without the help of an attorney, but this is not really the case. Many people do not realize that the laws in the State of California are very complex, and a vehicle burglary offense can become a felony that may lead to a sentence in state prison or county jail.
Likewise, according to California law under section 459, it specifically states that any person caught stealing from a locked vehicle may be charged with a felony. Also, if a person is caught stealing or taking a purse or any object from a vehicle that was not locked, the offense may be classified as theft or robbery. Similarly, if a person attempts to steal from inside a vehicle and does not find anything to steal, they may still face charges for trespassing without permission or attempted theft as a criminal offense.
For a person to be charged with this type of offense, there must be evidence that they intended to steal something from inside the vehicle. It does not matter if, at the time of the incident, the person left empty-handed. What matters is that they had the intention to steal something from the vehicle, and because of that action they must face charges. We must also consider that the types of penalties for vehicle burglary are different from those for other types of theft or robbery.
Penalties for this offense:
According to the law, this type of offense is considered a second-degree crime, and this charge, because it is second-degree, may be filed as either a misdemeanor or a felony. In order to determine this, prosecutors consider whether the person has prior criminal records for vehicle burglary, and if any prior record is found, this increases the likelihood that the new offense will be charged as a felony. If a person is convicted of vehicle burglary, they may face one year in county jail, as well as three years of informal probation and the payment of established fines. On the other hand, when a person is convicted of a felony, the sentence may range from three years of probation to three years in state prison.
Informational criminal defense videos are a valuable tool for people seeking necessary information about criminal cases and to better understand how the criminal justice system works in California. This information is general in nature and should not be considered personal legal advice.
Crimes related to the offense of vehicle burglary
Breaking the lock of a vehicle:
This is a misdemeanor in California. This type of offense involves damaging or stealing parts from a car.
Stealing or driving a vehicle that has been stolen:
This type of offense may be considered either a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the circumstances of the events.
Vehicle burglary:
This offense involves theft and is considered a felony in the State of California.
Using or temporarily taking a vehicle without the owner’s permission:
This is considered a misdemeanor, since it consists of taking another person’s vehicle without permission and using it temporarily.