What is Grand Theft?
Wednesday by: DoreenGrand theft involves the theft of goods or services that are valued above $400. This crime may be charged as either a felony or a misdemeanor, depending on a variety of influencing factors. A misdemeanor is usually punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for up to one year. A felony is normally punishable by imprisonment in a state prison. Generally, grand theft is punishable up to one year in a county jail or a maximum sentence of 16 months to 3 years in state prison.
If the theft of property includes the taking of items from the person of another, including from that person’s area of immediate control, then the crime will be determined to be grand theft, regardless of the monetary value of the property taken. For example, if a bag of groceries worth $5 is taken from a shopping cart, and that shopping cart is being pushed by the victim, this is grand theft, even though the value of the property was not $400.
Where the grand theft involves services that are being or can be rendered, the value of the services is determined by the contract price. If there was no contract involved, then the value of the services is determined by an average going rate for similar services in the industry in which the theft occurred.
