by admin | Aug 20, 2013 | Shoplifting
Police procedural television programs and heist movies have made most people conversational with the terms petty theft, larceny, grand larceny and more. But since those shows are never based in Fairfax, VA, the average person is unclear on the actual laws surrounding these offenses. All theft crimes in Virginia (and those related) are all subsumed under the general term “larceny.” While there are a few specific statutes relating to larceny, generally larceny offenses are divided into two categories: Petit Larceny Grand Larceny Petit Larceny Petit larceny is the lowest level of theft. Petit larceny is classified as a Class I misdemeanor, and the attached sentence is possible confinement in jail for a period not longer than 12 months, and/or a fine of not more than $2,500. What qualifies as a petit larceny? Theft of property or services valued at less than $200, orl Theft of property valued at less than $5 when taken directly from the person of another. Grand Larceny Grand larceny is usually punishable as a felony, and if it is charged as a felony, the court can can punish the offender with imprisonment for a period of at least one years but not more than twenty years. However, at its discretion, the court can choose to view the grand larceny charge as a misdemeanor instead of a felony. This is sometimes done in cases where the defendant has no previous offenses, or if the amount stolen was only slightly over $200. If that is the case, the possible penalties are the same as for petit larceny, which is also a misdemeanor. What qualifies as a grand...
