Understanding Connecticut’s Laws About Theft

Connecticut Theft Attorney, Chris Llinas
Understanding Connecticut’s Laws About Theft

In a general sense, the crime of theft refers to taking someone else’s property. If you don’t have a clear understanding of the nuances of situations in which you could be accused of theft, however, you could face serious problems with your criminal defense if you’re suddenly charged.

You might think that what happened was a misunderstanding or not theft at all, but this is a big mistake to assume. You need a lawyer on your side to help you.

Theft in the state of Connecticut may also be referred to as larceny and it occurs when an individual is accused of wrongfully obtaining, taking or withholding another person’s property with the primary purpose of depriving that owner of the property. There are many different classifications of theft under Connecticut laws including, conversion of a motor vehicle, embezzlement, theft of services, taking property by fraudulently using an ATM, taking property that was delivered by mistake or lost, taking property by false premise or false pretenses, theft of utility service and theft of motor fuel. Theft is classified as either a felony or misdemeanor through Connecticut law based on the dollar value of the property involved in the theft.

The cases can go from larceny in the 6th degree to larceny in the 1st degree. A shoplifting offense committed in Connecticut will typically be classified under the general theft statues in the punishment system for that.

Additional considerations might come in to discussions when it comes to shoplifting, particularly if the shoplifter might be held civilly liable for store owners. If you have been accused of shoplifting or any other type of theft, you need to schedule a consultation with an experienced lawyer who will assist you with understanding the possible consequences of being accused of any theft allegation. The sooner that you get support from a lawyer, the easier it will be for you to understand the consequences and the best way to fight back.

Christopher Llinas

J. Christopher Llinas is a Connecticut criminal defense and immigration attorney with over 25 years of legal experience. He is the founder of Iron Chris Criminal Defense & Immigration, based in Middletown, CT. Chris earned his J.D. from Franklin Pierce Law Center (now the University of New Hampshire School of Law) in 1997 and holds a B.A., magna cum laude, in English from Salisbury University. During law school he served as a teaching assistant for Civil Procedure and Constitutional Law, and competed in moot court and trial advocacy programs. He began his legal career as an Assistant Public Defender, defending clients in felony, misdemeanor, and traffic matters. He later served as an Assistant State's Attorney, prosecuting criminal and traffic cases — giving him a firsthand understanding of how the prosecution builds its case. He has also served as a law clerk, legal aid attorney, and in-house corporate counsel before dedicating his practice to criminal defense and immigration. Chris is admitted to practice in Connecticut, Maryland, the U.S. District Court, and the U.S. Court of Appeals. He is a member of the Connecticut Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), the National College of DUI Defense (NCDD), and the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). His practice covers DUI and OUI defense, drug charges, weapons charges, violent crimes, juvenile matters, probation violations, federal criminal defense, and immigration removal proceedings throughout Connecticut.

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