Will County Theft Felony Charges

 Posted on March 15, 2020 in Uncategorized

It is all too easy in Illinois to find yourself facing a felony theft charge. The following types of theft are felony crimes:

• Any theft over $500 in value. (A simple theft of $500 or less is a Class A misdemeanor);
• A theft of any value committed in a school or place or worship;
• A theft of government property of any value;
• A theft by deception of any value, wherein the offender obtains a rent payment or security deposit by posing as a landlord or landlord’s employee;
• A theft of any value if you have a previous conviction for theft; and
• Possession of stolen goods with knowledge or reason to believe the goods were stolen.

Penalties for Felony Theft in Illinois

Depending on the value of the stolen goods, you could be facing from one year to decades in prison. While probation is a possible sentence in lieu of prison in most cases, a theft of property valued at over $500,000 is a non-probationable felony.

Felony Theft from Will County Electronics Warehouse

If you think it is impossible for a theft of over half a million dollars to take place in Will County, you would be wrong. The Elwood Police Department last year filed charges against three men who allegedly stole as much as $1 million worth of tablets, smartwatches, and other electronics from a Samsung/Neovia warehouse. At least some of the goods were apparently sold through eBay. Two men were charged with Class 2 felony theft involving goods valued at $10,001 to $100,000. The third man is charged with Class X felony theft, which is punishable by six to 30 years in state prison.

The third man’s bank records showed deposits far beyond his income earned as a truck driver who frequently picked up cargo at the Samsung/Neovia warehouse. Police investigators also reported seeing at least six cars parked around the man’s home. As a result, an action for asset forfeiture was filed against the alleged thief regarding $133,243 in cash and a 2016 Honda Pilot valued at around $25,000.

A Joliet Theft Crimes Defense Attorney to Protect Your Rights

If you have been arrested for any type of theft, resist being pressured into an immediate guilty plea. Even if the evidence against you seems strong, a skilled Will County theft defense attorney will know how to argue reasonable doubt, police procedural error, or another type of defense. At the Law Offices of Jack L. Zaremba, P.C., we will do our utmost to help you avoid a criminal conviction. Contact us at 815-740-4025 for a free consultation.