Retail Theft Shoplifting Defense Greenwich, CT
Greenwich, Connecticut Criminal Defense Attorneys Stand Up For Your Rights
Connecticut Criminal Defense Law Firm Focuses on Retail Theft and Shoplifting
In Connecticut, retail theft and/or shoplifting (referred to as larceny) represents crimes defined as the unauthorized taking of property from another with the intent to permanently deprive them of it. The two critical elements of larceny are:
- The taking of someone else's property
- The intent to permanently deprive the victim of the property
To secure a larceny conviction in Connecticut, the prosecution must prove that the accused acted with the specific intent to take someone else's property and to keep it or otherwise convert it.
There are a number of defenses that might apply in larceny cases, including:
- Claim of right or ownership, applicable when the defendant is able to establish that he had a good faith belief that the property in question was his or that he believed he had a valid claim to it.
- Intoxication, applicable if the defendant is able to prove that he was intoxicated at the time the alleged theft occurred and did not have the ability to form the required intent to steal.
- Return of property as a defense is generally not a defense to larceny, although doing so can be effective in convincing a prosecutor to agree to a plea deal and reduce the penalties in a specific case.
- Entrapment, which applies when an individual commits larceny but is able to prove that he was lured into doing so by another person.
Are you facing larceny charges in Greenwich, Connecticut? The retail theft and shoplifting defense attorneys at the Law Offices of Mark M. Kratter, LLC will draw on more than two decades of criminal defense experience to present an aggressive defense for you. Contact our firm online or call 203-678-8135 to set up a free, no-obligation initial consultation with one of our experienced attorneys today.