There are several different types of property offenses in Arizona, and if you are dealing with criminal charges due to a property offense, then you will need a good lawyer. Several property offenses can be brought up in court, and our lawyers will make sure that we work with you to create a unique defense tailored to you.

Before you even talk to a lawyer, you should know things about property offenses and the different types of offenses that we can help you with.

What Is A Property Offense?

A property crime typically has to do with either theft or destruction of property that belongs to someone else. There are often two types of property crime, both revolving around the cost of the property.

If you steal or destroy something under $250, then you will only be tried before a judge. The judge will listen to your case, hear both sides, and be the one to pass down your judgment. If you steal or destroy something that is worth more than 250 dollars, you will be tried before a jury.

It becomes a traditional court case, where your attorney calls on witnesses, challenges any presented pieces of evidence, and the jury is the one that decides your fate.

Different Types Of Property Crimes

One of the most common types of property crimes is simple theft or burglary. If a piece of property is damaged or destroying during a robbery, then it can be tied into property crime rather than theft. Breaking a window, shattering a lock, or damaging items are common during robberies, and this ties it to property crimes.

Shoplifting is also considered a property crime, and it’s a pretty standard crime that people commit. While some shoplifting can be either classified as a misdemeanor or simply waved off by giving a warning, other types of shoplifting can be punished more severely. If you use a device to bypass store security, have someone else working with you, or take a very high-value item, then it can be classified as a property offense.

Damaging or defacing items can also be considered property crimes. If you recklessly and maliciously damage the property of another, it is criminal damage. This includes using arson, vandalism, or breaking property. The punishment for these crimes can change depending on what you damaged, and it’s value.

Finally, in Arizona, trespassing is considered a property offense and can be done in three different degrees. The first degree covers property on residential buildings such as homes and apartments, the second degree deals with trespass on fenced yards and commercial structures, and the third covers when you remain on the property even after you have been asked to leave.

Different Degrees Of Crime

Property crimes aren’t very easy to pin down under one definition, and there are several degrees of crime that you need to understand if you are facing a property crimes charge. Property crimes encompass everything from armed robbery and arson to vandalism and graffiti.

For some property crimes, you need to steal or destroy some level of property or harm a victim before you are arrested for property crime. Other crimes such as burglary don’t require you to even see a victim or take anything. If you break into a house with the intent to steal something, that’s enough to get you arrested for property crimes.

Finally, each crime has a degree level that will determine the severity of your punishment. If you commit arson and burn down an abandoned building, the punishment will be less severe than if you burned down an occupied building in the middle of a crowded city. If you have a prior record of similar crimes, you will be treated differently than if you are dealing with your first offense.

Depending on the type of crime committed and the degree of the crime, we will need to help you build a stronger defense to get you a reduced sentence.

Handling Doubt

While it can be almost impossible to prove that you didn’t commit a property offense, especially if the evidence says that you did, our lawyers can help to prove doubt. The prosecutor accusing you is trying to prove you committed the entire crime beyond a reasonable doubt, and if our lawyers can induce doubt in the judge and jury, you might get a lower sentence or reduced charges.

For example, one of the cases where doubt is a strong asset is larceny. Larceny is when you take something from someone with the intention never to give it back. If you believe that you own the property and truly think that it is yours, our lawyers can use it to induce doubt by sharing your history with the product.

Additionally, if you were giving consent before taking the product, then it is not larceny. If you have proof that the owner of the property gave you consent to take it but then changed his mind, we can work with that to induce doubt.

Other Defenses

Other defenses that can reduce your sentence include you being under duress. If you are threatened or blackmailed into committing the crime and committed the property offense to avoid a worse fate, then we can defend you with that by showing you had no choice.

If you knew about the crime before it occurred, but refused to take part and made an attempt to stop the crime from happening, then we can defend you with Renunciation.

These types of defenses are often circumstantial, but if your situation leads to them, we can use the situation to defend you. Plus, we might even be able to stop the person who put you up to the crime.

How Does A Property Offense Case Work?

These cases work just like any other case. We want to defend you against the plaintiff, who is suing you for whatever offense you committed. Our lawyers will examine the evidence, make a plan, interview witnesses, and make sure that you are prepared for the stress of a trial. We will do everything possible to defend you and either try to reduce your sentence or get it dropped entirely.

If you are found guilty, you could do everything from needing to pay back the value of the things you stole or destroyed, or you might go on probation. In Arizona, most classes of misdemeanors have you pay a fine and spend some time in jail, while felonies are much more severe.

Having An Understanding Of Property Offenses

Property Offenses are a very murky area of law since the term covers everything from armed robbery, to arson, to vandalism. In addition to that, there are different degrees that can make the same crime more or less severe, depending on the situation. No two property offense cases are the same, and each one needs to be handled differently.

If you are caught committing a property offense, you will need to find a good lawyer who will build a defense around your unique situation. Then you can prepare yourself for the trial knowing that your defender knows everything about your situation and will do their best to limit the charges.